INDIANAPOLIS — Two drivers with a passion for victory will seek to continue Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) and Cadillac’s rich heritage of winning on the racetrack in an exciting new era of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship prototype racing.
Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande, who have co-driven the No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R to three victories this season in IMSA competition, will continue as teammates in the all-new Cadillac V-LMDh race car for 2023.
The experienced duo will compete in the nine-race Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) season with additional drivers announced at a later date for the long-distance events, including the 61st Rolex 24 at Daytona this January.
“The new GTP class is set to create some of the most exciting competition in decades,” said Rory Harvey, Vice President Global Cadillac. “We look forward to seeing our world-class driver lineup in the Cadillac V-LMDh.”
Co-developed by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis manufacturer Dallara, the Cadillac V-LMDh race car features an all-new Cadillac 5.5-liter DOHC V-8 engine developed by GM’s Performance and Racing propulsion team based in Pontiac, Michigan, which is paired to the LMDh spec energy recovery system to serve as Cadillac’s first hybrid prototype.
Bourdais, a four-time IndyCar champion, has four wins in the Cadillac DPi-V.R during his career in addition to four pole starts this season in CGR’s No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R.
“The development has started on the new car and we’re trying to take it to as many places as possible,” Bourdais said. “It’s something I very much enjoy, developing a new car, it’s a bit like a new baby. You kind of put your mark on it and give your feedback and dream to develop it in a way where you feel one with the car. We have a very strong base and Cadillac and Dallara have done a great job. It’s a very exciting program and an exciting new era for endurance racing.”
Van der Zande has registered eight IMSA victories in the Cadillac DPi-V.R since 2018 and is completing his first season alongside teammate Bourdais.
“I’m really excited and stoked to stay with Chip Ganassi Racing and Cadillac,” said van der Zande. “These are the brands I’ve been with for a long time and it’s where I feel very comfortable because we have the same goals and mentality of how to approach racing and how to win.
“I’m also thrilled to continue with Seb. We had a full season together and we complement each other very well on and off track. It’s very automatic for us and a pleasure to continue working together.”
CGR and Cadillac will chase victory one last time in the DPi class at Petit Le Mans on Oct. 1 before turning their focus on the development of the V-LMDh race car for 2023. The team will also compete in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2023. Drivers of CGR’s Cadillac V-LMDh entry will be announced later for the seven-race schedule that includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans.