DragonSpeed to Switch to Spare Tub after Practice 2 Accident

Photo: John Dagys

DragonSpeed will revert to its spare Oreca 07 tub, following an accident in Thursday’s Free Practice 2 that has ruled out the team’s primary car for this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Loic Duval lost control of the Gibson-powered LMP2 contender in the closing minutes of the 30-minute session, slamming into the Turn 1 wall and causing damage to the tub.

Team principal Elton Julian told Sportscar365 they’ve received permission from IMSA for the tub change, and are in the process of disassembling the original car to build up around its yet-to-be-raced spare chassis, which is on-site at Daytona.

As for the cause of the accident, Julian said it’s still under investigation.

The DragonSpeed entry had been batting electrical issues prior to Duval’s accident, with a non-functional steering wheel.

“He just lost the rear end,” he told Sportscar365. “We were looking at data, and of course the Go-Pro didn’t work. But that’s not important right now.

“I don’t care whose fault it was. The fact is that the car is broken and we’re going to try and fix it.”

Julian said they hope to be on-track by the fourth and final practice session tomorrow morning.

All four of its drivers: Duval, Nicolas Lapierre, Henrik Hedman and Ben Hanley, who paced the Roar Before the 24, have already pre-qualified for the race and are not required to log laps in night practice.

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