Partial Reprint from DetroitGP.com - 6/3/2017

Event: Chevrolet Sports Car Classic (Round 5 of 10)
Series: Prototype division of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Location: The Streets of Belle Isle in Detroit (2.36-mile, 13-turn road course)
Start/Finish: 10th / 1st (Running, completed 65 of 65 laps)
Winner: Ricky Taylor and Jordan Taylor of Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R (Cadillac DPi-V.R)
Point Standing: 1st (177 points, 30 ahead of second)

It wasn't exactly how the team drew it up, but the points-leading No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R of brothers Jordan and Ricky Taylor kept its perfect season alive Saturday with a fifth consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship win in the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic at Belle Isle.
Starting the race in the 12th position after a Friday qualifying incident, Ricky Taylor methodically moved his way through the field before pitting from the fifth position during the race's lone caution period, which came 26 minutes into the 100-minute sprint race. His younger brother Jordan Taylor took over from there, and with the help of pit strategy from the No. 10 team, eventually took the lead from the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac DPi-V.R of Dane Cameron with 21 minutes remaining when Cameron made his final pit stop.

"I almost ruined it yesterday with my mistake in qualifying," said Ricky Taylor. "The car was in a million pieces and we were starting from the back. I thought today was just going to be a points day and just finish in the top three or four. This one was earned by the team, staying up past midnight and giving us an unbelievable car today."

While the Taylors have been nearly flawless this season, the Detroit win largely can be attributed to the crew of the No. 10 Cadillac. In addition to making repairs late into the night, it was the work on pit road during the race that ultimately won the team the race.

The first pit stop saw the team move from fifth to third under the yellow flag. When it came down to final green flag pit stops, Jordan Taylor pitted from the third position with 43 minutes remaining, and came out in the second position. With Taylor clicking off a series off fast laps, including the fastest lap of the race, by the time the race-leading Cadillac of Cameron hit pit road, Taylor easily claimed the lead.

Cameron and co-driver Eric Curran matched their season-best finish of second, 4.948 seconds behind the Taylors. Rounding out the podium was the No. 55 Mazda Motorsports Mazda DPi of Tristan Nunez and Jonathan Bomarito, the team's first podium with the Mazda DPi.

For many IMSA competitors the conclusion of the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic marks the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the race's Test Day on Sunday. Among those making the trek immediately from Detroit to France are the Taylors, who would like to translate their IMSA success into a 24 Hours of Le Mans victory.

"It's always good to have confidence in yourself, especially at a place like Le Mans," said Jordan Taylor. "It's a stressful event, but coming out of here with a win will help me sleep a little better on the plane tonight."

The next WeatherTech Championship race is the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen from Watkins Glen International on Sunday, July 2. The race - which also represents the third round of the four-race Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup - will feature all four WeatherTech Championship classes.

Reprint from GM Authority Sam McEachern

Wayne Taylor Racing’s Jordan and Ricky Taylor drove their No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R to a fourth consecutive overall win in Saturday’s IMSA Advance Auto Parts Sportscar Showdown from Circuit of the Americas.

The Wayne Taylor Racing squad qualified on pole for the race, with Ricky turning in a lap that was nearly a second and a half faster than the next fastest car, the No. 22 Tequila Patrón ESM Nissan DPi. The team was never really challenged for the lead, with Ricky driving a dominant opening stint before turning driving duties over to Jordan. The younger Taylor brother put in an equally as strong performance, setting the fastest lap of the race and beating the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R of Action Express to the finish line by nearly 20 seconds.

“It was really nice today,” said Ricky Taylor post-race. “It was one of the best race cars I’ve ever had. The team has just done an amazing preparation for this car. We’re just getting to know it more and more. Every race weekend we’re learning. This weekend, it shows how much we’ve developed through the year. We unloaded off the truck really strong, then qualified really well. It was fantastic.”

