Speed World Challenge GT: Heinricy to Drive Cadillac CTS-V Race Car at Mid-Ohio

Courtesy General Motors

DETROIT - The Cadillac CTS-V racing team will field a third car for Round 4 of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on May 21.

GM Performance Division Director John Heinricy, an experienced race car driver and engineer, will drive the #12 CTS-V race car in the event, joining fellow racers Max Papis and Andy Pilgrim on Team Cadillac. In his dual role as engineer and race car driver, Heinricy was responsible for developing both the production Cadillac CTS-V and CTS-V race car.

"John showed last year that he really knows how to wheel it around Mid-Ohio," said Jim Taylor, general manager of Cadillac on Heinricy's third-place finish in 2004. "And with the track just a few hours from Detroit, you can bet there will be a lot of employees, families and fans on hand cheering for those three black Cadillacs."

Heinricy has been very active racing Chevrolet Corvettes, Camaros, and Pontiac Firebirds professionally since 1984 and has won 11 driving championships and several team championships. He was a member of the team that broke three world speed records in 1990 driving a Corvette ZR1, and drove one of the factory Corvette C5-R race cars in GT2 competition. Heinricy also has five career SPEED World Challenge wins (including a win at Mid-Ohio in 1994), 20 top-3 finishes and 49 career starts. He has had extensive time in the Cadillac CTS-V during the team's testing and development period.

"It's a thrill to again race the Cadillac CTS-V at Mid-Ohio," said Heinricy. "But an even bigger thrill is to see how excited GM employees are that 'one of their own' is racing for Team Cadillac. It seems to be a real source of employee enthusiasm - not just for those of us involved with the V-Series - but throughout GM. If I can provide a boost to morale, it's certainly a contribution I am proud and privileged to make."

Entering the fourth round of the Speed GT at Mid-Ohio, Team Cadillac is in second place in the manufacturers championship, and coming off a 1-2-3 podium sweep at Road Atlanta. Andy Pilgrim holds second place in the drivers championship.