How Cadillac Racing's 01 passed every GTP to WIN at Laguna Seca (IMSA 2023)

To support the channel, become a member by clicking here: / @groovedslick
Cadillac Racing's Renger Van Der Zande and Sebastian Bourdais completed the unbelievable feat of going last to first in IMSA's GTP class at Laguna Seca in their V-Series R LMDh.
Let's go on board with them to see how it was done!
Full credit to the onboard footage goes to IMSA
A special thanks to ‪@SomeAnon77‬ for recording and uploading the footage

[@TheHarrie93]

What makes it impressive for me is that Renger did all of this after that massive crash in SPA. That can take the confidence out of a driver but he was clearly unphased.

[@GroovedSlick]

I totally agree. The ability for these top level drivers to forget everything as soon as they buckle in is truly incredible.

[@TheHarrie93]

@@GroovedSlick In 2018 I saw Pietro Fittipaldi crash his LMP1 at the same point, he broke both legs. Renger was lucky and I'm glad the adjustments at SPA made it safer.

[@c3gfboy7]

we call this: Redemption.

[@Rixxytello]

1:07 that start up is truly something else 😩

[@richxc0re034]

I was there in person at it was quite a show. One thing that wasn’t mentioned here and on the broadcast was that car was completely disassembled a few hours prior. It was the only car that was frantically being worked on.

[@GroovedSlick]

I'm so jealous man, my favorite spot to watch is the back straight as they head up to the corkscrew, I used to go back in the ALMS days but haven't been able to make it in recent years. Thats really interesting about the 01, I hadn't heard anyone mention that. Do you know what they were working on?

[@IvanPandev-rv4bv]

This is an awesome way to breakdown a race. I usually lose all the pit strat complexities when watching a race, but this boils it down to a complete, fun story. That emotional context from the beginning of their season was really great too. Thank you so much for this, looking forward to more!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, really appreciate it!

[@unpass]

agreed. love the educational and engaging delivery. i usually don't watch onboards but please keep this up!

[@6SteamingBun9]

These vids are great! No wonder they keep popping up in my feed latley! Best of to ya brother man!

[@GPharaod9]

Elite commentary my guy. There’s not too many people in the universe as excited about racing as I am but I can easily tell you’re one of us. 😭

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks so much! I always try to calm down for these commentaries but it never works, I'm always yelling by the end haha!

[@corvetteracing4]

Bro this channel is incredible. Thank you for this content 🙌. Ik ur a GTP guy but some GT coverage wouldn’t hurt 🤭 lol jk I can’t imagine how much time this takes clipping all these videos tg. Much appreciated sir and looking forward to ur lemans coverage!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks man, I really appreciate it! Though I love GTP/Hypercar my heart truly lies with the GTs. I actually traveled with Flying Lizard in the summer of 2013 for 3 races and was the deadman on the pitstops for the 44. I mostly did grunt work and set up/tear down but it was still incredible. I definitely will be doing some GT coverage in the future (VIR/Lime Rock at minimum) but I don't really have the bandwidth to do more than 1-2 videos per month. I actually have an entire video clipped together following Winward at Daytona, but haven't had time to do a voiceover and final edit. Maybe in the run, up to Rolex 24 2024 I'll put that together. 🤔 Anyways, thanks again for the support, it really means a lot! 🤙

[@mrgalaxy396]

Great video mate, I don't have the time to follow these endurance series proper but I love to see the action of it on KZbin. Having it contextualized like this makes for a really nice watch for an outsider, thanks.

[@GroovedSlick]

You'll always be an insider my friend! Thanks for the support!

[@thespectre1106]

Your channel is helping me learn a lot about IMSA and WEC racing, great insights! I notice tire strategy is a hot topic that seems to have determined the outcome of every race so far. How many laps/how long is a set of tires “good” for, before the car and driver start to feel it?

