Cadillac has somewhat of a chequered history in sports car racing, with its early 2000s ALMS and Le Mans prototypes failing to make an impact, though its renewed force from 2017 onwards has borne more fruit. When IMSA made the switch to LMDh rules in 2023, Cadillac made sure it was part of the rush with its V-Series.R LMDh challenger.
The American beauty is available for you to race in Le Mans Ultimate, and this guide will help you understand whether it’s the right contender for you.
The Caddy Has Proven To Be A Force On Both Sides Of The Atlantic
The V-Series.R became a prominent sight in both the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the World Endurance Championship upon debut in 2023, with Cadillac running three cars in the former and a single entry in the latter.
It made an impact instantly, finishing on the podium at the season-opening 24 Hours of Daytona and going on to win two races during the year, with the No.31 Whelen Engineering entry ending up winning the title courtesy of Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims.
Having claimed a further two wins in 2024 en route to a highest drivers standings position of third overall, the V-Series.R remains winless after three races in 2025. Its fortunes have remained muted in the WEC, the car securing its sole rostrum result so far at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Cadillac greenlit an expanded two-car operation for 2025 in the WEC, though, alongside the experienced JOTA Racing organisation. With the car looking as fast as ever, it’s likely only a matter of time before its world-stage breakthrough comes.
Car Specifications & Key Features
Unlike some of its WEC cousins like the Toyota GR010 and Ferrari 499P, the V-Series.R is built to a different ruleset as an LMDh vehicle. Rather than a bespoke chassis, it utilises one from a Dallara LMP2 prototype, as well as a fixed-spec 50 kW hybrid system made by Bosch instead of a custom 200 kWh setup that LMH manufacturers can develop. It’s also mounted to the rear axle, unlike in an LMH, where it is mounted to the front axle and can power the front wheels when the car hits its rule-decided deployment speed. All LMDh cars are purely rear-wheel-drive.
The V-Series.R is one of the angriest-sounding cars available on LMU, a personality trait that comes courtesy of a naturally aspirated 5.5-litre V8 that can produce up to 670 hp, depending on the BOP measures applied to the vehicle. It comes with traction control to help keep the grunt under control, but no ABS, so braking comes purely down to the driver.
- The V-Series.R comes with an adjustable front splitter and rear spoiler, as well as a flat floor and diffuser to help produce the downforce needed to tame the world’s fastest tracks
- The Caddy comes closely modelled to the real-life car in LMU, from its awesome powerplant to its unique cockpit, allowing you to feel what a real driver feels when virtually strapping yourself in
- Make sure to consistently keep the V-Series.R’s battery between 0% and 100% at all times, as if it’s run down, it won’t be able to assist the engine in saving fuel, and if fully charged, the motor won’t kick in and help slow the car down under braking
- Always keep the regen map at its highest value to ensure maximum energy generation and peak braking efficiency, and play with the motor map to ensure the battery level remains between 0% and 100%
For advice on how to best use the V-Series.R’s motor maps, refer to Coach Dave Academy’s guide.
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Handling & Performance on Track
Unlike the LMH cars on LMU, the LMDh vehicles tend to be less surefooted and more on a knife edge, though the likes of the BMW M Hybrid V8 are an exception. The V-Series.R’s nose tends to gravitate towards the apex naturally, though you’ll need to focus on keeping the rear in check as it tends to want to snap around, especially in high-speed corners. This tendency helps rotation in slow-speed bends, though.
The rear is generally pretty planted once you get used to it, though it can snap quickly should you drive without the poise needed. The snappy rear can become a bigger problem in wet conditions, though its braking performance will be the area most likely to catch you out. The V-Series.R suffers with rear locking under heavy braking, making it harder to build confidence for less experienced pilots. Trailbraking towards the apex helps to keep the rear axle in check when approaching the apex, even if you lock up.
- The V-Series.R comes with a rear-limited balance, making it a handy tool when you can get the most from it
- Peaky braking performance and slightly unstable rear can make it tricky to be consistent over longer stints, though experienced drivers will be able to use this to lower their laptimes
- Its NA 5.5-litre V8 is very smooth, ensuring the Cadillac has excellent traction when accelerating from corners of all types
- The V-Series.R is one of the fastest prototypes in a straight line, making it a good choice for higher speed tracks and for battling with other cars
Best Tracks for the Cadillac V-Series.R in Le Mans Ultimate
When you’ve managed to work out the quirks of the Cadillac V-Series.R’s balance, it can be a prominent force at pretty much every track available on LMU. It’s at its strongest at tracks with long straights and traction zones, like Le Mans and Monza, though it’ll be a strong proposition at most venues.
The V-Series.R has done well at similar kinds of tracks in real life, the car having scored multiple victories at tight street circuits that reward effective traction and low-speed rotation, while its strong record at Le Mans further hammers this point home.
How It Compares to Other Cars in the Class
The V-Series.R is a strong contender if you want to fight at the front in LMU, though only after you get used to its balance. LMH cars and rival LMDh’s like the BMW M Hybrid V8 provide a safer and more approachable driving experience, though the Caddy’s impressive top speed and traction make it a handy weapon.
- The V-Series.R is trickier to drive at the limit compared to several of its rivals, meaning it’s a trickier beast to be consistent in
- Strong top end makes it excellent at tracks like Le Mans, though venues with many high-speed bends can be more of a challenge to nail consistently
Final Verdict: Is the Cadillac V-Series.R the Right Choice for You?
While lesser experienced drivers will be better suited opting for an LMH to start their careers in, the Cadillac V-Series.R provides an exhilarating and engaging driving experience once you’ve got a decent amount of experience under your belt. Its tendency to lock its rear wheels under braking can catch you out if you lack confidence, but the car provides excellent rotation at all speeds once this can be controlled. This means it’s a very capable tool at most tracks in the right hands.
| Pros | Cons |
| Very agile once balance has been understood | The rear axle has a tendency to lock under heavy braking |
| Very strong top speed | Consistency is trickier to master due to the sometimes inconsistent balance |
| Excellent traction from NA V8 |
As the V-Series.R can snap and catch you out if you don’t have a handle on it, those newer to the prototype class and those focusing on being consistent may find LMH cars like the Toyota GR010 and the Ferrari 499P superior options. The Caddy’s glorious V8 makes it an attractive choice for a range of drivers, but you’ll need to be patient and spend some time to understand how it operates before you’ll be able to extract its full potential.
- Aggressive Drivers: 8/10
- Endurance Racers: 7/10
- Casual Sim Racers: 6.5/10
If you feel your racecraft needs a bit of tuning up, take advantage of Coach Dave Academy’s guide to making sure you move forward in every race you contest.
Wrapping Up
Due to the Cadillac V-Series.R being such a fan favourite in real life, it’s no surprise that they’re a common sight in online LMU races. Newer drivers will need to be patient if they want to be competitive with it due to its slightly inconsistent balance, but the reward is well worth the effort, as you’ll be fast once you get used to it.
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