Cadillac F1 Program Would ‘Complement’ LMDh Involvement

Photo: Chris Dumond/IMSA

Cadillac’s proposed link-up with Andretti to enter Formula 1 won’t have an impact on the brand’s participation in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship or FIA World Endurance Championship with the Cadillac V-LMDh according to the company’s global vice president Rory Harvey.

The General Motors-owned luxury automaker and championship-winning team announced last week an expression of interest to join F1, which initially cast questions into Cadillac’s continued involvement in top-level sports car racing.

When asked by Sportscar365 on whether there could be an impact, Harvey said he sees the two programs ‘complementing’ each other.

“We’re super excited about that opportunity as well,” Harvey said of its F1 prospects. “Obviously the process is in the very early stages. We’re looking to submit an expression of interest. We held the press conference last week.

“But from our perspective, it will complement what we do in this series. We don’t see it impacting this series in any way.”

Cadillac has increased its commitment to endurance racing with the LMDh platform, which will see two factory V-LMDhs compete full-time in the WeatherTech Championship and a single Chip Ganassi Racing-run entry in the WEC this year.

Additional cars are expected for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as is the case with a second CGR example entered for this month’s Rolex 24.

“We have a pedigree of motor racing,” Harvey said. “It’s well over 70 years since we entered motorsport and have been very successful in a number of series over the years. The U.S. is massively important to us and the IMSA series is very important to us.

“In addition, we’re looking to complement it with the commonization of the regulations so we can compete in the World Endurance Championship.

“We sell Cadillacs throughout the globe and that gives us greater coverage and greater reach in geographical locations where we also look to perform. And then being able to complement what we do here with the opportunity, should we be successful, of entering Formula 1.

“We see that as another piece of the jigsaw puzzle and very fitting to the Cadillac brand and the heritage of both Cadillac Racing and General Motors Racing.

“It’s a big commitment. We believe that the partnership that we discussed last week is wonderful and gives us the ability to perform.

“We believe that we have a blend of skills sets across the organizations that means we can use the expertise from both parties to put together a package that ensures that we’ll be competitive.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John