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, that makes me happy to hear! Good question, it really depends on the car and driver, but, if I were to make a rule of thumb for the LMDh cars it would go something like this 0-5 minutes: cold tires slower laps 5-10 minutes: sweet spot fastest laps 10-40 minutes: consistent pace not much fall off 40 - 100 minutes: dramatic falloff depending on how you drove the previous 40 minutes 100+ minutes: what are you still doing on these tires you're now slower than the GT cars The LMH cars are a little different though as they have a greater advantage on brand new tires and then at the end of the stint have less fall off, but I'm still trying to understand that.

[@maxb148]

​@Grooved Slick I think one of the reasons the Toyotas and Ferrari do better on tyres at the end of a stint is because of how the power is applied (I am no way an expert just a guess from me). LMDh is all rear wheel drive while LMH have 4 wheel drive when they have hybrid. As the power is capped when the power is applied to the front tyres in the LMH it is being taken away from the power applied to the rear tyres so less tyre wear over the stint whereas for the LMDh cars it's all rear wheel drive.

[@GroovedSlick]

@@maxb148 Yeah definitely, I think thats a solid assessment. I just don't understand why they are so much better on new tires. I put some data together from spa and if you averaged out cadillac's 50 best laps and compared them to toyota and ferrari, they were about 7 tenths slower on average. But the fastest lap was like 2.5 seconds slower. Confusing 🤷‍♂

[@maxb148]

@@GroovedSlick I think taking the best 50 laps isn't the best way of seeing how they are on new tyres. If you looked at the first 5 laps of each stint compared to the next 5 or so laps that would be a better estimate. Or look at how long it takes the cars to get back to their average pace, for this the Ferraris take 2 to 3 laps (granted going slower than GTEs on those laps), Toyotas took to the middle to final sector of the outlap, Cadillac took roughly the same as the Toyotas, Porsche took a lap and a half. So they were all (apart from Ferrari) able to switch their tyres on relatively quickly.

[@GroovedSlick]

@@maxb148 Yeah, thats a good way to look at it. Its just really tough find a way to compare given that lapped traffic can have such a large effect from lap to lap which is why I was averaging over a large number

[@DerekCross118]

Great job calling this! Thank you!

[@ht24d64]

Love your narration of these races and your coverage of the Cadillacs.

[@WalidKhan]

Appreciate the clear and on-point commentary.

[@GAWTYONEK]

Really enjoyed watching this great way to start my day. Excellent commentary. Keep doing what you're doing.

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, thats very kind!

[@Too_Perfect]

Thanks for the race summaries and the hopping between different cars for context 🔥 Super helpful

[@artvandelayimports]

This was my first in person IMSA race and it was fucking amazing

[@GroovedSlick]

Laguna is an incredible place to watch a race. that’s where I watched my first sports car race in 2007 and was instantly hooked

[@EbinH92]

It is so cool to get a breakdown of strategies and opportunities like this, awesome work!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks!

[@boughtnotbuilt363]

Amazing video! cant wait to watch this after the next IMSA race!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks!

[@frguitar777]

Wow!!!! Fantastic video man!!!!! Love to hear your analisys

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks so much man, really appreciate it!

[@wolfrace3408]

Keep the good work!! Love your videos!!!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

[@onboard4793]

Bourdais is amazing driver I deserve lot of credits

[@drsus0]

they need to paint the caddy in a way that it shows off the design,, it is by far he most gorgeous and yet its invisible with all these choices of color and shine.

[@southvenicesupplycompany323]

enjoyed the watch, good job!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks!

[@dondelchulia3189]

They need to use this kind of on board video more in the broadcast. These cars look fantastic while racing each other.

[@briewhit1312]

First time ive seen a onboard with full race commentary and its superb stuff. Keep up the amazing content

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks I appreciate the support!

[@littletweeter1327]

i really want cadillac to keep being successful. these series' need that NA V8 sound

[@austinkramer8748]

Once again an amazing video and the analysis is incredible!!! IMSA needs a “sky pad” and you need to be ON IT.

[@GroovedSlick]

you're too kind! I think I would scare away the average viewer 🤣

[@markusgarvey]

Great commentary dude!

[@mattagaijined3448]

Incredible content, i need more or this. Happy to see that your channel is growing.

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks man! Hope you and your family are staying safe with all the floods

[@soholmgaming]

Good to see you're killing it😊

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks man! Hope you're doing well!