The podium was occupied solely by Cadillac drivers, with the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R rounding out the podium. The result marked the second sweep of the podium for Cadillac in four races so far this year, with the first coming at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The Cadillac DPi-V.Rs dominant performance is here to stay, it would seem, with the DPi-V.R proving to be faster than the competition Saturday despite heavy Balance of Performance changes. It’s also more reliable than the next-fastest prototype, the Nissan DPi, with the No. 2 Nissan car having caught fire in spectacular fashion towards the end of Saturday’s race.

“I think we surprised ourselves,” Jordan Taylor said. “We knew why the car was fast yesterday because we made a qualifying setup for the car. And then we went back to race settings and we thought it’d come back to us. It came back a little bit.

“We didn’t have the same gap, but I think it shows how well our team is operating with this Cadillac.”

The IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship heads to Detroit next for the Chevrolet Sportscar Classic from Belle Isle Park. Click here for full results from COTA and click here for a full schedule for Belle Isle.

Partial Reprint Cadillac Pressroom 2017-04-30
Kyle Chura, Cadillac Racing Communications

Cadillac V-Performance Racing drivers Michael Cooper (Syosset, N.Y) and Jordan Taylor (Apopka, Fla.) finished third today in the GT Pro/Pro category in this weekend's second Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) SprintX race at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). Teammates Johnny O'Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.), and Ricky Taylor (Lake Mary, Fla.) finished 12th in the Pro/Pro class.

Based upon their fast race lap from yesterday, Jordan Taylor started the No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe from the second row in fourth. Brother Ricky Taylor had the wheel of the No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe on row six in 12th. At the drop of the green Jordan Taylor was able to make up one position into Turn 1 and slotted into the third. A little further back Ricky Taylor was battling a swarm of cars in the No. 3 Cadillac. As the race progressed to the mandatory pit stop window a caution flew 19-minutes into the event. The race went green again at the 30-minute mark, the two Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupes came to the pits for the driver change at 34-minutes. Cooper took over the No. 8 Vector Blue Cadillac and returned to the race in third place, O'Connell jumped behind the wheel of the No. 3 Velocity Red Cadillac and rejoined the race in seventh. Fifty-four minutes into the race the second full course slowed the field. O'Connell reported that he ran over some debris on the track and had a tire going flat. The team had to pit O'Connell to change the tire. He went out in 13th (12th in class) position and the race soon ended under yellow.

"We had a really smooth driver change," Cooper said.  "I had a big battle on the out lap and was able to get a position. There was a lot going on with the traffic. Jordan did a good job moving us up from fourth to third. We came in as soon as the pit window opened, we were able to gain that last podium position. It is nice to get a second podium finish on the weekend for everyone at Cadillac Racing."

"I think it was a good race," Jordan Taylor said. "When we started the weekend in practice we were seventh or eighth. This was my first time starting a race in three years. I was able to get by the No. 4 Audi in Turn 1 and get behind the Mercedes. They were fast all weekend and I knew if I could hang them it would be good. We made the most of the race, no mistakes. Michael and I had a clean run. The team gave us a good car. To leave here with two podium finishes is a good weekend."

"It was an eventful start," Ricky Taylor said. "It was my first start with the Cadillac ATS-V.R. I learned a lot and I know what to do different the next time. I settled into the stint and was able to make up a couple of positions. We suffered from the track position that we lost from yesterday. You really have to put in a full weekend here in PWC. We were having a pretty good run, Johnny was pushing his way into the top five and then the flat took that away. The encouraging thing is that the team really executed well with no mistakes in this first SprintX weekend."

"Congratulations to the guys in the No. 8 Cadillac, they had a great weekend," O'Connell said. "We had a great race car both days. We moved up in our run today like we did yesterday. The Mercedes checked out, the rest of us were in a nice pack. Unfortunately during that last wreck I picked up a puncture and had to pit for a tire. We were running seventh and I was ready to make a move toward the end, then that crash happened. We have had three tough race weekends. Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is next and I have won there more than anyone else and we will be looking to add to that in a couple of weeks."

The Pirelli World Challenge Series will travel to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, May 19-21 for the second round of SprintX races. The race from VIR will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network, May 7 at 6 p.m.

Reprint From imsa.com Wednesday, November 30, 2016

“Cadillac is proud to return to the pinnacle of prototype racing in North America after a 14-year absence.”

