A 24-hour endurance test is completed by Cadillac at Sebring
The Cadillac V-LMDh completed a 24-hour continuous test at Sebring International Raceway as it approaches its debut in January.
It consisted of a single car with six drivers and the equivalent of two Twelve Hours of Sebring races in Florida.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship next year will each feature a Cadillac V-LMDh.
In the same test, Action Express Racing ran a second car in a "prescribed" testing program.
Since the first rollout in July, Cadillac's LMDh-based Dallara has traveled almost 19,000 kilometers (11,806 miles).
“It was good to come to Sebring to put the new car through its paces and see what it will do in the harshest environment it will race in terms of surface,” said Cadillac Racing assistant program manager Kalvin Parker.
“It was also beneficial for the team to see how it functions as a unit over 24 hours with a new car with new systems." “It was helpful to have one car running the full 24 hours and have the other car run a very successful test plan that included some night running to get drivers used to the new headlights in changing track conditions.”
According to Cadillac, the Ganassi car had "limited downtime" during the endurance test, which involved gathering data on "race-equivalent stints, including night runs, and validating durability."
Renger van der Zande, Sebastien Bourdais, and another driver took part in the first half of the test.
In the final 12 hours, Ganassi's WEC trio of Alex Lynn, Richard Westbrook, and Earl Bamber shared driving duties.
Also present were Alexander Sims and Pipo Derani, who will race in the WeatherTech Championship in the Action Express car.
“For every driver and every member of the crew, there is no other way to really get to know your machinery than having track time like this,” said Lynn, who will drive for Cadillac CGR in the WEC next year.
“The team sends you out and says you have two hours, go explore. Once the season starts, every run has something to learn, so exploring and learning on your own is a nice feeling, especially when you’re starting to look for more performance.”
A 36-hour simulation was conducted at the same circuit by Porsche the week before Cadillac's test at Sebring, where LMDh cars will compete in the WEC season opener and round two of the WeatherTech Championship on March 12.
