Hundreds of laps and atop qualifying charts to start 2018 Daytona Beach, Fla (7 January 2018 ) -  Action Express Racing opened the 2018 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season with three days of testing at Daytona International Speedway with the Roar Before the 24.   Joao Barbosa (PRT), Filipe Albuquerque (PRT), and Christian Fittipaldi (BRA) shared the driving duties in the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R, while the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R was shared by Eric Curran (USA), Felipe Nasr (BRA), Mike Conway (UK), and IMSA debut driver Stu Middleton (UK).  The 2018 IMSA WeatherTech season marks the second season with the Cadillac DPi-V.R for the team. 2017 saw both team entries race to victory, while the Mustang Sampling Racing squad secured the Tequila Patron North American Cup for the fourth consecutive year.  The two machines combined for a class-high 437 laps during the three days of running, providing a lot of data for the team engineers to review to prepare for the 24 hour race in two weeks time.  The event also featured a first-ever qualifying session during the Roar event. Filipe Nasr posted the fast time of the weekend in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R in the 15-minute qualifying session with a run of 1:35.806-seconds to earn the team the first choice of pit and garage locations for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. “I wanted to be back here in IMSA and finally I am here,” Nasr said. “The team is really focused on the race. We all feel very confident in the car. Today in the qualifying session, we gave everything we had and finished first. The cars at the front are very close in time. I am pretty happy with the way the Cadillac is performing. When I ran here in 2012 it was one of the best experiences of my career. The IMSA championship is growing. There is such a strong field here, it is great for a racing driver to be competing at Daytona. I got a third place here, and now I want to go for the win.” The No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R entry, which scored the Rolex 24 pole in 2017, set the third fastest time of the session as the team effort produced impressive results. “It was fantastic,” Albuquerque said. “I just missed the peak of the Continental tire. We get the first pits with our two cars, so let’s see how it goes with the race. All of the drivers put in a lot of laps and we will go into the 24-hour race with a lot of confidence in our Mustang Sampling Cadillac.” The Mustang Sampling and Whelen Engineering Racing campaigns will return to Daytona International Speedway for the Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 27-28.

Video: Mustang Sampling CEO discusses advantages of IMSA program:  http://mustangsampling.com/mustang-sampling-benefits-imsa/   Denver, NC (5 January 2018 ) -  Action Express Racing is pleased to confirm that Mustang Sampling will continue as the primary partner for the team’s No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R.  Mustang Sampling, LLC is the innovator of Analytically Accurate® solutions within sample conditioning systems, and strives to provide the best measurement and control provider of analytically accurate solutions to the Natural Gas, Natural Gas Liquids (NGL), and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industries.  Mustang Sampling joined Action Express ahead of the 2015 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season,  helping to fuel the success that saw the group secure the IMSA Team and Driver Championships for the second season running. The collaboration has now produced four consecutive (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017) Tequila Patron Endurance Cup titles as the team prepares to launch its 2018 IMSA campaign looking to extend that record of success.  The 2018 driver roster for the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R will once again feature Joao Barbosa (PRT), Filipe Albuquerque (PRT), and Christian Fittipaldi (BRA), who has moved to the endurance event line up as he takes on a new role with the team as Sporting Director.  “We are very pleased to continue our support of Christian (Fittipaldi), Joao (Barbosa), Felipe (Albuquerque), and this entire team of talented individuals that back them up,” said Ken Thompson, Mustang Sampling President and CEO. “We feel as though this race team is an extension of our Mustang Sampling family and we are very proud of the team and their perseverance no matter what the circumstances are. The relationship has been beneficial to us commercially, and deepening and extending this relationship is a great way to support our partners and customers.” The company has utilized the race program as a centerpiece for the annual Mustang Sampling Product and Customer Appreciation event, as well as interacting with customers and clients on-site during the IMSA event weekends. “Partners—and long lasting relationships— are key to any successful organization, so we are very pleased to have earned the support of Mustang Sampling once again,” said team principal Bob Johnson. “We’ve been able to build on this program every year.  Ken (Thompson, Mustang Sampling President and CEO) and his group continue to develop new ways to leverage their program with us into new opportunities for Mustang Sampling so it is great to be able to continue this program together.”  “I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of different team sponsors through the years, and Mustang Sampling has been a lot more like being a part of a family than just having a name on the side of the car,” said Fittipaldi. “Ken and Brenda (Thompson) are such amazing supporters for everybody on the team, and they bring what we to do to their business as well. So I’m very happy that it has been successful for them and looking forward to continuing to represent Mustang Sampling on the track and off.”  Mustang Sampling Racing will be on track this weekend at Daytona International Speedway for the ROAR Before the 24 January 5-7.  Mustang Sampling: Mustang Sampling, LLC is the innovator of Analytically Accurate® solutions within sample conditioning systems. We provide custom solutions of products and services globally to the Natural Gas, Natural Gas Liquids (NGL), and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industries. Mustang Sampling continues to pioneer integrated control systems, allowing our customers to maintain phase stability from sample extraction at the source through sample analysis. Our products are continuously improved and subjected to the highest quality standards which provides our customers with the best sample conditioning solutions. -sundaygroup-

