DragonSpeed Set for Multi-Car Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 Effort

Photo: Mercedes/AMG

After a full-season effort with Ferrari, DragonSpeed will expand into a multi-car Pirelli World Challenge operation, fielding Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s in 2015.

Team principal Elton Julian confirmed to Sportscar365 plans to enter up to three of the gull-winged beasts in the sprint race championship, with two already being confirmed.

DragonSpeed’s 2014 pilot, Henrik Hedman, will return next year with a brand-new SLS, while Julian said they’ve already signed the second driver. Negotiations, meanwhile, continue with another undisclosed driver, leading to the potential of the Florida-based squad fielding three cars next year.

The expanded World Challenge effort comes in addition to its previously confirmed single-car Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 entry into the Blancpain Endurance Series, with Hedman and Julian.

“We’re a customer racing team but I would like to be the premier AMG team in North America. The only way I can achieve that is by fielding multiple entries,” Julian told Sportscar365. “We’re investing quite a bit into the company by adding some new talent.

“With our expansion into Blancpain [Endurance Series] with the Ferrari, I’m really excited about both programs.”

There’s only one date conflict between the two championships, coming on the weekend of June 26-28, which will see BES in action at Paul Ricard and World Challenge at Road America.

Julian said they expect to take delivery of the first SLS, a brand-new chassis, next month and have targeted for it to debut at a Pirelli tire test at Sebring on Nov. 18-19.

DragonSpeed becomes the second team to field SLS GT3s full-time in World Challenge, joining Black Swan Racing, which has run a car for Tim Pappas since 2013.

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