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Team Cadillac hopes for techno boost

Team Cadillac is hoping to gain an advantage over its rivals during the night at Le Mans, by employing radical new technology that provides night vision - and race fans will be able to share experience, courtesy of GM.com's Le Mans webcast

While most manufacturers are exploring more conventional routes of extracting performance from their cars, Cadillac is working on the belief that better vision in the dark will give its drivers the confidence to push at all times when the track is actually fastest.

GM claims that the system, based on thermal imaging used by police and military and now available in Cadillac road cars, gives visibility three-to-five times farther than headlights.

In addition, the system works equally well in the mists often experienced in the morning, and through which headlights and tail-lights are less effectual.

According to a press release by GM.com, the Cadillac night vision is subtle enough to read signs and road markings: "A test at Sebring of the night vision technology revealed a perfect negative image of the writing on one of the crossing bridges over the course. Why? Because the black portions of the signage absorbed more heat and thus created contrast in the night vision image. That's how sensitive the technology is."

The video of this test can be seen on GM.com - as can live coverage of the race, from a night vision camera mounted on one of the Cadillac LMPs.

"The competition application of Night Vision at Le Mans could ultimately revolutionise road racing and have as positive an effect safety wise, as do road cars so equipped," claims GM. If successful, it may help to eliminate the perennial traffic related crashes at Le Mans, and make racing more exciting and safer. Long live the revolution!

To read Autosport.com's Le Mans preview, click 'here'.

To find out How to Get There, click 'here'.

For Le Mans schedule,
click 'here'.

For Le Mans entry list, click here.


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