Cadillac's Le Mans Racer Is Like A C8 Corvette On Steroids

It's safe to say Cadillac doesn't make hypercars like what you're looking at. It certainly doesn't make any road cars like this. The closest you can get is the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, and while that might feel like a race car to the uninitiated, it most certainly is not. However, Cadillac does field a car in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, which these new cars will also race in. The new World Endurance Championship Hypercar class cars must fit totally new regs as of 2021, like a power output of no more than 670 horsepower and a minimum weight of 2,270 lbs.

This new hypercar, dubbed the Project GTP Hypercar, will be in the racing action alongside BMW and others in this new series. The new regulations should produce some incredibly close racing, as all cars must fit into the requirements above, plus many more. In all, it'll be a very level playing field, which means the Project GTP will be out there for the win alongside everyone else.

"Cadillac will be competing again on the world racing stage, and we are all thrilled to return to Le Mans after 20 years," said Global Cadillac Vice President Rory Harvey. "By competing in both the 2023 IMSA and WEC championships, Cadillac Racing has the opportunity to demonstrate its capability, craftsmanship, and technology."

The Project GTP Hypercar was developed by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing, and Dallara. Caddy will tell you it "incorporates key design characteristics" with "elements of the brand's heritage." Basically, the new GTP is supposed to look like a Cadillac, albeit a really, really low and fast one. They're right. The vertical lights, blades over the wheel arches, and nose all scream "Cadillac."

The ultimate goal for just about everyone in the World Endurance Championship's new Hypercar class is to race and hopefully win at Le Mans. It's hallowed motorsports ground, and Caddy can already taste the champagne. "The entire team is excited to continue building Cadillac's racing legacy by competing against the very best internationally and in the world's toughest race," said GM's Sports Car Racing Program Manager Laura Wontrop Klauser.

The brand's newest racer will be powered by a totally new 5.5-liter V8 which will be paired with the class' required LMDh hybrid system. You can think of that sort of like a Formula 1 car's powertrain but built for endurance racing. It's a bit of an oversimplification, but if the exhaust in the video above is to be believed, it'll be quite special.

What's more, Cadillac says it has some special things coming after the official track debut of the GTP. Perhaps even something using a homologated version of that 5.5-liter V8? "We have plenty more to come, from the upcoming race car to amazing production vehicles," says Chris Mikalauskas, Caddy's Lead Exterior Designer. For now, we do know that the GTP will make its racing debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with some on-track testing slated for this summer.