Sonoma, Calif., Cadillac V-Performance driver Michael Cooper (Syosset, N.Y) won the first of two races in the weekend finale of the Pirelli World Challenge Championship today at Sonoma Raceway.

Cooper started race one on the front row in his Vector Blue No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe on the strength of a 1:32.148 qualifying time, just missing the pole (pole was No. 31 Ferrari, 1:32.002). At the start of the 50-minute sprint race, he was able to get in front of the Ferrari going into the fast uphill Turn 2 and lead the race. The event went caution free with Cooper pacing the field the entire distance. Unfortunately, his championship rivals shared the podium with Cooper. Patrick Long, No. 58 Porsche, finished third accumulating enough points to win the GT championship and Alvaro Parent, No. 9 McLaren, finished second. With another strong run in tomorrow's season finale Cooper can move into second position in the driver standings.

'The 31tried a pretty sketchy move, but I was able to get by him up into Turn 2,' Cooper said. 'Once I was past and the guys were dicing it up behind me I was able to set a good pace, hit my marks and run my own pace. I was able to be fast where we were good and minimize where we weren't. In a battle it is easy to use up the tires and the car. It made my day a lot easier. We can't win the overall championship, but we can get second. I think I have to beat Alvaro by a position to move into second in points. That will be the goal.'

O'Connell had a tough open to the weekend. During Friday's last practice session he had a big crash in the Velocity Red No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe. 'It doesn't happen often but everyone falls off and I'm disappointed in myself (for the crash),' he said O'Connell, a 20-race winner in PWC GT competition. 'I just understeered into turn six and hit a bump. The next thing I know I was in the air and face first into the wall. Very grateful that Cadillac Racing builds one heck of a strong car. That was a huge one. I haven't had a huge one like that since my IndyCar days (in the 1990s).'

Both Cadillac Racing crews, the engineers and every spare hand chipped in to turn the show car, which prior to 4:30 p.m., was sitting in the Cadillac activation display on the Sonoma retail midway. The team put in nine hours to transform the show car into a competitive race car Friday night and into the morning. Saturday the team had the now Crystal White No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe waiting at the World Challenge tech inspection tent at 7 a.m. and on the track at 10 a.m. for qualifying. O'Connell was able to put in a time of 1:33.055 good for a seventh row starting position.

At the start O'Connell improved two positions and then 10 minutes into the race he had contact with the No. 93 Acura of Peter Kox going into Turn 7. The resulting contact had body work rubbing on the left front tire which caused O'Connell to pit for repairs. He was classified in 18th place at the checker.

'Congratulations to Michael on the win,' O'Connell said. 'It is nice to get one for Cadillac on speed. My race was tough. The guys worked their butts off last night getting the spare car into race shape. They are the best crew in the paddock. I gave it everything in qualifying, but not having sat in the car prior we started 12th. In the race I was able to move up at the start and make-up a few positions. Going into Turn 7 I got inside of the Acura and he came down on me at the exit. We barely touched. The contact knocked the inner fender onto the tire and I had to pit. We will get it together, make some changes and go again tomorrow.'

The Pirelli World Challenge Series Sonoma Raceway series finale will run September 15-17. The final race of the season will run tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. Follow the race action at MotorTrendOnDemand.com.

This weekend's races from Sonoma will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network the same day, Sunday, September 17 at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Cadillac Racing PWC 2017 Results

Track

Drivers

Start

Finish

Points

St. Petersburg

Johnny O'Connell

Michael Cooper

7

6

10

9

4

2

7

5

42 (3)

31 (5)

Long Beach

Johnny O'Connell

Michael Cooper

12

9

20

14

43(5)

38 (8)

Virginia International Raceway

SprintX

Johnny O'Connell/Ricky Taylor

Michael Cooper/Jordan Taylor

11

12

7

4

6

12

3

3

9(22)X

3(40)X

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park SprintX

Johnny O'Connell/Ricky Taylor

Michael Cooper/Jordan Taylor

4

4

12

5

3

5

1

4

43(4)X

65(1)X

Lime Rock Park SprintX

Johnny O'Connell/Ricky Taylor

Michael Cooper/Jordan Taylor

8

9

5

4

11

7

4

2

101 (8)X

145 (1)X

Road America

Johnny O'Connell

Michael Cooper

2

3

6

4

8

3

3

5

135 (5)

183 (1)

Mid-Ohio

Johnny O'Connell

Michael Cooper

3

6

2

7

3

11

2

7

166 (5)

220 (2)

Utah Motorsports Campus

Johnny O'Connell/Ricky Taylor

Michael Cooper/Jordan Taylor

5

4

9

8

4

5

8

3

94 (8)

141 (1)

Circuit of the Americas

Johnny O'Connell/Ricky Taylor

Michael Cooper/Jordan Taylor

1

6

3

9

2

7

6

DNF

149 (5)X

*175 (1)X

Sonoma Raceway

Johnny O'Connell

Michael Cooper

12

2

18

1

*Cooper and Jordan Taylor PWC SprintX GT Pro/Pro Champions

Cadillac Racing, since the team's inception in 2004, has amassed 33 wins, 121 podium finishes (including wins) and 25 pole positions. The team won the World Challenge Manufacturer Championship in 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Team Cadillac drivers have won the World Challenge Driver's Championship in 2005 with Andy Pilgrim and in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 with Johnny O'Connell.

Additional information can be viewed at Cadillac.com, GM.com, media.gm.com, world-challenge.com, johnnyoconnell.com; Twitter @MSCooper1, @JohnnyOConnell, @Jordan10Tyalor, @RickyTaylor_10, @Cadillac; Facebook, GM, Michael Cooper, Johnny O'Connell, Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Cadillac.

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac's media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

The Cadillac Racing media guide can be viewed at media.cadillac.com. For additional information please contact Kyle Chura, kyle@kcapr.com or (248) 821-0468.

GM - General Motors Company published this content on 16 September 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
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