[@DrivingAcademySchool]

Awesome content mate!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thank you, I really appreciate it!

[@justrelax8465]

Incredible call bro. People Wil feed off your enthusiasm. Keep it up

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, really appreciate it! I have many many flaws, but lack of enthusiasm is not one of them! haha!

[@cinemahumano]

Great race, very good commentaries, my friend! Love this series.

[@Pindapoepert]

Amazing summary of the race! Great narrative, exciting to watch!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thank you!

[@thomaseberhard9056]

What a cool and informative break up of this awesome race! Pls keep up the good work 😍

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks for the support!

[@able-fox]

Wow, another great video. It really is like watching the race with new eyes. Great job!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, thats my goal, I really appreciate it! 🤙

[@anthonymaddison9588]

Your channel has got more eyeballs lately because it's a great channel.

[@GroovedSlick]

Thats very kind, thank you

[@josef_koenig]

Great content, big respect for putting all the work in. I think you really step in, where the official broadcast & highlights fail: You tell a story. It makes it just so much more interesting

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, that really means a lot man, I appreciate it!

[@Cymbalix]

This is amazing! Please do more IMSA / WEC vids.

[@Sideshowleon]

I love the analysis

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks!

[@oldfrend]

great video man. hope you do this for every imsa race.

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, I'll try!

[@Tracked_z]

Please keep doing these for imsa and WEC

[@morepassionfoo]

I was there. great race and great to see these guys get a W out of a rough start to the year

[@ishaanbhardwaj8992]

One thing of note is how much drag the Cadillac was carrying. Those Acuras were walking away out of the final corner on dead tires.

[@marknator]

Thank you for this great video

[@alexanderkoreibaracing]

This is awesome!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks man! What are you racing next?

[@alexanderkoreibaracing]

@@GroovedSlick working on it. Will announce soon!

[@MrRicknash]

Once again your commenting makes me feel like I'm there. The best!

[@GroovedSlick]

that makes me happy to hear!

[@WEARES0BACK]

1:07 THAT NOISE 🥵🥵🥵🥵

[@chrisblack6258]

The car looks slick

[@GenoSalvati]

When I saw the 01 go off with rear brakes locked in the first turn in previous race, nobody reported about the brake issue - well done!

[@JoeBarring]

That's because it wasn't a brake issue. Bourdais hit the brakes late on a very bumpy part of the track that also had a lot of dust on it at the time. He shouldn't have ever put the car there, so it was mostly a driver error

[@HardDeckProductions]

@GroovedSlick Where do I go to watch all of this onboard footage?

[@shkim4076]

Really like this video! Lucky strike is only start now 😀

[@gibz5467]

Hi, a question. Will you cover WEC in the future? And even the GTE (or I should say LMGT3) class? Would live to see recaps and analyzations of the battles (6h of portimao?) And keep these up! These are really fun and enjoyable videos

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, really appreciate it! Unfortunately I'm already at the limit of my time constraints for making videos, so I'll only be able to do 1-2 per month so I'll be keeping it mainly to imsa. I wish I could do more, I just don't have time.

[@wendigockel]

Hypercar/GTP haven't disappointed at all so far! Hopefully the Toyotas will be beaten soon

[@ypsilon3005]

Im rooting for this car to win le mans

[@GroovedSlick]

This car is definitely my dark horse for Le Mans

[@williamjolka4351]

The old Seb !! Still on ...

[@JulienRicko]

Hello, could you analyze 6h Spa, in which the ferrari still got 3rd, although doing 2 stops more?

[@tropfen]

laguna seca was such a rollercoaster of emotions. one of the best races i've seen in a while. glad the yellow caddi got the win it deserved!

[@patrickfeuillet6878]

Great video ! Are you coming to Le Mans ?

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks! I really wish, but unfortunately not. 😞 I went in 2014 and it was the trip of a lifetime

[@yanniskhelifi2418]

Can you do a tutorial on how to have onboards because on the imsa tv i don't find them, thanks (you do amazing work continue like this)

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks! You can only watch the onboards live on IMSA TV. but there are some channels that record/upload them www.youtube.com/@SomeAnon77

[@randallmason9687]

That kind of knocks the confidence out of the drive,and brake by wire! Yikes Man!!!

