Olivier Beretta shoots for Cadillac victory

[Ming]

Beretta shoots for Cadillac victory at Laguna Seca
by Eric Prill
WhoWon.com



DETROIT, Mich. -- The General Motors' Cadillac CTS-V racing team will field a third car for Round 10 of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on October 17. GM Racing driver Olivier Beretta, winner of the GTS class for Corvette in the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans, will drive the #12 CTS-V race car in the event, joining Max Angelelli and Andy Pilgrim on Team Cadillac. Beretta will race in both Cadillac and Corvette events during the weekend. With one race remaining, Cadillac is currently tied with Audi for the Manufacturers’ title in the SPEED GT.

“The story of the #12 Cadillac continues,” said David Spitzer, program manager for Team Cadillac. “From John Heinricy’s amazing podium at Mid Ohio, to Ron Fellows win at Mosport, to Johnny O’Connell’s adventure at Road Atlanta – we always add some spice to the weekend. Our final surprise is to bring the talented Olivier Beretta to Team Cadillac. It’s not easy for anyone to jump out of a Corvette C5-R on racing slicks and into a production-based car on street-legal tires. Olivier Beretta has demonstrated the ability to drive different sorts of racing cars—right now he shares duties in the C5-R with testing Formula 1 cars—and we expect him to show that ability at Laguna Seca.”

Beretta recently had the opportunity to test the Cadillac at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich.

"This CTS-V is fantastic," said Beretta. "For a modified street car, it is great to drive. I had a chance to practice the standing starts and they are quite fun. My mission is clear – to win the race and help Cadillac win the Manufacturers’ Championship.”

Full Article Here

[GM_Guy81]

I love what GM is doing with the CTS-V. Its a fantastic car, it was such a blast to drive, great looking, high quality feeling interior, I love it.

Im really happy they are doing racing with the V, its a great step in giving it a kind of pedigree that things like BMW M have. The CTS-V is great, I cant wait to see other V Series stuff.

[OzoneGTX]

Audi and Cadillac tied? In the last race??? For the championship?!?! AT LAGUNA SECA?!?!

Gotta love sports car racing.

[camaro chris]

Originally posted by ozone_GTX@Oct 8 2004, 01:13 AM
Audi and Cadillac tied? In the last race??? For the championship?!?! AT LAGUNA SECA?!?!

Gotta love sports car racing.

oh yeah

[paul3230]

Sweet

[93typhoon]

When will the race be on TV?

[dawtcalm]

TV Schedule:
http://www.speedvisionwc.com/2004/tvschedule.html

Unlike previous races this one looks like it will be shown LIVE!

I pick Andy to win it!

for more stories I would recommend:
http://www.theracesite.com/

[mbukukanyau]

Originally posted by GM_Guy81@Oct 8 2004, 01:12 AM
I love what GM is doing with the CTS-V. Its a fantastic car, it was such a blast to drive, great looking, high quality feeling interior, I love it.

Im really happy they are doing racing with the V, its a great step in giving it a kind of pedigree that things like BMW M have. The CTS-V is great, I cant wait to see other V Series stuff.

If the STS V is not going to be over 510 HP, and faster than the M5, with a SMG 7 Speed option, and a 6 speed manual. Its going to be a failure like the Jaguar Type S R….
All talk and no action. If Cadillac wants to be top Dog, they just have to outdo the new 2005 M5. More Horses, More Gears, Faster, More expensive…

The STS V cannot be just another Me Too product. Like the CTS, it has to be Top Dog of its class…

The liberal Anti American Automotive press will not admit that the CTS V kicks but in its class (CTS V with the M3 C55 and S4.) . Instead they compare it with with the 300 C and Type R and the M5 so that it seems to be like a me too product…. The Wheel hop has not helped either.
Cadillac thus needs to leave no room for error. They have to crash the CL65 performance with the STS V

[tantalize9]

I have had the wonderful oportunity to actually drive a CTS-V series and reading a dumb mag. about it doesn't do this car a lick of justice. It isn't until you sit and drive this thing do you really gain respect for it, its an incredible car the begs to be driver hard and the LS6 justs askes for more.

Its cool to see GM push this car as hard as they have in the racing field, and I enjoy seeing a Caddy just eating up the compition knowing that just a few years ago Caddies were percieved as fwd old peoples cars. Incredible indeed, and proof that the right amount of attention to a troubled nameplate can do wonders.

[GM_Guy81]

I too have driven a CTS-V and loved it.

[Tim_M]

Awesome. Beretta is probably the most talented of the GM factory drivers. Aside from Jan Magnussen, who is probably his equal in terms of talent, Beretta is in a different league than the SCCA/NASCAR/Trans-AM vets that typically run the GM road race contenders.

I remember when the Viper GTS was having its awesome run, Beretta was the cornerstone of that program. He was lightning quick in the Dallara and Panoz LMP cars. Huge move for Cadillac.

By the way, was anyone pissed when the sanctioning body practically dismantled the Cadillac program after they swept Sebring? They never did this to Audi when they were romping in World Challenge. It's not like Audi has been dominating this championship for consecutive years or anything...