In an unexpected turn, Chip Ganassi Racing will be without a manufacturer following the 2024 season, with GM and the team parting ways at the end of both the WEC and IMSA seasons.
It is unclear whether this will be a departure from prototype racing for Ganassi, but it does begin to prepare a lot of questions for the longstanding team and its counter.
If things stand leading into 2025, there would only be one GTP/Hypercar entry across both series, the Whelen Engineering Cadillac by Action Express Racing, which would compete full-time in IMSA and very minimally in WEC.
Seeing the departure of Cadillac from such a huge factory-supported group as CGR is a massive blow, given the recent departure of Meyer Shank Racing from the sport last season with their Acura entry.
Fortunately, two Acuras remain on the grid here in 2024 with a two-car tandem for Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti, but losing a major tie such as Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing hinders the development the manufacturer has with its other program.
For Ganassi, the options for bringing on a new manufacturer are there.
The most likely would be Porsche, given the flourishing customer car program the brand has displayed. However, with Penske being the manufacturer’s factory team, the likelihood of having factory support is slim for a team like CGR.
Acura is another likely option. With the team’s Honda ties in IndyCar, there is a possibility that Acura or even a potential Honda GTP car could be in play for suitors to jump in with Ganassi.
There is potential that the team could even run other manufacturers, such as Toyota or Ford, but it is highly unlikely the two brands would be coming to play with Chip Ganassi.
Cadillac, in this situation, however, does have the ball in their court.
Even though Chip Ganassi Racing will be parting ways with the brand, Cadillac has options themselves.
For the GM-backed group, this could be a clean departure, although unlikely.
There is a potential to have Action Express Racing field a sister Cadillac GTP car in IMSA or even a full-time entry in WEC due to the CGR-Cadillac split, similar to Wayne Taylor’s addition of a second Acura following Meyer Shank’s departure.
The options are there for both parties, but it definitely makes you wonder: what may be leading to many of these shifts in the sport?
Costs are always prevalent, especially at the level of any series, but, given CGR or even Meyer Shank’s situation, those aren’t true factors for the teams.
For Chip Ganassi, this may be a performance-related move.
Cadillac has had an up-and-down rollercoaster, even with a championship IMSA season under the belt, with Chip Ganassi.
This may have been a shift needed for the team to start fresh.
Nevertheless, it will be quite interesting to see what directions each of these powerhouse brands takes leading into 2025, which is starting to look like a compelling season.
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