2002 Cadillac Northstar LMP-02 Comes To Project Motor Racing

11 Novembre 2025

Cadillac’s Big Shot At Glory

After two seasons developing a Riley & Scott–based prototype for LMP (the Northstar LMP), Cadillac arrived in 2002 with a new, Nigel Stroud–designed Northstar LMP-02 complete with a sharp-edged carbon monocoque and a reworked twin-turbo Northstar V8 that traced its lineage back to GM’s 4L Aurora/IRL projects.

It was Team Cadillac’s most determined run for victory at La Sarthe with full factory works backing and drivers.

It was also destined to last just one tantalising season.

2002

The LMP-02 debuted at Sebring for the 12-hour and enjoyed a not altogether auspicious start—one car DNF, the sister car languishing down in P31. It was a long way up from there, but as the season progressed, so Stroud’s new design began to find speed and durability on the road to their real goal: Le Mans.

And then they came to Le Mans.

Qualifying saw the Cadillacs in P8 (#7, 3:33.569) and P10, 4 seconds adrift of Dindo Capello’s Audi R8.

The race would then see both Caddies coming home 9th and 12th overall, Cadillac’s best modern era Le Mans result.

Swallowing their disappointment, the team regathered and went back to the US where they quickly found ALMS momentum: Washington P4, Mosport P3, Laguna Seca P3, Miami P2, Petit Le Mans P3.

But with no victories and against the all-dominant Audis, the factory took stock at the end of the season and summarily pulled the plug on the LMP program.

The LMP-02 closed Cadillac’s 2000–02 chapter and GM focused its attention on Corvette Racing until the marque’s winning prototype return with the Cadillac DPi-V.R in 2017.

What It’s Like To Drive

Twin turbos mean a clean mid-range shove rather than instant hit. To get the most out of that, keep the rpm in the window. The engine doesn’t like to be off boost so figure out your gearing and work on your throttle control.

Learn to commit early, too, because the raised-footbox nose gives a solid turn-in when you bleed the pedal but anything late and you’ll find understeer waiting.

You also want to feed the throttle—get gas happy and those twins are going to bite.

All in all, it’s a tidy car with big mid-range shove that rewards controlled aggression. Compared with the Audi R8, it wasn’t as turnkey—but when in the window, the Cadillac carried real stint pace and straight-line bite. Work to its strengths, and you’ll be competitive.

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