cars news 10: The 2017 Cadillac DPi-V.R is the Brand’s Return to Endurance Racing

It’s been 14 long years since Cadillac last fielded a prototype race car, but now it’s ready to make a comeback. The automaker today revealed its 2017 Cadillac DPi-V.R racer and says three cars will be ready to compete by early next year for the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series.

Cadillac partnered with Dallara to develop the chassis, and power comes from a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V-6 that’s based on the supercharged LT4 V-8 powering the road-going CTS-V sedan. To comply with IMSA regulations, the Cadillac Daytona Prototype International race car will make around 600 hp. The engine features a dry sump oil system and is paired to a sequential automatic gearbox driving the rear wheels. Cadillac says its race car will tip the scales at just 2,050 pounds.

Despite the aerodynamic bodywork, Caddy designers were able to infuse a bit of the automaker’s signature design cues into the vehicle; the vertical lights look familiar, and so do the V-Performance wheels that mimic the ATS-V and CTS-V.

“Cadillac is proud to return to the pinnacle of prototype racing in North America after a 14-year absence,” said Johan de Nysschen, president of Cadillac, in a statement. “The Cadillac DPi-V.R further strengthens our V-Performance portfolio, placing Cadillac into the highest series of sports car racing in North America.”

Two teams are charged with piloting Caddy’s new race cars. Wayne Taylor Racing will field two cars, and Action Express Racing will enter the third. All three will race in the WeatherTech Championship Prototype Class when the series kicks off at Daytona on January 28.

Source: Cadillac, IMSA