Cadillac closes PWC team

Cadillac has closed its factory Pirelli World Challenge program, ending an 11-year participation that yielded multiple drivers' and manufacturers' championships. The exit was announced in a statement on Thursday.

"Throughout 11 years of competition with Cadillac Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge Series, we have taken tremendous pride in our successes, including 33 wins, 121 podium finishes and multiple manufacturer and driver's championships," said Mark Kent, Director of Motorsports Competition for Cadillac Racing.

"We also have taken tremendous pride in the level of technology transfer that has occurred between the Cadillacs competing on track and their showroom counterparts. This technology transfer has helped make the Cadillac ATS-V and CTS-V production models very track-capable and athletic."

Rich Brekus, Global Director of Product Strategy for Cadillac, said that the PWC team was the casualty of Cadillac's desire to direct more resources towards its Prototype program, but left the door open for a possible return in the future.

"Cadillac road cars are better than ever thanks to racing with World Challenge," said Brekus.

"Equally importantly, the Cadillac Racing GT Team has earned the enthusiasm of thousands of fans around the world. You will see Cadillac Racing t-shirts in the crowd at LeMans each year, thanks to the GT program. The team has provided excellent representation on and off the track, and perfectly reflects the core of passion in our brand.

"The drivers and crew have been true ambassadors as we introduced Cadillac V-Performance to the marketplace. In 2018, we will take a pause in Pirelli World Challenge as we focus completely on our effort in prototype sports car racing. However, we maintain a regular and open communication with Greg Gill, the World Challenge CEO, and hope to one day return to the Series in some form."

First assembled in 2004, Cadillac Racing collected 33 wins and 25 pole positions, with a roster of drivers that included Johnny O'Connell, Michael Cooper, Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Andy Pilgrim, Max Angelelli, Ron Fellows, John Heinricy, Olivier Berretta, and Lawson Aschenbach.

The team won World Challenge Manufacturer Championships in 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Cadillac Racing drivers earned the World Challenge Driver's Championship in 2005 with Andy Pilgrim, and with Johnny O'Connell in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. This year, Michael Cooper and copilot Jordan Taylor earned the first-ever SprintX Driver Championship honors.