(L-R) Joao Barbosa, Filipe Albuquerque, Christian Fittipaldi João Barbosa The three-time and co-defending IMSA TPNAEC Champion, João Barbosa returns to Action Express Racing to drive the familiar #5 gold, black and white Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R seeking his third IMSA WeatherTech Championship at the pinnacle of North American sports car competition. João resides in Ormond Beach, FL with his wife and two sons. He is an avid runner and cyclist.  Filipe Albuquerque Filipe joins the defending Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup and two-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship winning No .5 MustangSampling Cadillac Dpi-V.R for the 2017 endurance races: Rolex 24 at Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring and the season finale, Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Filipe resides in his hometown  of Cambria, Portugal.  Christian Fittipaldi Two-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion driver Christian Fittipaldi returns to Action Express Racing for  his fifth full season of competition following a third consecutive Tequila Patron' North American Endurance  Cup Championship with co-driver João Barbosa. Outside of sports car racing,  the Brazilian satiates his need for competition by racing in mountain bike and karting events, both in the U.S. and his home country of Brazil.

About Mustang Sampling Mustang Sampling, LLC is the innovator of Analytically Accurate® solutions within sample conditioning systems. We provide custom solutions of products and services globally to the Natural Gas, Natural Gas Liquids (NGL), and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industries. Mustang Sampling continues to pioneer integrated control systems, allowing our customers to maintain phase stability from sample extraction at the pipeline through sample analysis. Our products are continuously improved and subjected to the highest quality standards which provides our customers with the best sample conditioning solutions.

Stuart Middleton and Stuart Moseley in Sunoco Whelen Shoot Out for Rolex 24 Opportunity   Denver, N.C. (25 October 2017) -  While Felipe Nasr, Eric Curran, and Mike Conway already know what their plans are for January, there is still one name yet to be added to the driver line up in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R  for the 2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona.   That name will be decided this weekend in the final event of the 2018 Sunoco Whelen Challenge, which provides the champion with the opportunity to race the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Stuart Moseley (right) has one final chance to deny Stuart Middleton (below) the title and Rolex 24 At Daytona prize drive this weekend when he contests the Radical European Masters season finale at Barcelona. Moseley is the only driver with a mathematical chance of beating Middleton, whose British GT4 title-winning campaign came to a close at Donington Park in late September. Moseley can score points for fastest laps, pole, and overall result in each of the three Radical races on the weekend. If he can win all three, he could just emerge with a shot at the Rolex 24. The Sunoco Whelen shoot out is now in its ninth season, with the champion driving the No. 31 Whelen entry every year since 2014. Whomever emerges to get the nod to drive the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R will be added to the list of previous Sunoco Whelen Challenge winners Seb Morris (2017), Jonny Adam (2016), Phil Keen (2015), and Bradley Smith (2014) who have raced the Whelen entry in the Daytona classic.  One racer who earned the Sunoco Whelen championship was Nasr, who scored a Rolex 24 podium in his 2012 debut appearance in the event. Nasr has joined the team as a full-season co-driver with Curran in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R in 2018. “We’ve seen some great talent come through the Sunoco Whelen championship, and with the title on the line this weekend we will be paying close attention to the results to see who will be joining us in Daytona next year,” said Action Express Racing team manager Gary Nelson. “It is a great opportunity for these drivers to compete in the Rolex 24 and I think that’s why we’ve seen these championships come down to the wire for the last few years!” Results and updates from the championship are available via @sunoco_uk as well as http://www.sunocochallenge.com.  The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R will be in action next at Daytona International Speedway on December 5-6 as part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship open test.  -Sunday Group Management Media contact:  Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management media@sundaymanagement.com (317) 908-2975

 

Since the team’s 2004 arrival with the first-gen CTS-V sedan it has amassed 33 wins, 88 other podium, 25 pole positions and taken home five Drivers’ championships and five Manufacturers’ crowns. The program has featured nearly a dozen drivers, including Johnny O’Connell, Michael Cooper, Ricky and Jordan Taylor, Andy Pilgrim, Max Angelelli, Ron Fellows, John Heinricy, Olivier Beretta and Lawson Aschenbach, with Cooper and Jordan Taylor claiming this year’s SprintX title.

Mark Kent, GM’s director of motorsports competition, said: "Throughout 11 years of competition with Cadillac Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge Series, we have taken tremendous pride in our successes…  We also have taken tremendous pride in the level of technology transfer that has occurred between the Cadillacs competing on track and their showroom counterparts.  This technology transfer has helped make the Cadillac ATS-V and CTS-V production models very track-capable and athletic."

Added Rich Brekus, global director of product strategy for Cadillac: "In 2018, we will take a pause in Pirelli World Challenge as we focus completely on our effort in prototype sportscar racing. However, we maintain a regular and open communication with Greg Gill, the World Challenge CEO, and hope to one day return to the Series in some form."