[@117johnpar]

Bruh said 'FUCK IT'

[@KosmicHRTRacingTeam]

Let’s be 100% honest, the final restart with almost 1:30 on the clock and having more new sets of tires than those in front of him, it’s not nearly as impressive. The caution equalized the field and he had more than 1 1/2 hours to over take. That isn’t to say they didn’t deserve the win. But let’s look at the full context. Unless one is new to racing, it’s not surprising to get this result. (Not to mention the slower GT cars getting in the way).

[@JCKCPA]

When is the next race and details?

[@GroovedSlick]

next IMSA race is the 12 hours of sebring on March 16th 👌

[@JCKCPA]

Thank you, my friend.@@GroovedSlick

[@br1_deadpedal]

forgot to show mosport crash

[@iybjs5308]

This looks a lot like Cadillac turned down the AI ability to 5% for a last to first challenge

[@yanakaizzz9335]

:D

[@metrichotrods1763]

🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@carlfeibusch9308]

Congrats to Larson for berating a bunch of twenty-something’s and rookies!

[@4rdF1Hunny]

GM car not being, reliable? Who would have guessed…

[@atheist0627]

SPOILER!

[@Omnihil777]

You like money? Make a patreon account, I'll be all over it!

[@cookncrack5334]

break by wire ....stupid just like when they do it to gas pedal

[@skuzzlebutt5261]

I hate obvious commentary.

[@njoji]

I highly appreciate this. The highlights on the nbc KZbin channel did this race no justice

[@yaintracingshit512]

NBC is absolutely garbage, one of the reasons why IMSA isn’t growing that fast even though it’s the best endurance racing in the world.

[@mineralwater6736]

@@yaintracingshit512 wec better

[@deancostello14]

The official IMSA KZbin channel should have the full race in a few days. Idk if it's geofenced though.

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, really appreciate it! I almost cried when I watched those highlights haha

[@bro_hornet]

No one cares about Imsa except the fans like us

[@elizabuppy]

I felt really bad for Van Der Zande and the Cadillac team in Spa. They have genuine pace that challenges the Toyota's and Ferrari's at the minute, them getting a win in Laguna Seca of all places really must be a confidence boost. :D

[@GroovedSlick]

Yeah, the Spa crash was heartbreaking, especially considering how well he performed in those terrible conditions at the start of the race. I couldn't be more excited for him and Bourdais.

[@Mountain_Dewd9]

Awesome IMSA coverage! This is comparable to anything that NBC could put out, and it's much more detailed! I started watching NASCAR back in 2019, but have been branching out into more motorsports this year. Keep up the good work and I'm sure that you'll gain a larger following, you definitely gained my viewership today!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks man, that means a lot, I really appreciate it! 🤙

[@AS19Motorsport]

5:36 hahaha you can actually hear Renger yell “fucking hell!” as he is nearly collected by the Porsche. Top video, thank you for making it!

[@GroovedSlick]

I love when they yell loud enough to hear! haha

[@cake1387]

Cadillac really deserved that wing at Laguna, such a great looking and sounding car, Cadillac really doing their job

[@michaelcullen5955]

that cadilac team is so cool. Cool looking and sounding cars, and the drivers are super entertaining.

[@motorsportfan1246]

Best GTP package. Shows that you don’t need a v6 turbo to be competitive.

[@12th.jahlil]

Everyone besides acura in imsa gtp is V8 😂😂 WEC is mostly V6 in LMH

[@motorsportfan1246]

@@12th.jahlil the majority of the new era of cars are v6. Ferrari, Toyota, Acura, Isotta, Peugeot. No doubt alpine will be a v6. Late day LMP1 was dominated by v6 and v4 engines. I’m just saying that you don’t need to add a bunch of turbos or downsize in the name of “efficiency” and “reliability” to be competitive. And you can sound fantastic doing it.

[@kevinwho.]

