One powerhouse team has left, but another is ready to make its return. Two days after Team Penske captured the 2020 championship in IMSA’s DPi class at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, Chip Ganassi announced they will be returning to the series, fielding a Cadillac in the same class. The Acura Team Penske deal came to an end this past weekend at Sebring International Raceway, and there are just 68 days before the Roar Before the 24 at Daytona. After seven IMSA titles and eight Rolex 24 victories, Ganassi is stepping up to the top class of competition.

Ganassi’s team was selected to replace the outgoing Wayne Taylor Racing team, which has moved from Cadillac to Acura in the same class. The return for CGR comes one year after the conclusion of its factory Ford GT program. Though no drivers have been announced, it is safe to assume that six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon will be one of the endurance drivers. The CGR ace spent 2020 in the endurance role with WTR, winning the Rolex 24 and Motul Petit Le Mans in the No. 10 Cadillac. The full press release from today is below.

[Chip Ganassi Racing Press Release]

Seven-time IMSA Champions and eight-time Rolex 24 At Daytona Winners Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced today their return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Cadillac by fielding a Daytona Prototype international (DPi) entry beginning with the 2021 season.

In 2020, Cadillac scored its fourth consecutive Rolex 24 At Daytona win, and followed with wins at Sebring and Petit Le Mans en route to a second-place finish in the Championship. In 2019, they scored wins at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, Long Beach and Petit Le Mans. The 2018 season saw the program win the Rolex 24 At Daytona en route to the Prototype Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championships. The program began in 2017 when Cadillac teams won every title in the inaugural season of the IMSA DPi formula including a one-two-three sweep of the Driver Championship, along with the Team and Manufacturers titles. In all, Cadillac teams combined to win seven races in 2017.

“We can’t wait to get back to IMSA and fight for the overall win after several years competing in the GTLM class,” said team owner Chip Ganassi. “Our relationship with General Motors has expanded from the NASCAR Cup Series and we couldn’t be happier. Partnering with Cadillac is a tremendous opportunity for our team and we want to start delivering for them in January at the Rolex 24 At Daytona.”

CGR has the greatest stretch in Rolex 24 At Daytona history highlighted by eight wins and three second-place finishes from 2006-2018. The team also has seven Championships (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013) and 64 race wins to their credit since their introduction to sports car racing in 2004. Chip Ganassi is the only team owner in history to win three-straight Rolex 24 At Daytonas (2006-2008). The team also has wins in both the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Rory Harvey, Vice President of Cadillac is excited for the future. “We are very excited to welcome Chip Ganassi Racing to the Cadillac competition family. Their success across many forms of racing, including sports cars, will be a great addition to our IMSA WeatherTech line-up. Chip’s pedigree at winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona eight times as well as their championships in this form of racing gives Cadillac another stalwart team to compete for the 2021 IMSA DPi championship.”

Driver lineups and partnership details will be announced in the off-season in preparation for the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.