A reason for the program’s end was not given, although the manufacturer has left the door open for a possible future return. Any possible future return would unlikely come with the current-generation ATS-V.Rs, which were built to FIA GT3 specification but never raced in the hands of customer teams, or outside of PWC.

New York, N.Y.,  September 28, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    Looking back on 332 races, five Manufacturer championships, and seven Driver championships since 2004. New York, N.Y., Cadillac will place its championship-winning Pirelli World Challenge V-Performance Racing GT team into hibernation, following a September sweep of the GT class at the season-finale double header at Sonoma Raceway. Since the team first assembled in 2004 to take the first-ever Cadillac CTS-V Sedan sprint racing against the toughest GT competition around, it has amassed 33 wins, 121 podium finishes (including the wins), and 25 pole positions. As a team, Cadillac competed in 332 races across eleven years of competition. Drivers having contributed to the program include Johnny O'Connell, Michael Cooper, Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Andy Pilgrim, Max "the Axe" Angelelli, Ron Fellows, John Heinricy, Olivier Berretta, and Lawson Aschenbach. The team won World Challenge Manufacturer Championships in 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Cadillac Racing drivers earned the World Challenge Driver's Championship in 2005 with Andy Pilgrim, and with Johnny O'Connell in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. This year, Michael Cooper and copilot Jordan Taylor earned the first-ever SprintX Driver Championship honors. "Throughout 11 years of competition with Cadillac Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge Series, we have taken tremendous pride in our successes, including 33 wins, 121 podium finishes and multiple manufacturer and driver's championships," said Mark Kent, Director of Motorsports Competition for Cadillac Racing. "We also have taken tremendous pride in the level of technology transfer that has occurred between the Cadillacs competing on track and their showroom counterparts.  This technology transfer has helped make the Cadillac ATS-V and CTS-V production models very track-capable and athletic." "Cadillac road cars are better than ever thanks to racing with World Challenge," said Rich Brekus, Global Director of Product Strategy for Cadillac. "Equally importantly, the Cadillac Racing GT Team has earned the enthusiasm of thousands of fans around the world. You will see Cadillac Racing t-shirts in the crowd at LeMans each year, thanks to the GT program. The team has provided excellent representation on and off the track, and perfectly reflects the core of passion in our brand. The drivers and crew have been true ambassadors as we introduced Cadillac V-Performance to the marketplace. In 2018, we will take a pause in Pirelli World Challenge as we focus completely on our effort in prototype sports car racing. However, we maintain a regular and open communication with Greg Gill, the World Challenge CEO, and hope to one day return to the Series in some form." Finishing in style befitting Cadillac, Michael Cooper punctuated the success of the Cadillac Racing GT program by winning both of the season-ending races at Sonoma Raceway in the Vector Blue No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe on September 16th and 17th. In the program's second and third chapters, rebuilding after the 2008-10 stand down for the Great Recession, the team's most competitive streak occurred from 2012-15 when Johnny O'Connell earned four consecutive driver championships. Three of those were secured in the mighty Cadillac CTS-V.R Coupe and one in today's GT3-homologated Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe. In the same period, O'Connell posted 13 wins in the CTS-V.R and five in the ATS-V.R. Fast Facts: Measuring the Achievement Raw numbers from the Cadillac Racing GT program show the increasing intensity of competition and pace as both the Pirelli World Challenge series and the Cadillac Racing effort have matured in recent years: Miles on Track Hours Raced Tires Consumed Sets of Brake Pads Serious Injuries 25,705 260.7 316 162 0 35,577 349.3 349 152 0 In His Words: Johnny O'Connell, No. 3 Cadillac CTS-V.R and ATS-V.R "Having won four championships in seven years, I naturally have lots of amazing memories that Cadillac Racing achieved as a team," O'Connell said. "No championship was easy, and all but one came down to the last race. I remember the race in Houston, when Audi brought in Rene Rast to try to help win the championship. Needing a win for our Cadillac CTS-V.R, on a drying track we took the lead with two laps to go and wound up champions. That was special. "With the Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe, in 2015, we burned a car to the ground at Barber then two weeks later won both races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in the spare car that the team worked 24 hour days getting ready. We were successful because of everyone on the team and within Cadillac.  The Cadillac leadership of Mark Reuss, Johan DeNysschen, Jim Campbell, and Mark Kent provided the team with the tools needed to excel against the world's top brands. The Cadillac Marketing team utilized our success on the track to promote and educate the world about the athleticism that is Cadillac and its V-Series. "Our program managers Dave Leone, David Spitzer, David Caldwell, and Laura Klauser took what we learned on the track and built it into the production cars, in addition to serving as our representatives with World Challenge management. "Finally, the day to day leadership of team manager Steve Cole; one of the best I've ever had the pleasure to work with. The entire team at Cadillac Racing and Pratt and Miller. Each trophy, win and championship was the result of a collective effort. Sad to see the program take a break, grateful for all we achieved." Michael Cooper closed this chapter on Cadillac in the World Challenge Series by winning the final two races at Sonoma Raceway. He and Jordan Taylor combined to win the 2017 SprintX GT championship. Cooper posted five wins in his two-year tenure with the team. In His Words: Michael Cooper, No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R "My best memory with Cadillac Racing has to be the double win at Sonoma to close out the 2017 season," Cooper said. "In the final race of the season, starting from the outside of the front row, I was able to make a move into the lead. For the rest of the race I would have to hold off a charging Patrick Long to bring home the victory, which I was able to do.  