Cadillac ready to race again

Cadillac's CTS-V. Photo / Supplied

Cadillac is to return to motorsport in the United States in a move seen as proof that owner General Motors is back in business after the global credit crisis.

At the Detroit Motor Show the luxury brand unveiled a new race-prepared version of its CTS-V Coupe that will contest the Sports Car Club of America's production car-based 2011 World Challenge series.

Cadillac competed in the series from 2004 to 2007, capturing the Driver's Championship in 2005 and twice taking the Manufacturer's Championship (2005 and 2007).

Cadillac pulled out of racing when the credit crisis hit and before the United States Government floated it and rival Chrysler multi-billion dollar survival packages.

Cadillac marketing chief Don Butler said the company would field two teams in the GT Class with drivers such as triple American Le Mans Series champion Johnny O'Connell from New York and Englishman Andy Pilgrim, who took the 2005 title for Cadillac.

"Returning to racing in the SCCA World Challenge is a great way to demonstrate the performance and capability of the CTS-V Coupe," said Butler.

"The racecars in this series are production-based, which allows us to validate our performance against the best of our competitors on the track, and not just the showroom."

Cadillac is working with engineering firm Pratt & Miller to develop the CTS-V Coupe racer, which will debut at the St Petersburg circuit in Florida on March 25-27.

While some of the production components can be modified for racing, Cadillac performance vehicles and motorsport chief Jim Campbell said every effort was made to maintain as much production content as possible.

"The SCCA World Challenge lends itself well to a natural transfer of knowledge," said Campbell.

"The series will become a key test-bed for Cadillac. We anticipate using what we learn on the racetrack to ensure the V-Series stays on the cutting-edge of performance."

The CTS-V was introduced for the 2003 model year and Cadillac added the Coupe to the range for the 2011 model year. The production CTS-Vs feature Brembo brakes, a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 delivering 417kW of power and a Magnetic Ride Control suspension system.

For racing in the World Challenge, the supercharger and suspension system have to be removed, but Cadillac is understood to be negotiating with the SCCA for their use in the future.

The CTS-V is the go-fast two-door version of the CTS sedan that landed in New Zealand in 2009. The sedans were originally imported into Australia by Holden's GM Premium Brands before being re-exported to New Zealand after the credit crisis triggered the collapse of plans to officially introduce the American brand Downunder.

The sedans were sold as a job lot to Hamilton dealer Ebbetts Waikato.