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Cadillac Making ‘Major Progress’ After 11,000 kms in Testing

Third Cadillac V-LMDh at Daytona could result in no pre-season WEC testing in Europe…

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Cadillac has been making “major progress” in the development of its V-LMDh after surpassing 11,000 kms in testing according to GM sports car racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser.

The luxury automaker, which had cars from both Chip Ganassi Racing and Action Express Racing present at the recent IMSA-sanctioned test at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, has transitioned into a more advanced phase of testing ahead of the prototype’s debut in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“You never get everything you want because you show up with these crazy, ambitious test plans,” Klauser told reporters during an IMSA-hosted Zoom call. “But, I’d say, everyone was pleased with our time at the track.

“We’re making major progress with the car.

“We transitioned from getting it to run to testing a couple of tests ago and now we’re full steam ahead of working through our plan.

“The more miles we put on the better from a durability perspective and checking all of our parts.

“[We’re] working through all the integration side with the hybrid to the engine to the rest of the car, working on the braking system and even looking at the aerodynamic part of the car as well.”

While behind Porsche in terms of total mileage, Klauser said the actual number is “probably secondary” with the focus on dialing in the car prior to its homologation, which is currently ongoing.

She said Cadillac’s next big focus is a 24-hour test at an undisclosed circuit, which Sportscar365 believes is Sebring International Raceway, likely alongside Porsche, which is understood to be attempting a 36-hour continuous run with its 963 prototype this month.

“The 24-hour test is a big deal for us coming up,” Klauser said.

“You learn the most when you do those. We’re excited to see how the car does, making sure we have all the representative parts on the car for that to make sure that test is successful.

“In my perfect world, we would have done the 24-hour test in September. It’s something that we definitely need to get done before we race in January.”

While not disclosing an actual total mileage target, Klauser said she believes they are “at least” 50 percent through its development since the initial car hit the ground running in July.

“The things that are mission critical to get ready for January, I’d say we are about a tick more that halfway through those items,” she said.

“And then there’s looking beyond January and the things we’ll be doing in the WEC we have a list for that as well.

“We’re prioritizing getting the car ready for Rolex [24] just because that comes first and then we’ll look at the WEC schedule and the unique things that WEC tracks bring to the equation.”

Third Car at Daytona Could Limit Pre-Season WEC Testing

Klauser indicated that having its single full-season, CGR-run FIA World Endurance Championship Cadillac entry on the grid for the Rolex 24 could result in the car not testing in Europe until after the WEC season-opener at Sebring in March.

“That could be the case,” she said. “We have not finalized our schedule for next year.

“Honestly, our schedule for this year keeps changing just due to circumstances. We’ll see where it slots in and where is makes sense.

“It could be after Sebring; it could be before. It’s just whenever we can get it to work. This has been a wild ride to get this test plan to stick. Everyone has had to learn to be flexible.

“We would like to do some testing in Europe. We have to see when we can fit it in, what tracks we can get [to].

“And then shipping things back and forth at the moment is a lengthy process. So, it’s figuring out what we can fit in with the limited time we have.”

While admitting it’s “not easy” to add a third car for Daytona, Klauser said she’s confident of meeting the goal despite supply-chain challenges.

“When we made the decision to go forward, we were confident that it was the right move for us,” she said. “I don’t believe any of that confidence has changed.

“I don’t see a huge impact to anything that we’re doing. Whenever we turn these cars on, we’re learning.

“It would be good to get to some tracks in Europe as soon as we can, but even as we drive around the tracks in the U.S. we’re enhancing the program.

“I’m glad we have the three cars at Daytona because it forces us to have all three cars race ready in January and go from there.”

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

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