I was extremely proud to give all of the people in the team one final win. It was an incredible run to end the era of Cadillac Racing's ATS-V.R in Pirelli World Challenge." Recollections from the Cadillac Driver Hall of Fame: Names You Recognize One of the most memorable races was Cadillac's first event, at Sebring in 2004. Andy Pilgrim lined-up for the start in second, next to teammate and pole sitter Max "the Axe" Angelelli. Pilgrim's Cadillac CTS-V.R stalled. By the time he got it re-fired the field was into Turn 2. He was able to drive back through the competition and finish second behind Angelelli, giving the brand its first 1-2 finish in its first outing. "One of my fondest memories of racing with Cadillac was the first race at Sebring in 2004," Pilgrim said. "I realized my car had a dragging clutch before the standing start, so I chose to switch it off before the green flag and wait. After the green flag waved, I was thankfully not hit by any of the 50 cars behind me as they flew by. Realizing I had the dragging clutch meant I would have to somehow get the car rolling on the starter motor to have any chance of getting into the race. The start line at Sebring is on a totally flat piece of concrete, so I put the car in gear, then rolled it on the starter motor. As it was rolling, I quickly knocked it into neutral and fired up the engine. I then tried to bang it in second gear without the clutch, while still rolling. On the third try it worked and off I went. The rest of the race ended up in the history books as Max Angelelli won and I ended up in second place. A close second was winning the first championship for Cadillac in 2005. It was very special, especially doing it against such a strong, deep field." Max "the Axe" Angelelli holds the distinction of debuting two Cadillac race cars and winning in their first outings. In 2004 Max won at Sebring in the Cadillac CTS-V.R Sedan and this year he was a part of the Konica Minolta team that won the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the first-ever competition outing for the all-new Cadillac DPi-V.R prototype. "It is difficult to isolate one specific memory as I've had so many," said Angelelli. "But as you can imagine, the Sebring race win was special and if you think that I repeated that this year, debut a car and win the race, both times in a Cadillac and both times at an iconic venue, that was special. The team always made me feel at home. We had a great time and one of the best was at Road Atlanta in 2004 where I had to race with only one gear. I managed to finish third, a good day for manufacturer points. At the podium ceremony, I'd made a bet with my car engineer, Lynn Bishop, that he couldn't drink the entire bottle of champagne in one go, and he did it!" Canadian racing legend Ron Fellows drove the Cadillac CTS-V.R to two race wins posting one of the most significant early wins for the team at Long Beach in 2006. "Getting the opportunity to race at my home track, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, in the early days of the Cadillac racing program is a special memory," Fellows said. "I was able to get one of the first wins for the program at my home track so that stands out. Another one was at Long Beach. Racing through the streets of Long Beach is always fun. I was in a battle up until the end of the race. The Cadillac didn't have the highest straight-line speed, but we handled and cornered really well. With two turns to go on the last lap I got a nice run on the Viper and passed him on the outside for the win at the end of the long back straight. Getting any kind of win at Long Beach is a big deal; that one in the Cadillac was fun." Lawson Aschenbach drove the CTS-V.R in 2007 and posted an important win at Road Atlanta to go along with six podium finishes. "My fondest memory with Cadillac Racing was my first win in the rain at Road Atlanta," Aschenbach said. "Tough conditions and intense battles with my teammate, Ron Fellows, made for a great race. We had a year full of podiums, but lacked that all-important win. It was a proud moment and one of the biggest accomplishments in my career. The first time I drove the CTS-V.R I was blown away by the handling and drivability. Not only did the racecar look good, it sounded awesome with that throaty V-8. It was also my first time working with Pratt & Miller, and I was impressed by the professionalism and dedication to win. Everything about the program showcased excellence, a word that embodies the brand." For 2018, Cadillac will continues the on-track success in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship with its three Cadillac DPi-V.R race cars campaigned by Wayne Taylor Racing and Action Express Racing. Ricky and Jordan Taylor, in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R, lead the championship going into the final event Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta next week. The brothers must take the start and one driver must complete 45-minutes of driving to win the Driver and Manufacturer championships for Cadillac. Additional information can be viewed at Cadillac.com, GM.com, media.gm.com, world-challenge.com, johnnyoconnell.com; Twitter @MSCooper1, @JohnnyOConnell, @Jordan10Tyalor, @RickyTaylor_10, @Cadillac; Facebook, GM, Michael Cooper, Johnny O'Connell, Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Cadillac.  A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac has been growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at cadillac.com. Cadillac's media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com. The Cadillac Racing media guide can be viewed at media.cadillac.com.  For additional information please contact Kyle Chura, kyle@kcapr.com or (248) 821-0468.