Those were the words used by Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen to confirm that three Cadillac Daytona Prototype international (DPi) race cars will compete in the full 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Prototype (P) class, beginning with the 55th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29, 2017.  The new car will be known as the Cadillac DPi-V.R and is the first prototype race car from the New York-headquartered manufacturer since 2002.

“It is not possible to overstate how thrilled all of us at IMSA are to officially welcome Cadillac, one of the world’s most respected premium automotive brands, back to Prototype racing in the WeatherTech Championship,” said IMSA President Scott Atherton. “This is exactly the type of program we had in mind when we announced the Daytona Prototype international concept last year.

“As we open a new era of Prototype competition in 2017, we now have three benchmark examples of manufacturers using this platform to showcase their impressive and unique technology at the highest level. We cannot wait to get the new era underway in just a few short weeks at Daytona.”

The manufacturer confirmed that Action Express Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing each will field Cadillac DPi-V.R machines next season. Action Express, which has won the last three WeatherTech Championship Prototype titles, will have a pair of Cadillacs, while the Wayne Taylor Racing team continues its longstanding relationship with General Motors through a one-car effort.

“Cadillac’s V-Performance production models — the ATS-V and CTS-V — are transforming our brand’s product substance, earning a place among the world’s elite high performance marques,” de Nysschen said. “The Cadillac DPi-V.R further strengthens our V-Performance portfolio, placing Cadillac into the highest series of sports car racing in North America.”

The Cadillac DPi-V.R will be powered by a normally aspirated, 6.2-liter Cadillac V-8 engine, which shares inherent architecture with engines that power the third-generation Cadillac CTS-V and fifth-generation Cadillac Escalade production vehicles. The chassis for the Cadillac DPi-V.R was designed in cooperation with Dallara with styling cues inspired by Cadillac’s current line of V-Performance high-performance production models, specifically the Cadillac CTS-V.

“The DPi-V.R race car was an exciting new canvas for the Cadillac design and sculpting team,” said Andrew Smith, Global Cadillac Design executive director. “The studio embraced the opportunity to interpret the Cadillac form language, line work and graphic signature for this premier prototype racing application.  Every detail of the final design was selected to support the car’s on-track performance and unmistakable Cadillac presence.”

The new Cadillac DPi-V.R will make its public on-track debut during a two-day IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway on Dec. 13-14.

Cadillac joins Mazda and Nissan as confirmed DPi manufacturers for IMSA’s top Prototype class, which also will include international LM P2 prototype chassis from Riley/Multimatic, Ligier, ORECA and Dallara, powered by single-specification Gibson V8 engines.

Source: www.Cadillac.com -  Kyle Chura, kyle@kcapr.com

NEW YORK (October, 13, 2016) - Cadillac Racing drivers Johnny O'Connell and Michael Cooper had a successful 2016 Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) GT season posting five wins and 13 podium finishes.
 
O'Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) posted three race wins (Circuit of the Americas, two at Sonoma Raceway) a pole position (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) to go along with six podium finishes. Teammate Cooper (Syosset, N.Y.) completed his freshman season in the PWC series by finishing third in the GT driver standings on the strength of two race wins (Barber Motorsports Park and Mid-Ohio), a pole (Barber Motorsports Park) and seven podium finishes. The results had the New Yorker in contention for the championship at year's end.
 
"The season was incredible, like any year it had its ups and downs," Cooper said. "When we look at the points, it wasn't quite as successful of a year as we had hoped, Finishing third. However, getting to drive the Cadillac ATS.V.R Coupe is such a thrill for me, that I still have a big grin across my face. I learned an incredible amount in my first year with Cadillac Racing and I can't wait to apply that knowledge on track in the future. The biggest surprise in my first year of GT racing has to be how much risk people are willing to take on the first lap to gain a couple of positions. I enjoyed working with the Cadillac Racing team and Johnny all year, both seasoned pros. Looking back I am most proud of being on the pace straight away at COTA (Circuit of the Americas) and getting two GT wins in my rookie year."
 
