Sure enough, The Crest is headed back to the race track, this time with its menacing CTS-V Coupe. Cadillac last took to the field of battle in 2007, when it campaigned in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge, and according to General Motors, the company will once again race in that series with a two-car team next season. Pratt & Miller, the shop responsible for the wicked American Le Mans Series Chevrolet Corvettes we all know and love, has been tasked with developing the racier version of the CTS-V Coupe. While the cars are largely production-based in the World Challenge GT class, some of the vehicle’s systems will need to be upgraded to meet SCCA specifications.

The two CTS-V Coupe race cars will compete for the first time on March 25 in St. Petersburg, Florida with Johnny O’Connel and Andy Pilgram behind the wheel. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait that long to see these machine in the metal.

Having had a hand in several of the vehicles in the performance division of General Motors, Heinricy is leaving behind a legacy that will be hard to match. Not only a decorated engineer, but also a world class driver, Heinricy ends his career with GM after 40 years. Perhaps he wanted to call it quits before GM went belly up, who knows. He will be sadly missed.

John Heinricy, the man behing General Motors Performance Division, has announced that he will be retiring from GM. Heinricy started with GM almost 40 years ago and has had a hand in some of the automaker’s most exciting and important vehicles.

Even if you don’t know Heinricy by name, you know his creations. He was responsible for the original Cadillac CTS and the new CTS-V, the Corvette Z06 and ZR1, and the Chevy Cobalt SS, among others.

In addition to his duties as an engineer, Heinricy was also one of GM’s most decorated drivers. Heinricy recently took home an SCCA title behind the wheel of a Cobalt SS and holds the Nurburgring lap record for a stock sedan – 7 minutes and 59 seconds — accomplished in the new CTS-V.

Heinricy will be greatly missed at GM and we only hope that his passion will be carried out in future GM products.