Cadillac CTS-V.R: Racing and winning in the Pirelli World Challenge

Image

Lead Photo CTS-Vs 02The Cadillac CTS-V series of vehicles are General Motors’ prestige performance cars that are challenging the best cars the world has to offer. Cadillac has thrown down the gauntlet in the marketplace and they’ve taken the offensive to the racetrack as well. Team Cadillac successfully competes in the Pirelli World Challenge with the CTS-V.R, a special racing version of the CTS-V Coupe. In 2014, Team Cadillac will be defending their manufacturer’s championships and the driver’s championships they won in 2012 and 2013.

Pirelli World Challenge Series

The Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) is a production-based road racing series that provides manufacturers a competitive arena in which to prove their products. PWC races are sprint races of 50 minutes duration. There are no scheduled pit stops, no driver changes and not a lot of racing strategy—if a driver is not starting at the front of the class, he or she has 50 minutes of flat-out driving to get there.

Cadillac CTS-V.R

The Cadillac CTS-V.R is a specially modified version of the CTS-V Coupe. Anything that does not contribute to the CTS-V.R accelerating faster, stopping quicker or handling better has been tossed out. It weighs in about 1,000 pounds lighter that the street-legal Coupe and is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine that is restricted by PWC rules to 505 horsepower. Brembo brakes provide enough stopping power to make your eyes bug out and Pirelli racing tires give it plenty of cornering grip.

CTS-V 02Team Cadillac Drivers

The CTS-V.R is undoubtedly a superb race car, but a team doesn’t win consecutive championships in the very competitive PWC without exceptional drivers, and Team Cadillac has two of the best—Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim. Both are experienced and talented, and both have won multiple drivers championships in the PWC for Cadillac in addition to being successful at Le Mans and Sebring. The competitive fire still burns intensely and once the green flag drops, no quarter is asked or given.

Here’s a video of Team Cadillac in action.

New Players for 2014

Team Cadillac’s quest for a manufacturer’s GT Class championship three-peat this year was thrown a potential stumbling block by a change in the PWC rules allowing FIA-homologated GT3 cars to compete in GT. The CTS-V.R will now have to go head-to-head against some of the best cars in the world—the Audi R8, McLaren 12C, Nissan GTR, Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche GT3 R, Acura TLX-GT and the Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia.

After four races at three different venues this year, it looks like business as usual—Team Cadillac finds itself in first place in the manufacturer’s points, while Johnny and Andy are second and third in the driver’s standings.

The next race for Team Cadillac will be the V-Series Challenge at Belle Isle, in Detroit Mich. on the weekend of May 30-June 1. NBC Sports Network will broadcast the race on Sunday, June 15 at 2:30 p.m.

Tune in and root for Team Cadillac to extend their lead, and for Johnny and Andy to move up in the driver’s standings.

 

 

Luxury

The English word luxury has roots in the Latin luxus.  Luxus means ‘abundance’ or “sumptuous enjoyment”.  A luxury can be defined as an indulgence.  It can be something that is particularly elegant, or sumptuous.   Charles Hodgen has a nice article on Luxury here.

In the Latin luxuria meant sinful enjoyment.  Originally in French, Italian, and Spanish the equivalent words meant ‘lust’, and originally in Old English in the 1300s had a related meaning.

Luxury received a gradually improved meaning over the centuries according to the Online etymology dictionary.  Meaning “habit of indulgence in what is choice or costly” is from 1630s; that of “sumptuous surroundings” is from 1704; that of “something enjoyable or comfortable beyond life’s necessities” is from 1780. First used as an adjective 1930.

Today luxury means having the nicest things — the best, the most elegance, the most sumptuous.

Buyers enjoy Cadillacs because they are luxury automobiles — they offer luxury appointments, fine leather, wood grains, abundant power, smooth but capable chassis.  But don’t feel bad if your desire for a new Cadillac seems to border on lust — blame the language for not giving you the right terms to describe your emotions.

Cadillac CTS-V

Test Drive: 2010 Cadillac CTS-V The Pickup

Mike Brosin and Thomas Bies of Crest Cadillac suggested that I needed a little more Cadillac hands-on experience, so Crest Cadillac set me up with a test drive in the 2010 Cadillac CTS-V super car for this weekend.

I picked up the CTS-V this morning.  Tony Griggs of Cadillac Sales handled the paperwork for me.  Tony also found a treat for me, a 2008 V-Series mini-brochure with the color cards for the 2008 STS-V, since he knows I have my eye on the STS-V market.

Tony Griggs of Crest Cadillac

The Staff was nice enough to treat me like a paying Customer, and I got a full vehicle familiarization briefing from Greg Vetrano, a Crest Cadillac Delivery Coordinator.  Greg went over all the controls and features of the Cadillac, and explained how to customize the car for my use.  Yes, I am a Cadillac fan and I currently drive a CTS, but it does not have some of the features of the test car.  Also, I appreciate the time and care that Greg takes one on one to ensure that the Customer knows how to operate everything.  Everything is easy once you know how, but having someone show you beats even reading the manual for time savings.

Greg Vetrano, Delivery Coordinator

Everyone at Crest was perfectly friendly and chipper.  They appeared to have good traffic in the Dealership, with people taking advantage of the beautiful day to shop for a new car.  I appreciated them taking so much time with me.  I plan to drive and write about the car over the weekend.

2010 Cadillac CTS-V Window Sticker

The test car is the perfect Cadillac CTS-V to check out — it has the Recaro Sport seat option, and the Midnight Sapele Wood.  More on these later.

First impressions:  this is an absolutely amazing vehicle.  It is quiet, refined, smooth, and world-class fast.

My Host for this test drive is Crest Cadillac of Plano, Texas.  They are located at 2701 North Central Expressway, Plano, Texas.  You can contact them by phone Toll-free at 1-866-697-9144 or locally at (972)578-7511, or on Twitter or Facebook