DragonSpeed to Exit IMSA at End of Season

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

DragonSpeed will depart the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the end of the season, team principal Elton Julian has confirmed to Sportscar365.

The three-time Rolex 24 at Daytona LMP2 class winners had been a mainstay in the Pro-Am-enforced prototype class until it returned to its GT roots last year, running a Ferrari 296 GT3 in the GTD Pro class.

The privateer entry, featuring Albert Costa and engineering support from Risi Competizione’s Rick Mayer, nearly pulled off the class title over Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports before the team switched to the Bow-Tie and moved into the GTD ranks.

DragonSpeed’s maiden season with the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, however, has been marred by multiple accidents not of its own doing, including a heavy crash at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring that left its FIA Bronze-rated driver Henrik Hedman with an undisclosed injury.

Hedman, who owns the Corvette chassis, bowed out of driving duties following the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen when he was collected in a multi-car pileup while under a full-course caution.

The team has been running with Casper Stevenson, its designated Michelin Endurance Cup pilot, alongside Giacomo Altoe, since then, highlighted by a season-best fourth place class finish in the most recent round at Road America.

When asked by Sportscar365 if DragonSpeed will be in the WeatherTech Championship next year, Julian said: “The answer is, no. We do not have a program planned for IMSA in 2027.

“We have enjoyed a great run here, in what I believe is the world’s best endurance racing series.

“After our long stint in ELMS and WEC, returning home and having the success we’ve had transitioning to GT has been truly only possible in IMSA. We’re grateful for the platform provided.

“Then, of course, things can always be better here and there. But we didn’t take this decision because of anything we dislike about the series.

“Weekends are too long, costs are too high, lack of genuine sponsors for private teams could all be cited… but that’s not why we will go in a different direction next year. That, we will disclose in the coming month.

“However, Never say never, we never know what suitable IMSA opportunities may arise in the future.”

While Julian would not confirm his team’s 2027 plans, DragonSpeed will make a return to the SRO America paddock in October’s season-ending GT America powered by AWS round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Hedman’s 18-year-old son, William, making his pro racing debut.

DragonSpeed becomes the fourth team to either confirm or have an uncertain future in the WeatherTech Championship, following the formal exit of Acura, and most likely, Meyer Shank Racing, from the series, Pfaff Motorsports departing GTD Pro and fellow class entrant Paul Miller Racing set to not continue under its current guise.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John