2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing at Lightning Lap 2023

From the February/March 2023 issue of Car and Driver.

Lap Time: 2:54.6

Class: LL2 | Base: $71,715 | As-Tested: $85,215
Power and Weight: 472 hp • 3900 lb • 8.3 lb/hp
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, F: 255/35ZR-18 (94Y) TPC, R: 275/35ZR-18 (99Y) TPC

As you may recall, we lost a day with the CT4-V Blackwing last year after looping it following the blind Turn 10 and folding a front-right suspension link. Naturally, we invited the CT4-V Blackwing back, because everyone deserves a second chance, ourselves included.

When Cadillac’s on-site representatives dangled General Motors development driver and hotshoe Bill Wise’s 2:52.5 bogey in front of us, we had our make-good target.

Here’s the thing about chasing a lap time. Hitting the mark is sweet; missing it stings. The Racelogic VBox LapTimer affixed to the windshield tells you when you’re driving faster than your previous best lap—a green light delivers a pat on the back, while a red one says you’re a failure. We hit 2:54.6 on our best lap, 2.1 seconds behind the goal.

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A word about Wise: He’s no slouch. You don’t get a gig developing some of the greatest vehicles in GM’s history—like the Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE—if you aren’t always at the limit. We examined the difference and found his wide-open commitment through the Uphill Esses to be quicker. Over the course of a 4.1-mile lap, it’s easy to lose fractions of a second here and there. Wise’s bogey aside, we improved on last year’s time by a full second. Our hat’s off to you, Bill. You won this one.

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