Cadillac Racing Enters 2026 IMSA Season With Updated Car

Cadillac Racing Accelerates Into the 2026 IMSA Season With Renewed Confidence and an Evolved V-Series.R

As the sun rises over Daytona Beach and the roar of prototype engines once again fills the Florida air, Cadillac Racing prepares to open a new chapter in its modern endurance racing story. The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship begins, as tradition demands, with the Rolex 24 at Daytona—an event that tests every dimension of a racing program. For Cadillac Racing, this year’s season opener also marks the fourth competitive campaign for the Cadillac V-Series.R, a car that has matured into one of the most formidable machines in the GTP field.

With momentum from a strong conclusion to the 2025 season, an evolved aerodynamic package, stable driver lineups, and a more unified global racing structure than ever before, Cadillac Racing arrives at Daytona carrying a sense of optimism grounded in preparation rather than hype. The mission for 2026 is clear: turn progress into sustained results and translate technical refinement into championship-level performance.

A Program Built on Continuity and Evolution

Unlike seasons defined by wholesale changes, Cadillac Racing’s approach to 2026 is deliberately evolutionary. The foundation laid over the past three years—both on and off the track—has allowed the organization to focus on refinement rather than reinvention.

“The thing that excites me most heading into Daytona is being able to show the work we’ve put in over the last year,” says Keely Bosn, Cadillac Racing Program Manager. “We’re not guessing anymore. We’re building on real data, real feedback, and real collaboration across teams.”

That confidence was reinforced during the November test at Daytona, where drivers across Cadillac’s IMSA entries responded positively to the updated V-Series.R. According to Bosn, feedback from that test was among the most encouraging the program has received since the car debuted.

From balance and predictability to aerodynamic stability in traffic, the updates aim to provide drivers with a platform that is easier to trust over long stints—an essential ingredient in endurance racing success.

Aerodynamic Refinement: Making a Good Car Better

The Cadillac V-Series.R has never lacked presence. With its unmistakable Cadillac design language and thunderous hybrid V8 powertrain, the car stands out visually and aurally in the GTP field. However, endurance racing is rarely won on aesthetics alone.

For 2026, Cadillac Racing focused its technical development on aerodynamic efficiency and consistency. Rather than chasing peak downforce figures, the engineering emphasis centered on stability across varying track conditions and driver confidence during long green-flag runs.

“When it comes to drivers, confidence is everything,” Bosn explains. “You want them to feel the car is predictable at the limit, especially in traffic and over changing track conditions. With this new aero package, we’ve made the car more stable and consistent, and that’s huge over a 24-hour race.”

These refinements are particularly critical at circuits like Daytona and Sebring, where aerodynamic balance plays a major role not only in lap time but also in tire management, fuel efficiency, and overall race strategy.

Strength Through Stability: Driver Lineups Remain Largely Unchanged

One of the clearest indicators of Cadillac Racing’s confidence entering 2026 is the decision to retain its core driver lineups. Continuity in endurance racing is a powerful advantage, allowing teams to build chemistry, improve communication, and refine racecraft over time.

Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing continues to field two V-Series.R entries in IMSA, while Cadillac Whelen anchors the program with a blend of experience and youth. Across the paddock, familiar faces return—drivers who understand not just the car, but the culture and expectations of the Cadillac Racing program.

At the same time, selective additions bring fresh perspectives and talent to key events.

New Faces, Strategic Additions

Two high-profile drivers join Cadillac Racing’s GTP effort in 2026, each bringing a distinct skill set and background.

Colton Herta, test driver for the Cadillac Formula 1® Team and a proven competitor in high-downforce machinery, joins the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing entry for three marquee endurance rounds: Daytona, Sebring, and Petit Le Mans.

“Colton is already familiar with GTP cars and with Wayne Taylor Racing,” Bosn says. “That familiarity makes his integration seamless. He knows what’s expected, and he knows how to deliver.”

Meanwhile, Connor Zilisch, fresh off a breakout NASCAR season, makes his GTP debut in the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen entry at the Rolex 24. Though new to top-class prototypes, Zilisch arrives with a reputation for adaptability and composure well beyond his years.

“Connor has already shown an impressive ability to learn quickly,” Bosn notes. “Coming from NASCAR, he brings strengths that translate extremely well to endurance racing, especially in traffic and race awareness.”

Dual-Series Experience: IMSA and WEC Knowledge Sharing

One of the most powerful advantages Cadillac Racing carries into 2026 is its expanded presence across both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Drivers Jack Aitken and Earl Bamber contest full seasons in both championships, creating a valuable bridge between programs.

“What Jack and Earl learn in WEC doesn’t stay in a silo,” Bosn explains. “We bring that knowledge back into IMSA and share it across all teams. It’s a holistic approach, and it’s paying dividends.”

This cross-pollination allows Cadillac Racing to accelerate development, identify trends faster, and adapt to Balance of Performance changes with greater agility.

Lessons From a Transformational 2025 Season

The 2025 season marked a turning point for Cadillac Racing, not because of one single result, but because of structural changes behind the scenes. It was the first year Wayne Taylor Racing ran the V-Series.R in IMSA and the inaugural campaign for Cadillac Hertz Team Jota in WEC.

With new partnerships came the challenge of alignment—technical, operational, and cultural. Over the course of the year, Cadillac Racing made a concerted effort to unify its teams under a shared vision.

“A year ago, our teams were still finding their rhythm together,” Bosn reflects. “Now, the communication structure is clear, the collaboration is real, and everyone is moving in the same direction.”

That unity has translated into measurable gains, from setup efficiency to race execution, and forms a critical pillar of the program’s 2026 ambitions.

A Familiar Calendar With Subtle Challenges

The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar remains largely unchanged, offering valuable continuity for teams and drivers alike. However, two notable adjustments add strategic intrigue.

The Road America round transitions into a six-hour endurance race, placing greater emphasis on pit strategy and driver rotation, while the Indianapolis Motor Speedway event becomes a shorter sprint at two hours and forty minutes, demanding aggressive execution from the green flag.

“From a planning standpoint, it’s very much business as usual,” Bosn says. “But that familiarity allows us to measure progress accurately. We know what worked last year, and we know where we need to improve.”

Daytona: The Ultimate Proving Ground

As always, the Rolex 24 at Daytona looms large. It is not just the season opener, but a crucible that exposes strengths and weaknesses with brutal honesty. Success at Daytona requires flawless preparation, adaptability, and resilience.

For Cadillac Racing, the goal is twofold: pursue victory while extracting maximum learning for the grueling season ahead.

From Daytona, the championship moves to the unforgiving 12 Hours of Sebring, before crisscrossing North America’s most iconic road courses and concluding with the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta—a race that has often defined championships and legacies.

Ready to Deliver

Entering 2026, Cadillac Racing believes it has assembled the strongest version of its GTP program to date. The car is more refined, the teams are more aligned, and the drivers are confident in the tools at their disposal.

“We’re coming into this season with as many of our ducks in a row as possible,” Bosn says. “Now it’s time to put the rubber to the road.”