Reprint from Pirelli World Championship News

AUSTIN, Texas – The Cadillac duo of Michael Cooper and Jordan Taylor officially captured the 2017 10-race Pirelli World Challenge GT SprintX Pro/Pro class drivers’ championship in driving their No. 8 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-V.R. during the three-race SprintX race weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

Cooper, the 27-year-old racer from Syosset, N.Y., and Taylor, the 27-year-old from Orlando, Fla., used consistent performances to take the highly-competitive GT Sprint Pro/Pro division over a stellar field of world-class drivers and machines. Cooper and Taylor recorded one victory (Canadian Tire Motorsport Park), one second-place (Lime Rock Park), two third-place (VIR, Utah) and three fourth-place finishes to score a three-point (175-172) winning margin after COTA’s tripleheader SprintX weekend. The only DNF for Cooper and Taylor came last Sunday at COTA.

The PWC SprintX championship featured 60-minute, two-driver teams at five venues (VIR, CTMP, Lime Rock, Utah and COTA) with ten events. The GT overall championship will include the ten SprintX races and nine GT Sprint events for a total of 19 in 2017.

Second in the GT SprintX Pro/Pro category was the two-time SprintX race-winning pair of Ryan Dalziel of Scotland and Daniel Morad of Canada who parlayed wins at VIR and COTA to take the runner-up position in the No. 2 CRP Racing/DeVilbiss Mercedes-AMG GT3 followed by current overall GT point leader Patrick Long of Manhattan Beach, Calif., in the No. 58 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, who won two SprintX races (Lime Rock with Mark Lieb and COTA with Jorg Bergmeister).

Rounding out the top-five in the GT SprintX Pro/Pro class was Italy’s Daniel Mancinell in the No. 31 TR3 Racing/The Collection Ferrari 488 GT3 followed by the other Cadillac duo of Johnny O’Connell of Flowery Branch, Ga., and Ricky Taylor of Apopka, Fla., in the No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-V.R. PWC rookie Mancinelli won a SprintX Pro/Pro season-high three races with co-drivers Andrea Montermini (VIR) and Niccolo Schiro (Utah and COTA).
“This is my third Pirelli World Challenge championship,” said Cooper, who also captured the PWC Touring Car and GTS division in his early driving career. “This is from tons of hard work by the Cadillac Racing team. This year kicked off in Virginia with a battery failure. The team was able to get it changed and we went back out on the lead lap. Then we came back to finish on the podium that day. It was amazing. It was good consistent driving by Jordan and myself all year that made all of the difference. We never had the overall fastest car, just great team work and keeping the Cadillac on track.”
“This is my first GT championship to go along with my Grand-Am Prototype type championship,” Jordan Taylor said. “It was under tough circumstances today, thankfully we built up enough points where it didn’t matter. Michael and I drove very well together all year. We liked a similar set-up in the car and in this type of racing synergy that wins championships. We may have not had the fastest car, but the team’s great preparation and the consistent results accomplished by no mistakes and failures makes it a great season. We are happy to win it for everyone at Cadillac.”

In addition, Cadillac Racing won the SprintX Team Point Championship with 204 points over Wright Motorsports (181), CPR Racing (172), K-PAX Racing (169) and TR3 Racing (161).

In the GT SprintXPro/Am category, veteran racer James Sofronas of Villa Park, Calif., has enjoyed a sensational Pirelli World Challenge season by claiming five victories (CTMP (2), Utah and COTA (2)) plus two second-place and two third-place finishes. Sofronas teamed with Laurens Vanthoor of Belgium for one win and young Porsche star Mathieu Jaminet of France for three other triumphs in the No. 14 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R. Sofronas also has scored five GTA Sprint wins in 2017.

Sofronas totaled 227 points in the SprintX Pro/Am division to win the class title over the Porsche team of Michael Schein of Glen Cove, N.Y., and Jan Heylen of Tampa, Fla. in the No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R with 214 and the Mercedes contingent of Tim Pappas of Boston, Mass., and Jeroen Bleekemolen of Monaco in the No. 54 Black Swan Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 with 196.

“This is the team effort as I said before,” said Sofronas. “I have had teammates like Mathieu, Laurens Vanthoor and Matthew Halliday who give me all the confidence I need. They are great drivers. These guys don’t miss a beat. So, it’s very gratifying to win the championship on a high note with three wins at COTA. I’m really proud of Joe, Chris, Robin, Keith, Frank, Mike Neville – all the guys at GMG. It has been a tremendous season for us in Pirelli World Challenge.”

Another veteran driver, Henrique Cisneros of Miami, Fla., drove his No. 30 MOMO/NGT Motorsports Ferrari 458 GT3 to nine wins in the GT Am/Am category with three different drivers – Tyler McQuarrie, Jonathon Ziegelman and Peter Ludwig – in taking the SprintX championship.

Other SprintX class champions were Alessandro Bressan and Yuki Harata in the No. 55 Dream Racing Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo in the GT Cup Pro/Am; Joe Toussaint and Cory Friedman in the No. 90 Autometrics Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the GT Cup Am/Am; Adam Merzon and Trent Hindman in the No. 017 Case-It Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR in the GTS Pro/Am; and Greg Liefooghe and Aristotle Balogh in the No. 019 Stephan Cameron Racing BMW M3 E46 in the GTS Am/Am.