O'Connell had to preserver through a tough weekend at Road America where an electrical issue on his No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe resulted in finishes of 19th and 20th. In addition, the four time PWC driver champion, had two wins negated at Long Beach and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Through the difficult moments of the season, together with the Cadillac Racing team, he was able to put in solid races that had him still in contention for the championship going into the final race at Laguna Seca.
 
"We have a lot to be proud of at Cadillac Racing in 2016," O'Connell said. "But for one difficult weekend, I'm confident we would have pulled off a fifth championship. In a way not winning again is maybe a good thing. It motivates me to go into the off season and train harder. It's odd in that I find myself now enjoying my racing every bit as much as when I first started, and I feel I'm driving as well as at any point in my career. I'm also really enjoying having Michael be part of the team. As the season progressed we worked better and better together, driving the other to push harder. Finally representing Cadillac at this point in time is awesome. The excitement of everyone there, from the president Johan de Nysschen and everyone that helps make the Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe go. There is some great energy at the brand. To play a principle role in getting out the message that speaks to the performance characteristics that are Cadillac is a pretty cool thing.
 
O'Connell drew from the experienced Cadillac Racing team to come back from the adversity of Long Beach, Road America and Laguna Seca. "Needless to say all three of those weekends were really tough," he continued. "I'm not sure I'll ever really accept it, but I am proud of the way Cadillac Racing rallied after each event. No one quit. I appreciate that after what happened with the Long Beach situation, Alvaro Parente refused to accept the trophy when I offered it to him, acknowledging that, in his mind, we won that race. That took a lot of the sting away. Our team never got down, we just looked ahead to take on the next challenge."

Cadillac Racing, since the team’s inception in 2004, it has amassed 31 wins, 109 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.
 
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac's media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

Reprinted from Pirelli World Challenge News

JOHNNY O’CONNELL DOUBLES UP AT SONOMA RACEWAY WITH A DOMINANT WIN SUNDAY IN THE NO. 3 CADILLAC ATS-V.R.; SCHEIN, UDELL ALSO DOUBLE IN GTA, GT CUP

SONOMA, Calif.– Defending four-time GT driving champion Johnny O’Connell of Flowery Branch, Ga., dominated Sunday’s 50-minute GT sprint race in the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Cadillac with an impressive first turn move and never looked back for his second win of the weekend. In addition, Michael Schein of Glen Cove, N.Y., and Alec Udell of The Woodlands, Tex., scored double victories in the GTA and GT Cup divisions, respectively.

O’Connell, the sports car legend driving the No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-V.R., started third behind K-PAX Racing McLaren 650S teammates Austin Cindric and Alvaro Parente at the drop of the green flag. But Johnny slid his Cadillac inside Cindric into turn one and took the lead up the hill into turn two.

O’Connell then jumped out to a 4.6-second advantage by lap three and ultimately extended his gap to 11.386 seconds at the checkered flag in the 31-lap GT main event at the 2.38-mile, 12-turn permanent road circuit north of San Francisco. Few drivers have as much experience at Sonoma Raceway as O’Connell, who served as a driving instructor at the Sonoma facility decades ago in the Bob Bondurant Driving School.

Since then O’Connell has established one of the U.S.’ greatest sports car resumes including recording his 61st win in a General Motors race car. Sunday’s victory was the 20th in Pirelli World Challenge competition in 98 starts. O’Connell won the GT drivers’ championship in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

“My eyes were like a laser on the starter and the second his hand started to move, I went,” said O’Connell. “I timed that just about perfect. The speed for the start is supposed to be around 45 miles per hour and we have been running it a little lower. And that allowed me that quick shot out for the start. Then, once I got inside of Austin (Cindric) in turn one, I have been around this place enough to know what I had to do. I then saw there was little bit of monkey business on the first lap behind me and opened the gap as quickly as I could. I then wanted to take care of my tires. I knew that I had a good gap right after the first or second lap, and that was a huge luxury.”

