Cadillac evo update brings consistency over a stint, say drivers

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2026 has seen multiple manufacturers bring updates for their IMSA GTP or WEC Hypercar competitors, with many focusing on aero updates, to varying degrees.

However, the update that Cadillac have developed for 2026 is amongst the biggest aerodynamics evolution across all 10 manufacturers competing in the IMSA Sportscar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Only Endurance spoke to multiple Cadillac drivers from both IMSA factory teams, Action Express Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing, to understand the changes and the differences to the previous generation or version of the Cadillac V-Series.R.

'The car seems to be more consistent and easier to drive over the long stints,' said Louis Deletraz, driver of the #40 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac.

'I don't think it's quicker. I just think it's better and more reliable.'

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A driver saying an update to a car doesn't make it quicker may be unusual.

However, updating a car in GTP or Hypercar is different from some other motorsports, as the regulations for top class sportscars employ Balance of Performance to regulate and level the field.

Accordingly, if you make your car outright faster, the gains you've made with the update, perhaps higher straightline speed or increased corner apex speeds, will be undone by higher weights or lower power.

This means manufacturers instead focus on improving things that can't be undone by a helping of BoP. This could include driveability, making the car easier to drive; improving tyre wear, thermal degradation, and tyre warm-up capabilities; or, in the case of Cadillac, consistency over a stint.

'Also in traffic, following other cars, which was a big point from last year,' continued Deletraz.

'Like, while we're in traffic, we seem to lose all the performance. That's definitely better.

'And then the update with the brakes, same thing, controlling the temps, especially with those complex cars. We had some issues in the past, and I think the updates were targeting to improve that, find consistency and just be able to race better.'

The brakes update has seen Cadillac switch to Brembo brakes for 2026 on the V-Series.R. The aero update, meanwhile, sees the car sporting a brand new splitter, redesigned lower rear wing, removal of diveplanes, and other aerodynamic upgrades.

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Over in the Action Express side of the Cadillac factory entries in IMSA and at Daytona this weekend, Fred Vesti echoed Deletraz's thoughts.

'Well, luckily it feels very familiar to the last year's car.

'Having won the last two races, we don't want a completely changed car,' the Dane began. It is slightly different and we have to adjust a few things but globally speaking, it's a very similar car to what we had and I'm glad it's similar, it is a very good race car,' he said.

While Wayne Taylor Racing struggled for pace last year in their first year of running the Cadillac, after two years with the Acura ARX-06, Action Express had a good year, taking the final two race wins of the year at Indianapolis and Petit Le Mans.

But, what has changed in Vesti's opinion?

'Obviously the different brakes,' started the 24-year-old.

'So, just learning the working temperatures of those.

'Then there is a few things how the car feels, mainly in drivability like how consistent it is, and how easy it is to get the same lap time again and again.

'It's not really talking about peak performance. It's more like into the stint and into a long race. You know, this car is doing 24 hours, it needs to be pretty consistent.'

Updates bring 'fresh start' to field

Wayne Taylor Racing's Ricky Taylor, on the other hand, focused on improving the car's adjustability.

'Good, yeah, the updates were mainly for adjustability,' said the American.

'Being able to shift the aero balance, a little bit more, having a different tool.

'The update's looked pretty good so far, I'd say. Through the year, we'll find out how they evolve through the season,' he said.

However, for Taylor, it's not just Cadillac's update that he and his fellow drivers need to learn more about. With Porsche, BMW, and Acura all bringing updates of their own for their cars, it resets things somewhat.

'By the end of last year, we had three full seasons of experience of who's good where, and how the cars react to certain situations. But yeah, it's kind of... it's nice. It's like starting fresh again.'

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Jack Aitken, Vesti's teammate in the #31 Action Express Cadillac, echoed this viewpoint.

'I'm not sure to be honest, it's very hard to judge,' said the Briton when asked about where he thinks Action Express and Cadillac stack up this weekend.

'I mean, we've all got well, nearly all of us have come here with evo upgrades or packages or however, you want to say it.

'And, that means, it's a bit unsure how the cards are going to fall. We've had a solid Roar and practice. So far here, we've got plenty of mileage, nothing's really gone wrong. The car's run really well and reliably, but we still don't know where we are relatively pace-wise.

'So it's going to be interesting how the race starts to unfold, especially as we come out of the night, but I couldn't give you a clue as to how it's going to happen,' he concluded.

Feature image: Griffith Bean