The final rounds for the GT/GTA/GT Cup and GTS/GTSA classes are scheduled for the PWC Grand Prix of Sonoma Sept. 15-17 at Sonoma Raceway. In addition to the final GT and GTS Sprint titles being determined, the final GT overall championship will be decided with Long (320 points) currently leading defending GT champion Alvaro Parente of Portugal (292), Cooper (288), Mancinelli (267) and O’Connell (257).

Partial Reprint from Cadillac Pressroom - Kyle Chura

Cooper and Jordan Taylor lead SprintX points; three races this weekend

NEW YORK - Cadillac V-Performance drivers Michael Cooper (Syosset, N.Y), Jordan Taylor (Apopka, Fla.), Johnny O'Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) and Ricky Taylor (Lake Mary, Fla.) are heading to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas for the final three races of the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) SprintX Championship, September 1-3.

The Cadillac Racing team heads south by southwest leading the PWC SprintX Championship. The series will run three SprintX, two-driver 60-minute races, this weekend as one is a make-up from the rain cancelled event at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP) in May.

On the strength of five podium finishes, including a win at CTMP, Cooper and Jordan Taylor have their No. 8 Vector Blue Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe leading the championship points with 141, but the duo is focused on the big picture - the overall PWC GT championship.

"At this point in the championship we have no choice but to be aggressive, to try to beat the championship rivals in the No. 9 McLaren and the No. 58 Porsche in every remaining race," Cooper said. "With that in mind I don't think having three races will impact the way we approach the weekend. Even though we are leading the SprintX standings and I'd love to win that for Cadillac, we can't go into cost and collect mode to make sure we tick that box. I am focused on the big picture. Our goal is to leave COTA in contention for the overall PWC GT title. If we are able to accomplish that, there is a 99.9% chance we will have won the Sprint-X title. 

"Qualifying is of the utmost importance in SprintX just like it is in the PWC Sprint format. The minimum pit stop time (30 seconds in SprintX) makes it difficult to lose or gain multiple positions during those stops. However, the timing of the stops as well as in/out laps provide a little more excitement to the races."

"I don't think I've ever had so many races in one weekend," Jordan Taylor said. "There are a lot of points on the table and a lot of things that can go right or wrong, but we'll approach it the same way as any other weekend. COTA is a great track and I'm sure it will suit the SprintX format well. We have a comfortable lead coming into the weekend, but there are still a lot of points to be won or lost. We have to just keep doing what we've been doing all year - focusing on our own race, running our own pace, and staying out of trouble, that includes qualifying well.

"Qualifying is probably the most important part of the weekend. It's very tough to make passes in these cars, so the farther up you start, the easier your life is going to be. The starts can often get pretty hectic because people know that is their best time to make up positions."

O'Connell and Ricky Taylor in the No. 3 Velocity Red Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe are eighth with 94 and by no means out of the hunt. A strong weekend could catapult them to the front. All four Cadillac Racing drivers have posted wins at the 3.4-mile, 20-turn COTA circuit in their careers and count the track as one of their favorites.

"I was very happy with how things went at Utah in the last SprintX round," O'Connell said.  "Clearly the Ferrari and Acura were in a good place versus everyone else, but I felt Ricky and I executed well. At COTA, I think we have to attack. Do all we can to win. The SprintX format has played out really well for Michael and Jordan, and I have no worries that the team will ask us to do anything other than go for the win.

"Last year at this point we had won several poles and several races.  This year the team's only win was due to a great strategy call at CTMP. And no poles. My energy is best spent getting all I can out of our Cadillac and that's what I plan to do. Early in my career I was told that at the beginning of a race I'm given 100-percent of a car, just bring back one percent and win, which is the game plan."

"I think our main focus will be to start the weekend strong," Ricky Taylor said. "These weekends are built on momentum from qualifying through all of the races. We will try to put together a strong weekend and work together as always to get the car as fast as possible. Also in the back of our minds we will be supporting our teammates and doing what we can to back up Michael and Jordan.

"COTA is a big compromise track, but the lap time always comes through the high-speed sector one, but also on top speed down the back straight. We will have to focus on having a Cadillac that is easy on tires to ensure we have a good car underneath us at the end of the races."

The PWC SprintX races from the Circuit of the Americas, September 1-3, can be followed live at MotorTrendOnDemand.com. Race one will take the green on Friday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. CT; race two, Sept. 2 at 4 p.m.; race three, Sept. 3 at 12:30 p.m. The races will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network Sunday, Sept. 10 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Cadillac Racing, since the team's inception in 2004, has amassed 32 wins, 119 podium finishes (including wins) and 24 pole positions. The team won the World Challenge Manufacturer Championship in 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Team Cadillac drivers have won the World Challenge Driver's Championship in 2005 with Andy Pilgrim and in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 with Johnny O'Connell.

