Prepare yourself for a titanic clash between two exceptional cars: the Cadillac V-Series.R, straight out of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the formidable Ferrari 296 GTB. Who will emerge victorious from this duel at the top?
The Cadillac V-Series.R, a hypercar built for endurance
During the last edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Cadillac V-Series.R proved that it was one of the fastest endurance cars on the planet by taking third place in the hypercar category. This racing beast is powered by a 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine, supported by an electric motor. But how will it fare against a road-legal supercar?
The technical characteristics of the Cadillac V-Series.R are impressive:
The Ferrari 296 GTB, a formidable hybrid supercar
Faced with the Cadillac, the Ferrari 296 GTB is not shy. This Italian supercar is equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, supported by two electric motors, for a combined output of 830 horsepower. Thanks to its all-wheel drive, it is capable of going from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds.
The advantages of the Ferrari 296 GTB:
A breathtaking quarter-mile duel
To decide between these two cars, head to the Willow Springs circuit in California. Before taking on the Cadillac, the Ferrari 296 GTB had to compete against two other leading supercars: the Porsche 911 Turbo S and the McLaren 720S. Despite the Porsche's lower power, its all-wheel drive and formidable launch control allowed it to get the best start. But the Ferrari quickly regained the advantage thanks to its superior cavalry, relegating the 911 and the 720S neck and neck.
Now for the long-awaited duel between the Ferrari 296 GTB and the Cadillac V-Series.R. The American hypercar has a major handicap: it can only use its electric propulsion up to 60 km/h, before the naturally aspirated V8 takes over. A definite disadvantage against the Ferrari which can exploit all its power from the start. As a result, the 296 GTB went from 0 to 96 km/h (60 mph) in just 2.6 seconds, compared to 3.6 seconds for the Cadillac.
A bitter taste victory for Ferrari
Despite its strong start, the Ferrari 296 GTB saw the Cadillac V-Series.R return at full speed in its mirrors. Indeed, once its naturally aspirated V8 was in action, the American hypercar quickly caught up, displaying a speed much higher than that of the Ferrari at the finish line. There is no doubt that over a longer distance, the Cadillac would have ended up overtaking its opponent of the day.
One thing is certain, this epic duel between two radically opposed philosophies will go down in history. If the Ferrari 296 GTB won the battle from 0 to 100 km/h, the Cadillac V-Series.R proved that it remained the undisputed queen of endurance. See you at the next 24 Hours of Le Mans for a revenge at the top!
The Cadillac V-Series.R faces the Ferrari 296 GTB in an epic race!
SRQ Backlot