Photo: Cadillac
Team Cadillac is gearing up for the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge GT season opener, which kicks off on March 29 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The brand’s racing division is returning the championship to defend its GT Class driver and manufacturer titles from 2012 and 2013 with Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim behind the steering wheel.
"It has been a busy off season. I’ve spent a lot of time in Phoenix at the Bondurant School and took a trip to China for business development as well doing some driver coaching, which also helps to keep my skills honed behind the wheel,” said racing veteran O’Connell, who is looking to defend the driver championships he won in 2012 and 2013.
Cadillac will face stiff competition from automakers such as Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren and Lamborghini, but O’Connell is ready for the challenge.
“I think it is great that we are getting a lot of new brands in the series. That shows that the Pirelli World Challenge Series is a destination. There are strong cars, strong drivers and strong teams. The cars that are coming in are leading edge sports cars. Exactly who Cadillac wants to compete against,” he added.
Pilgrim, who also had a busy off season testing for the 2014 championship, stressed that Cadillac will need to put on some great performances to retain its back to back titles.
"Cadillac has done an amazing job over the years of competing, this being the fourth year for the car. We will have our work cut out for us to keep up with those FIA GT3 spec cars. We know that right out of the box they will increase the speed of the GT Class,” Pilgrim said.
The first race of the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge season will take place between March 28-30 in St. Petersburg.
"It has been a busy off season. I’ve spent a lot of time in Phoenix at the Bondurant School and took a trip to China for business development as well doing some driver coaching, which also helps to keep my skills honed behind the wheel,” said racing veteran O’Connell, who is looking to defend the driver championships he won in 2012 and 2013.
Cadillac will face stiff competition from automakers such as Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren and Lamborghini, but O’Connell is ready for the challenge.
“I think it is great that we are getting a lot of new brands in the series. That shows that the Pirelli World Challenge Series is a destination. There are strong cars, strong drivers and strong teams. The cars that are coming in are leading edge sports cars. Exactly who Cadillac wants to compete against,” he added.
Pilgrim, who also had a busy off season testing for the 2014 championship, stressed that Cadillac will need to put on some great performances to retain its back to back titles.
"Cadillac has done an amazing job over the years of competing, this being the fourth year for the car. We will have our work cut out for us to keep up with those FIA GT3 spec cars. We know that right out of the box they will increase the speed of the GT Class,” Pilgrim said.
The first race of the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge season will take place between March 28-30 in St. Petersburg.
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