I don’t think anyone said you need a V6 turbo to win. The engine rules are open for a reason. Cadillac were not stupid going for a V8.

[@AKK5I]

I'm not even a Cadillac fan but that big American naturally aspirated V8 motor leaves me in awe everytime I hear their onboard

[@davidaugustofc2574]

@@motorsportfan1246 the majority of the new era cars are v6 for a reason, you don't really need a V6 turbo to be competitive in GTP class, and that's pretty much it.

[@terrenceyang8798]

Keep doing this ! Your channel will soon be famous.

[@GTfour01]

This, gentlemen, makes a Dutchman proud. 🇳🇱🇺🇸👌🏻

[@GTfour01]

Bloody well narrated and edited, by the way! 👍🏼

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks! Appreciate it!

[@ReillyGrandmaison]

man I'm craving these videos. I hope you blow up soon

[@camrsr5463]

Great video! Thanks! What a win for that team!

[@jeffshootsstuff]

This was super fun. Thanks!

[@pfrstreetgang7511]

You ARE going to surpass that Jimmy Broadbent dude in subscribers. You narrate better, you're more knowledgeable, you make it very entertaining w/o resorting to whatever people label his antics as.

[@thomasjones8079]

Brilliant driving by Renger & the Caddy crew and brilliant commentary - thank you!

[@zombiegutkill8043]

Fantastic video man. Absolutely phenomenal. I just randomly found this video and gave it a click. No one else is making this kind of commentary type winner pov highlights. Definitely stick to this, made understanding their strategy more digestible as its hard to keep track during a race live. Would love to see you apply this to GTD/PRO and/or indycar, nascar, f1 as well. This video concept is untapped and you do a hell of a job at presenting it!!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thanks, I really appreciate it! I'll definitely expand to GTD/PRO but I don't have the bandwidth to expand much further, unfortunately.

[@terryallen9546]

Very nice video.

[@omsetiotway]

Great video!❤ You should be a Motorsport commentator!

[@GroovedSlick]

Thank you, you're very kind! 🤙

[@Jzwiz]

Man these are some beautiful cars, imagine a street version (i know theyd be very un comfy and impractical without adding tons of weight) but seeing one at a car meetup or a track day would be so cool.

[@fillman86]

that last overtake he did should be impossible!! I recon he went in and edited an .ini file for more grip!! btw nice use of stream footage, and good story telling :) you've got a sub from me!

[@GroovedSlick]

Yeah, I think Jarno Opmeer is working on another grip hax scandal video now 😂 Thanks, that means a lot, I really appreciate it! 🤙

[@MihzvolWuriar]

The 2 teams I'm rooting the most this year is Caddy and Acura in Imsa, and Caddy and Peugeot at WEC, finally a positive result, let's go boys.

[@youngenterprisefilm]

I'll thank you for avoiding spoilers in your video titles. I suspect I'm not the only one. This was sat right at the top of my recommend videos next to the race coverage. You have just ruined my experience of watching the race. Please stop.

[@snakebitten6967]

They don’t have the pace of the Acuras or Toyotas. What you saw here was tire strategy at play. Equal tires the Acuras run away from everyone. As for the WEC Toyotas, they not there yet. The Ferraris seem to have the pace of the Toyotas but the Caddy’s need a bop bounce in power. They get left in the straights by alm excepth the Ava wall and Glick. I want them to win as I think their cars look and sound the best.

[@neuralfraud]

I think your tire commentary is obviously wrong, because as Michelin have repeatedly stated, they're obviously quite capable of making a tire that will last the entire race distance!

[@cabobs2000]

Great video! A helpful editing tip would be to add a frame or two of white screen between your cuts. It's a bit disorienting when the car jumps ahead.

[@ronaldwoofer5024]

are these cars LMP ?

[@GroovedSlick]

short answer: basically long answer: it’s so effing complicated On my list of videos I’d like to make one day is “The complicated history of sports prototypes”

[@JF6182]

That Cadillac learn like Max Verstappen

[@tbz1551]

8:33 That is not how time works... you only lose a second if the car is lapping a second faster which it wasn't.