The GT action behind O’Connell was wild early in the race with veteran sports car racer Jon Fogarty of Bend, Ore., having his No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance hit in the carousel and spun around on the first lap. Several GT drivers were involved in the mishap including two-time 2016 winner Michael Cooper of Syosset, N.Y., in the No. 8 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-V.R. and Adderly Fong of Hong Kong in the No. 88 Team Absolute Bentley Continental GT3.

With O’Connell well on his way to victory, Parente, the five-time GT race winner from Porto, Portugal, held the second spot in the No. 9 K-PAX Racing McLaren 650S with pole winner Cindric third in the No. 6 K-PAX Racing McLaren 650S. Late in the contest, Cindric applied the pressure to his teammate but had to settle for third at the checkered flag.

The drive of the day in the GT event was by 2011 GT champion Patrick Long of Manhattan Beach, Calif., who started 14th in the No. 58 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R. Long, a three-time 2016 winner, gained ten positions to finish fourth Sunday.

Entering the Pirelli World Challenge season finale set for Oct. 7-9 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Parente unofficially leads Long by nine points, 1554 to 1545. O’Connell and Cooper are now tied for third place in GT points at 1451.

Schein, Long’s teammate in the No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, posted his eighth 2016 win in the GTA (Amateur) class with an impressive win over Andrew Kim of Seoul, South Korea, in the No. 78 Team Absolute Bentley Continental GT3 and college student Cooper MacNeil of Hinsdale, Ill., in the No. 79 WeatherTech/Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.

“I got a good start today but I saw cars and dust in the carousel and Fogarty was parked in the middle of the track,” said Schein. “I had to check up and slow through that area, but I was able to make a move on the outside in turn seven and passed some cars. Once I was in the GTA lead, I noticed that the car was much better today than Saturday. Then I was able to hit my marks and open up a gap. It is great having Pat onboard with the Wright team. Having a guy with his knowledge and experience is a great advantage and great stuff can come from it. We are good buddies and we have gelled together this year.”

In the GT Cup division, Udell drove his No. 17 GMG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car to a 12th 2016 victory in another sensational performance for the Clemson University mechanical engineering student. Udell battled with his season-long rival Sloan Urry of Salt Lake City, Utah, in the No. 20 TruSpeed Autosport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup before winning by five seconds. Third place went to Mike Hedlund of Redwood City, Calif., in the No. 35 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Unofficially, Udell clinched the GT Cup driver’s point championship.

“I got a two second gap on Sloan early in the race,” said Udell. “I was able to hold that advantage for about 40 minutes. Then, at the end of the race, a bunch of the GT cars were coming through our race and I was a little bit better at conserving my tires. So the gap got bigger and I was able to run harder in the last five minutes of the race. It was a great season for GMG and myself and I’m hoping to move into the GT division next year. I have tested a few times in the Porsche 911 GT3 R and I’m excited to run that car in the future.”

Other race awards and recognitions were determined as follows:

The Optima Batteries Best Start award was given to GT No. 13 Colin Thompson in the K-PAX Racing McLaren 650S GT3 for a seven position gain at the start of the race.

The Cadillac Move of the Race was determined to be GT No. 58 Patrick Long’s passing move on Michael Lewis (GT No.98) in Turn 8.

The KIA Turning Point was determined to be the first lap incident between GT No. 8 Michael Cooper and GT No. 88 Adderly Fong for its implication on the GT points championship.

The VP Racing Fuels Hard Charger award was given to GT No. 58 Patrick Long for his ten position gain throughout the race.

MotorTrendOnDemand.com Clean Pass Award was given to GT No. 58 Patrick Long for his pass of GT No. 33 JD Davison in turn 11.

GT rounds from Sonoma Raceway premiere on CBS Sports Network on Sunday, September 25th, 2016 at 4:00 pm EDT; check your local listings for channel and alternate broadcasts. The 2016 championships close out with the season finale rounds at MAZDA Raceway Laguna Seca on October 7-9, 2016.

Reprint from Racer Media & Marketing Erin Cechal / Images by Richard Prince

Newest factory Cadillac driver Michael Cooper did not expect to see the SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned Pirelli World Challenge podium in his first race with Cadillac Racing. But after the first two rounds of the 2016 World Challenge season, Cooper found himself leading the GT Drivers' Championship on the strength of three podium finishes. He has a funny habit of underestimating himself. He might be the only one.

