Cadillac is the only LMDh entrant using naturally aspirated power. The V-LMDh sounds all the better for it.
IMSA held a testing program at Daytona this week for teams to prep for next month’s 24-hour season opener. It marked the first time all four new LMDh entries—Acura ARX-06, BMW M Hybrid V8, Cadillac V-LMDh, and Porsche 963—were on track at the same time, and it gave us a great look at these new machines. One key takeaway? The Cadillac sounds incredible.
We’ve known for a while that the Cadillac makes a great sound, but now, we have video of it pulling out of the pits and screaming around the Daytona tri-oval. What’s especially cool is that the V-LMDh, like all LMDh cars, leaves its pit box driving on electric power only. Once it’s up to speed, though, the V-8 fires up with an incredible blare. The sort, I imagine, you’d feel in your chest.
Acura is using a twin-turbo V-6 for its LMDh car, while BMW and Porsche use twin-turbo flat-plane V-8s. All sound good, but they pale in comparison to the Cadillac’s bespoke DOHC cross-plane V-8. Running around the oval, the Cadillac sounds more like a NASCAR stocker than any modern prototype racer. It’s glorious.
Michelin Racing has posted some great videos on its Twitter account highlighting sights and sounds of the other cars. The BMW and Porsche sound unsurprisingly similar, though the BMW seems to rev a bit higher—the limit for LMDh engines is 10,000 rpm—yet it’s the Acura that makes the most intriguing noise. Off throttle, there’s a percussive sound, which to my ears, sounds like some sort of anti-lag system to keep the turbos spooling.
The BMW M Hybrid V8 in the new @IMSA GTP era runs on MICHELIN® technology. @BMWMotorsport @Michelin_Sport pic.twitter.com/VJSUSFr4od
— Michelin Racing USA (@MichelinRaceUSA) December 6, 2022
The sights and sounds of the next era of #IMSA GTP are thrilling! The @WayneTaylorRcng Acura ARX-06 relies on @Michelin_Sport technology, as they build a car capable of winning the 2023 @Rolex24Hours. pic.twitter.com/MC9xWiKTAq
— Michelin Racing USA (@MichelinRaceUSA) December 7, 2022
#PorschePenskeMotorsport – It’s the final day of @IMSA sanctioned testing @DAYTONA. The preparation of the brand-new #Porsche963 is crucial as there are only some six weeks to go until the 2023 #Daytona24 Roar@Team_Penske @MichelinRaceUSA pic.twitter.com/kAId4GnGDf
— Porsche Motorsport (@PorscheRaces) December 7, 2022
While the Cadillac wins the sound contest hands down, all four LMDh cars look great. In just over a month, we’ll know which wins the first real battle.
Chris Perkins Senior Editor Chris Perkins is the Web Editor for Road & Track magazine.
Keyword: The Cadillac V-LMDh Sounds Unholy