CTS-V   V-SERIES   WORLD OF CADILLAC   RACING HERITAGE  CADILLAC RACES AHEAD Our racing team is well into the IMSA racing season with a number of exciting victories under our belt. Knowing our drivers, there will be more to come. VIEW RACING SCHEDULE MESSY RACE CONDITIONS LEAD TO CLEAN CADILLAC VICTORY The Cadillac team took home a victory at the SportsCar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Eric Curran and Dane Cameron had their first win of the season for the Whelen Engineering Cadillac team. A tricky race due to heavy rain on the track, Cameron credits their win partially to luck. But, Cadillac engineering and performance certainly played an important role. SEE RACE COVERAGE CADILLAC BATTLES FOR FIRST Representing Cadillac in the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge is current V-Performance Racing duo Johnny O'Connell and Michael Cooper, and Cadillac team newcomers Jordan and Ricky Taylor. The series has been close, and we will be holding our breath for the remainder of the races – although we highly recommend that's something our drivers not do. MEET OUR DRIVERS V-PERFORMANCE ACADEMY

Partial Reprint from Cadillac Racing Press Room

Saturday, August 12 Tooele, Utah - Cadillac V-Performance drivers Johnny O'Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) and Ricky Taylor (Lake Mary, Fla.) finished the first of two Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) SprintX races in fourth on Saturday August 12 at Utah Motorsports Campus (UMC). Teammates Michael Cooper (Syosset, N.Y) and Jordan Taylor (Apopka, Fla.) came home in eighth.

In the morning qualifying session, Ricky Taylor had the wheel of the No. 3 Velocity Red Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe and turned a time of 1:48.386 that had him and O'Connell starting fifth on the GT Pro/Pro grid. In the No. 8 Vector Blue Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe Cooper put in a lap of 1:48.497 that had him and Jordan Taylor starting seventh. The duo lead the PWC SprintX points coming into the weekend.

At the drop of the green for the 50-minute, two driver race, the field of 23 cars were spread across the wide UMC front stretch into Turn 1. Cooper was pushed wide in the No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe and got shuffled around losing a couple of positions. Ricky Taylor was able to hold onto the front runners as the first laps cycled through. Cooper was the first to pit for the driver change handing off to Jordan Taylor 30-minutes into the race. Ricky Taylor pitted about a minute later and gave the controls of the No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe to O'Connell. The race went caution free. O'Connell and Ricky Taylor just missed the podium in fourth and Cooper and Jordan Taylor finished eighth.

"All things considered we have a lot to be proud of," O'Connell said. "We didn't expect to be too close to the front with our weight and lack of straight line speed. In my stint you saw what the difference is when you are weighted down, it really eats the tires. I just couldn't catch the Porsche. Ricky did a great job in qualifying and the start. Once I got in we went slippery pretty early. I thought the Acura might have been coming on me, but we worked traffic a little bit better."

"The team performed well," Ricky Taylor said. "The car handled well in qualifying and the race. I don't think we have the pace of the Acura or the Ferrari here. It is a nice clean weekend for me and Johnny so far. We are working well together and we were able to get a solid result of fourth today."

"It was a decent race," Jordan Taylor said. "Judging by the speeds we have seen all weekend we knew it would be a tough race. At the start Michael got pushed wide and was shuffled around a little and that cost a couple of spots and then he got one back. We were able to get another position on pit strategy. We finished in front of the No. 2 car [Mercedes] which is a close competitor in the championship and the 58 [Porsche]. We have a good idea of what the car is like in race conditions and we can work on it for tomorrow."

"The start was pretty hectic," Cooper said. "Every time I made a move to gain a position it seems like I lost two. By the time I got to Turn 6 I was ninth. I got stuck there. We had a good battle with Dalziel in the Mercedes. I couldn't get by him on the track, but we did in the pits. That was good as they are our closest rival in the SprintX Championship. We will take the positives and move on to the race on Sunday."

Saturday, August 12 Tooele, Utah - Cadillac V-Performance drivers Michael Cooper (Syosset, N.Y) and Jordan Taylor (Apopka, Fla.) finished third today in race two at the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) SprintX Championship at Utah Motorsports Campus (UMC). Teammates Johnny O'Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) and Ricky Taylor (Lake Mary, Fla.) came to the checker in fifth.

PWC SprintX rules have the drivers who finished race one start race two. O'Connell lined up the No. 3 Velocity Red Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe on the second row in fourth and Jordan Taylor started the No. 8 Vector Blue Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe from the fourth row in eighth.

At the drop of the green O'Connell raced hard into Turn 1 and moved up to fifth with Jordan Taylor settling into ninth.  On lap two O'Connell moved into third in class and the younger Taylor also moved up a position into eighth. The two Cadillac ATS-V.R cars pitted 31-minutes into the 60-minute race. Soon after, 36-minutes in, the races first caution flew with Ricky Taylor in fourth and Michael Cooper in fifth. On the restart, with debris on his tires, Ricky Taylor was forced to give-up a position into Turn 1 and also had contact with the No. 9 McLaren. Then at the 46-minute mark a second full course caution flew. With just three-minutes remaining the race went green. Michael Cooper was able to drive his No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R by his nemesis in the championship, Patrick Long (No. 58 Porsche), for third. Ricky Taylor was able to help the championship hopes of Cooper by putting the Porsche behind him as well at the finish and taking fifth place with the 58 coming sixth.

