Crucial win for Team Cadillac in road Atlanta Speed GT

Team Cadillac produced a championship-calibre performance in the ninth round of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT at Road Atlanta on September 30. Andy Pilgrim scored nine valuable points in the manufacturers’ championship with his first victory since joining Team Cadillac. Team mate Ron Fellows finished third in his Cadillac CTS-V after a wild finish that saw the Canadian racer with four tyres on the grass in the last turn. As a result, Cadillac has gained critical ground in the SPEED GT manufacturers’ championship, in joint second place and just five points behind the leader. Pilgrim has also moved to second place in the drivers’ standings.

Andy Pilgrim’s Cadillac CTS-V started on the front row alongside Tommy Archer's Viper, outbraking him into Turn 10 at the end of the long straight. He gradually established a six-second lead over his pursuers.

“I was running all-out for manufacturers’ points today,” said Pilgrim after the race. “I wanted to get that lead early so I could cruise a little at the end. I just put my head down and ran as hard as I could run.”

With Pilgrim out in the lead, Ron Fellows was engaged in a pitched battle with Archer for second place. Fellows’ black Cadillac moved from sixth after lap one to third by lap four. He made his move on Archer for second on the 14th lap, outbraking his rival going into Turn 10. Archer kept Fellows under pressure for the remaining 15 laps, and regained the second place in the final corner, forcing the Cadillac into the grass as they raced side-by-side to the finish line. Archer took second position, finishing 0.24 seconds ahead of Fellows.

A maximum of ten points are available at the season’s finale in Monterey, California, which takes place on October 22.