DragonSpeed Commits to Full LMP2 Season

Photo: MPS Agency

DragonSpeed has committed to the full IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season in LMP2, confirming Ben Hanley and Henrik Hedman as drivers for its Oreca 07 Gibson.

It comes in addition to the team’s previously planned effort for the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona, which doesn’t count towards the newly reduced six-round LMP2 season.

Third and fourth drivers for the Michelin Endurance Cup races, and Daytona, have not yet been announced.

The car will be run alongside Era Motorsport’s previously announced Oreca at DragonSpeed’s Indianapolis headquarters.

Its European operation will continue to be based in the south of France as the team targets a fourth consecutive invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Team principal Elton Julian told Sportscar365 that its European operations will remain unchanged.

“IMSA’s changes to the LMP2 class rules and schedule have put it on a par with the ELMS in terms of gentleman driver appeal, and we are responding enthusiastically to that,” said Julian.

Hedman added: “We had decided to add the four Michelin Endurance Cup races to my European schedule, but with IMSA requiring a Bronze driver in LMP2 now, I couldn’t pass up the chance of racing again at some of my favorite tracks – such as Road America and Laguna Seca – by doing the full season.”

DragonSpeed’s confirmation brings the full-season LMP2 grid up to at least four cars, with the likelihood for several more for the Endurance Cup Races.

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