Cooper doesn't come from a dynasty of racers, he didn't start racing karts when he was 5, and he's working on his second degree just in case this whole racing thing doesn't work out, but it's pretty clear Cooper was born to be behind the wheel. His natural ability in a car combined with a knack for quick learning has gotten him noticed by all the right people.

Cooper didn't delve into racing until a friend convinced him to take a Skip Barber school at Lime Rock Park. In his late teens at the time, Cooper didn't sign up with a plan to become a professional driver. In fact, after doing two Skippy schools, he tried the race series and didn't really like it.

He didn't pursue racing any further until a phone call from Cadillac in 2010. Apparently, he'd signed up for the Bob Lutz Cadillac CTS-V Challenge, where former GM Vice Chairman challenged drivers to beat him at a racetrack in their car versus his CTS-V. "I hadn't heard about the Cadillac Challenge at all," Cooper laughs. "My brother saw it on a car site, and he signed me up for it in my dad's four-door M3 unbeknownst to me! I still lived at home and I just walked over to my brother's room and asked if he knew what it was about and he filled me in while they were talking."

Cooper was the quickest amateur on a damp Monticello Motor Club, and although he wasn't able to beat ace-in-the-hole drivers John Heinricy or Johnny O'Connell, he did beat Lutz and a slew of automotive journalists who each got their chance in the CTS-V.

The challenge was filmed for Speedvision. Cooper got to be on camera with O'Connell, who praised the young kid from Long Island.

"I didn't read too much into it," Cooper says. "I thought he was just being a good TV personality and being nice for the camera. Afterward, when they shut the cameras off, he continued telling me that he was serious and I should pursue racing."

"He blew me away with how quick he was going," O'Connell recalls about Cooper's performance. "He was very smooth. It's rare to see a young guy do that well, and when I heard how little experience he had, I remember going up to his dad and saying, 'Your kid has really great natural ability.'"

CADILLAC RACING DRIVER O'CONNELL RELEGATED TO SECOND AT LONG BEACH

LONG BEACH, CA. – (Apr. 18, 2016) Cadillac Racing driver Johnny O'Connell was relegated to second place in post-race inspection after crossing the finish line first in today's running of the Pirelli World Challenge Long Beach Grand Prix presented by Cadillac. Teammate Cooper had an amazing run through the field that was thwarted by fluid on the track.  READ MORE

CADILLAC RACING'S COOPER AND O'CONNELL THIRD AND FIFTH AT ST. PETE PART TWO IN PWC

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – (Mar. 13, 2016) Cadillac Racing drivers Michael Cooper and Johnny O'Connell finished race two in third and fifth at the Pirelli World Challenge St. Petersburg Grand Prix presented by Cadillac. READ MORE

CADILLAC RACING'S O'CONNELL AND COOPER THIRD AND FOURTH AT ST. PETE IN PWC

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – (Mar. 12, 2016) Cadillac Racing drivers Johnny O'Connell and Michael Cooper finished race one of two in third and fourth at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix presented by Cadillac in St. Pete. READ MORE

CADILLAC RACING ONE - TWO AT COTA, O'CONNELL WINS

AUSTIN, TEXAS - Cadillac Racing driver Johnny O'Connell won round two of the Pirelli World Challenge GT Series Championship race today at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).Teammate Michael Cooper drove to his second podium finish of the weekend finishing in the runner-up position. READ MORE

Reprinted from Cadillac.com Racing News

MONTEREY, Cal. – (Sept. 13, 2015) Cadillac Racing driver Johnny O'Connell survived the Pirelli World Challenge Series Monterey Grand Prix presented by Cadillac season finale to win his fourth consecutive GT drivers' championship.

