Looks like the new CTS-Vr's are fast...

ANGELELLI SHATTERS SPEED GT QUALIFYING MARK IN CADILLAC

SEBRING, Fla. (March 18, 2004) – Italian Max Angelelli and Cadillac made their respective debuts in grand fashion Thursday, shattering the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT track record to take the pole position for Friday’s Round One race, part of the 52nd Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway. Returning driver and former Champion Lou Gigliotti, of Dallas, Texas, will start outside the front row.


Max Angelelli used a tow from his teammate to take the pole. Click for larger.

Driving the No. 16 Team Cadillac/Mobil 1/Motorola/Bose Cadillac CTS-V, Angelelli shattered the track record by more than three seconds with a lap of 2:09.076 (103.195 mph) - 3.570 seconds better than Phil McClure’s 2003 mark of 2:12.646. His time was a full 1.112 seconds faster than Gigliotti’s best lap.

“We’ve spent a lot of time practicing here at Sebring,” Angelelli said. “My best lap, I got a very nice slipstream from my teammate all the way down to turn 17. I had a lot of speed [there] and gained a lot all the way to the end of the lap.”

The pole was the first for a Cadillac in SCCA competition and marked the successful debut of a factory-backed production car from the manufacturer in motorsports.

Not lost in the excitement, Gigliotti, a three-time series Champion who has been on hiatus since 1997, returned in grand fashion with his No. 28 LG Pro Long Tube Header Chevrolet Corvette ZO6, turning a lap of 2:10.188 (102.313 mph) at the beginning of the session. Angelelli answered some laps later, but Gigliotti’s attempt to steal the pole back was thwarted when he came in contact with another car while on a cool-down lap, breaking a wheel and ending his session.

Defending series Champion Randy Pobst was third quick in his No. 1 Audi Certified Pre-Owned Audi RS 6. Pobst turned a lap of 2:10.661. Andy Pilgrim, of Delray Beach, Calif., qualified fourth in his Cadillac, followed by McClure, of Floris, Iowa, in his Corvette ZO6.

In all, the top eight cars, which also included Tommy Archer (Dodge Viper Competition Coupe), Leighton Reese (Corvette ZO6) and Michael Galati (Audi), were under the previous track record.

John Young, who had recorded the seventh quickest time, was moved to the back of the field for being under weight.

Friday’s Round One race will take its standing start at 4:40 p.m. (Eastern), with Live Timing & Scoring Presented by Cadillac available at www.world-challenge.com. Friday’s race will be broadcast at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, March 21 on SPEED Channel.

 

and the new GTOr isn't yet:

Autosport Development GTO Completes Qualifying Round At Sebring
Hayner puts it on the grid 25th Friday’s race

Sebring, Fla – March 20, 2004 Methodically edging the brand new #5 GMAC
Commercial Finance / Trenton Forging GTO up to speed, Stu Hayner place
the car 25th on the grid for tomorrow’s SPEED World Challenge GT main
event at Sebring. This is the debut event for the GTO and the 2004
World Challenge season.

“Well, the racer in you would like to move a little closer to the
front,” remarked Hayner. “But we’re moving forward according to plan.
We came here to shake the car out and to finish tomorrow’s race. I
think everyone is pleased with our progress.”

Regarding his 25th starting spot, Hayner laughed. “It’s been quite a
while since I’ve done a standing start, so maybe this isn’t such a bad
place to start. I’ll follow the crew’s instructions and start finding
my way up to speed. The GTO feels pretty comfortable so far. But, I’m
sure as we it’s going to start leaning into it it’ll have some teething
issues and we’re going to have to sort out the handling. Right now it’s
good… we’ve got a long way to go to make it better.”

Team owner, David Moxlow concurred. “We’ve accomplished most of our
goals for this weekend. As Stu said, the racer in you always wants
more, but we’re here for the long haul. We’re committed to this program
and want to do good things for our marketing partner, GMAC Commercial
Finance. We’ve also got our friends from Alan Jay Pontiac with us this
weekend, so we want to see them have a good time too. All-in-all, we’re
very pleased.”

GMAC Commercial Finance, considered a leader in its segment of the
financial services market, provides accounts receivable management and
financing, asset-based lending, equipment finance/leasing, retail
financing, structured financing, and supply chain management services
to a wide variety of clients in diverse industries. Loan facilities are
in the $2 million to $200 million range. With locations in the United
States, Canada, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, the Company is
positioned to provide lending services worldwide.

Trenton Forging Company from Trenton Michigan is a leading producer of
custom impression die forgings to a wide variety of industries. They
have a strong reputation as a supplier of choice to many Tier 1 and
Tier 2 automotive/light truck suppliers. Trenton produces multiple
cavity die forgings to meet customers exacting specifications and
offers a wide range of high quality custom forging products with
exceptional customer service.

 

From what I've been told, the CTS-V has been authorized with a pretty advantagous power-weight ratio.

 

Have you seen what they have been allowed for GAC????


Its unreal!
3000LBS
LS6 engine
18" wheels (no one else has been allowed 18's even though they are standard)
intake
exhaust
20 gallons of fuel
engine mang system dry sumped
Brembo 14" brakes

and it does 0-60 at OEM weight in 4.6 what is going to do at 3000 lbs

 

After all these teams contest the CTS-V's specifications, will the GAC reissue the CTS-V specs? Is Cadillac lining somebody's wallet?

 

very interesting, seeing that they are infront of the very fast Audi's with MUCh less track time, and in front of a vette with the SAME engine, worse aerodynamics, heavier stock wt, etc...I knew there had to be a reason.

I hate it when this crap goes on.

 

BTW,
It's not the same engine as the current C5_r's. They have the Ls1. the CTS-VRs have the LS2. The vettes will not be allowed to run the LS2 until next year, maybe mid season this year.

 

The Audi RS6's where the same when they came out. They were so much faster than everything else right out of the box.

This is just the new Kid on the block for now.