Project GTP: Cadillac's new Hypercar
- Camilla Coletta
- Oct 26, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 2, 2022
Cadillac is the first constructor that we decided to introduce to you, as the American manifacturer is getting ready to make its comeback in the Hypercar category after 20 years. In 2022 they endurance raced in the GTE Pro class regularly, with the car n. 4, starting to build their base to debut in the World Endurance Championship's and IMSA main category. The american team will race with only one car: let's analize it and discovering its roots.
The Hystory
Cadillac started participating into endurance racing in 1950, with the iconic 61 Coupé De Ville, later modified and renamed "Le Monstre" after its unusual aesthetic. Together with this car, 11th at La Sarthe's finish line, there was another one - without any adjustments - who actually beat it. Cadillac comes back in 2023 with the goal to win the 24H of Le Mans in the main class.
Chip Ganassi Racing will be the team managing Cadillac's official Hypercar: the american team is located in the US and competes in NASCAR and Indy Racing League, where it collected almost 90 wins since it was born, in 1990. We've seen iconic drivers racing with this team, such as Zanardi, who won the majority of the races with them, Montoya and Andretti.
The lines, the chassis and the livery
This car's, named "Project GTP", chassis will be made by Dallara and it will be the same as the BMW one: it's inspired by the DP217, the LMP2 chassis. The main differences will mainly be located on the wheel arches: the vents, the lower air intake's structure; the direction of the front and the tail, different from the prototype together with the rear lights. Thanks to Dallara's job, these cars will have a very similar chassis that will still allow them to have the same performance while having aerodynamic and engine differences. The stilistic lines can be found in the rear, through the spoiler and the exhausts.
The Engine
The heat engine is a 5,5 cylinder V8, derivative from the one used by the C8.R, 6H of Monza's winning car. Instead of the single came shaft with rods and rocker arms, with two valves per cylinder, the timing system will be double overhead camshaft, per bank, with four valves for each cylinder: this is a very iconic choice for the american team. On the other hand, the hybrid engine is standard, with 7-speed transmission, with a decoupling clutch, made by Xtrac. The battery, as the regulations demand, is handed by Williams Advanced Engineering.
The Drivers
Cadillac chose Alex Lynn, Earl Bamber and Westrook, who already raced with Chip Ganassi in 2019, for the WEC season in the main car. The team has already expressed its will to compete with more than one car at the 24H of Le Mans, so we'll see other drivers racing with it for sure.
During the next few weeks we'll publish articles focused on every car that will race in the Hypercar class next year. Sign up to our newsletter to keep updated with every news on the 7 Hypercars who will race in 2023!
Written by Camilla Coletta, Translated by Alice Cecchi
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