"It was exciting at the end," Cooper said. "I was way up on the wheel and in attack mode. We just can't keep losing points to these guys. I think we extended our SprintX points lead today. Jordan did a good job all weekend. The restarts really helped us to make-up track position and allowed me to put the 58 Porsche behind me in the last two laps."

"My stint wasn't the most exciting," Jordan Taylor said. "I got out dragged at the start. We were starting behind some of the Pro/Am cars with the Pro drivers in them. They were taking some risks, so it didn't make sense to battle them. Once we got through the first lap I kind of settled in. Michael did a great job on the restarts to get us on the podium. It was a great weekend for SprintX points for Michael and myself and for Cadillac."

"Another good weekend for Cadillac," Ricky Taylor said. "I messed up that first restart, otherwise I thought we would have had a good shot at the podium. It was a good run for Michael and Jordan. I was able to help the cause a little putting the 58 Porsche behind me. It was a good points day for them for sure. Very exciting racing in those last two restarts. Looking forward to supporting Cadillac for the championship at COTA in a few weeks."

"I was very pleased with my stint," O'Connell said. "The first couple of laps were fun. I thought I was going to be able to get into second as a couple guys went high into Turn 1 and then the Acura came back on me real hard. I had the Mercedes amateur car of Jeroen Bleekemolen behind me and I let him go. He went by the Acura and that allowed me to get by them as well. I got some pressure from the Porsche at the start of my run, but him behind. When the pits were open I had two back-markers battling each other and I got held up a little. It was a risk reward deal. Ricky drove well there at the end so a positive day for us."

Partial Reprint Cadillac Racing Pressroom

Saturday, July 29, 2017 Lexington, Ohio  Cadillac V-Performance drivers Michael Cooper (Syosset, N.Y.) and Johnny O'Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) raced to second and third place finishes respectively in today's running of the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio.

At the drop of the green on the long Mid-Ohio back straight Cooper in the Vector Blue No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe slotted in behind the pole sitting and eventual winning McLaren of Alvaro Parente. Closely behind Cooper was his teammate O'Connell in the Velocity Red No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe. The race was uneventful until a caution flew with just 18-minutes remaining. On the restart a lapped car was between Cooper and leader Parente,

"I don't know if we ran too many qualifying laps and hurt the rear tires, but the car was a handful," Cooper said. "I was hanging on out there, the car was loose on the rear tires. Johnny may have been a little faster, but I appreciate him running me clean and not making a move. We are going to stay up late tonight and make some adjustments for tomorrow. The Cadillac Racing guys will figure it out. I am happy with second today."which allowed the McLaren driver to seal the win and the Cadillac racing duo had to settle for second and third on the day. 

The Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio race two will take the green flag at 12 p.m. ET tomorrow and will be televised on CBS Sports the same day at 2 p.m. ET. "We had a really good Cadillac today," O'Connell said. "I might have been able to play with the McLaren a little, but it wasn't worth taking a risk on getting by Michael and risking both cars. I am pleased with third and Michael taking second. I will be ready and if the car is as good tomorrow as it was today I can move up."

Sunday, July 30, 2017 Lexington, Ohio Cadillac V-Performance drivers Michael Cooper (Syosset, N.Y.) and Johnny O'Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) raced to seventh and eleventh place finishes respectively in today's running of the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio.

Based upon their fast laps from yesterday's race, O'Connell started race two sixth with Cooper lining-up on the next row in seventh. The Cadillac racing drivers' fate was pretty much sealed on the opening lap. At the drop of the green Cooper in his Vector Blue No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe was balked at the start and that allowed two competitors to get by him before the first turn. He got back on the throttle and came around the first lap in ninth positon. O'Connell was headed into the Key Hole running in fourth in his Velocity Red No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe on the first lap when a Porsche got loose on the outside of him and then he got out of sorts and had a lazy spin onto the grass. He recovered in 22nd position and proceeded to make his way through the field posting the fast lap of the race. At the checker it was Cooper seventh and O'Connell 11th with Alvaro Parente in his McLaren taking his second win on the weekend.

"At the start it was like Long Beach all over again," Cooper said. "The Acura drove into a hole that wasn't there and I if I didn't lift he wrecks me and his teammate. They just went through that at Road America and we also saw some of that driving yesterday in the GTS race. If I don't lift there and save my championship hopes there is a huge crash. After that I struggled for some speed. We were able to put in a good lap in qualifying on Friday, but we had trouble translating that pace to the race. The Cadillac Racing guys will pour over the data and we will be ready for Utah."

"Unfortunately on the first lap the Porsche of Alec Udell got way out of shape on the outside than I got too far out of shape and then it was Road America all over again for me and I had to fight my way back through the field. I hope the fans enjoyed it. It is disappointing. This is all about points, it doesn't take much to lose it and make it up. Hats off to my engineer John Lankes and the crew they gave me a heck of a Cadillac today."