O'Connell took the standing start from his fifth place qualifying position. Coming across the line to complete the first lap of the 50-minute timed race he was in second position, with his championship protagonist, Olivier Beretta, No. 61 Ferrari in seventh. As the race progressed Beretta began to pick off competitors coming from seventh to behind the No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R of O'Connell on lap 16, 27-minutes into the race. Over the next eight laps Beretta was charging after O'Connell. On lap 24, as the pair of championship challengers were coming through the famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Corkscrew turns, Beretta hit O'Connell spinning them both. Beretta was able to get his Ferrari restarted quicker as he rejoined the race. O'Connell restarted his ATS-V.R and rejoined the race in 14th. A few laps later Beretta was called in by the SCCA officials to perform a drive-thru penalty. However, he rejoined still in a strong points paying position ahead of O'Connell. On lap 32 as Beretta was feverishly trying to make-up positions he had contact with the Acura of P.D. Cunningham in the final turn forcing the Italian to pull his Ferrari off track, handing O'Connell his fourth championship in as many years.



 "What a crazy race," O'Connell said. "I was able to get a great start. I didn't think I was going to be able to get Dalziel (Ryan, No. 31 Porsche). When we went into Turn 2 I was behind the silver Ferrari and the red one got into me a little. I was surprised how fast Olivier was coming through the field. I knew he would get to me. But getting there and getting by is two different things. I was minding my tires as best as I could while digging as hard as I could. I wasn't sure what he was thinking behind the wheel there in the Corkscrew. He took us both out. He wasn't really close to me. When we crested the hill he was four or five cars back. It was a Hail Mary move. I didn't get brushed I got drilled. There was so much time left, he just had to bide his time. The Cadillac Racing guys build a strong car. When I got back going the car was good and still quick. I was thinking he was going to get a penalty and he did.

"I am proud of everyone at Cadillac Racing. This whole team is made up of Joe Montana's, we are a fourth quarter team.

"We had some adversity this year, the crash at Long Beach while running upfront. I had a car that could have won that race. When I got taken out, I got a huge fine and hit in the points. Then at Barber we were running fast and burned a car down. The spirit of the team came to the front at that point. What people don't see is the hundreds of thousands of hours that the Cadillac Racing crew put into those race cars. I am just the guy who gets to put it on display for 100-minutes on the race weekend."

Jim Campbell, GM vice president, Performance Vehicles and Motorsport, said "Johnny and the No. 3 ATS-V.R team's focus, determination and never-give-up approach made the difference, right down to the last lap of the season. We are so proud of O'Connell's fourth consecutive championship. His win in the all-new ATS-V.R makes the championship extra special."

Campbell added, "the ATS-V.R's LF4.R 3.6 liter direct injected, twin turbo V6 delivered the right combination of power, reliability and efficiency to help Johnny race to the championship."

Cadillac Racing program manager David Caldwell said, "what a season! We introduced the all-new Cadillac ATS-V.R GT3 into competition at St. Pete. We had some adversity throughout the season when Johnny was forced into the spare car for three races. Through hard racing and a great team of professionals from Cadillac Racing, GM Powertrain and everyone involved on the marketing side Johnny was able to win his fourth drivers' championship."

Teammate Andy Pilgrim (Boca Raton, Fla.) posted his best finish of the year with a fourth place run in the No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R.

"It was a good way to end the season with a fourth place," Pilgrim said. "I really wanted a podium for my Cadillac Racing guys after such a difficult year. Dalziel was very good in the places where I needed more speed and where I was better I couldn't get to him. He is very good and didn't make any mistakes. We had a good run today. The last two races of the year I had two top five finishes. I am really happy for Johnny. Winning four championships in a row is outstanding."

Since the team's inception in 2004, Team Cadillac has amassed 30 wins, 96 podium finishes (including wins) and 27 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.

The Pirelli World Challenge finale will be televised on CBS Sports Network Sunday, September 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Cadillac Racing, since their inception in 2004, has amassed 30 wins, 96 podium finishes (including wins) and 27 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.

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today, Cadillac is 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.

Additional information can be viewed at Cadillac.com, GM.com, media.gm.com, world-challenge.com, andypilgrim.com, johnnyoconnell.com; Facebook GM, Andy Pilgrim, Johnny O'Connell, Cadillac.

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.