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DragonSpeed
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DragonSpeed
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DragonSpeed Racing is an American auto racing team that competes in the European Le Mans Series, FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2019, the team entered the NTT IndyCar Series with a five race schedule, including the 103rd Indianapolis 500, with car #81 driven by Ben Hanley. In the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans, Team DragonSpeed USA won the LMP2 Pro/Am Category, in an Oreca 07, car #21, driven by Henrik Hedman, Ben Hanley and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Key Information

History

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First steps

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In 2007, DragonSpeed, was founded by racing driver Elton Julian. Four years later the team made their race debut on Ferrari F430 Challenge in the GT category of the 2011 24 Hours of Daytona.[1] They have finished 15th in the category and 29th overall.[2] They missed 2012 racing season, and joined the Prototype Challenge class of the 2013 American Le Mans Series with Oreca FLM09-Chevrolet car. They finished sixth in the season standings, being the only team in the category to participate on the part-time schedule.[3]

Pirelli World Challenge

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DragonSpeed switched to the Pirelli World Challenge in 2014 with Henrik Hedman and Mike Hedlund behind the wheel of the Ferrari 458 GT3. Hedman finished ninth in the standings.[4] Hedlund had only three rounds, ending 22nd. For the next year, the team switched to the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Hedlund was replaced by Frank Montecalvo and Eric Lux. Montecalvo won the GTA category title.[5]

Blancpain Endurance Series

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The team moved to Europe to compete in the Pro-Am Cup of the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series. They used Ferrari 458 GT3 and fielded Hedman, Julian and Thomas Kemenater.[6]

European Le Mans Series

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In 2016, the team purchased an Oreca 05-Nissan car to compete in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series with Hedman, Ben Hanley and Nicolas Lapierre.[7] They had four podiums in six races, including a win at Spa.[8] This was enough for fourth place in the LMP2 standings.

For 2017 the team bought two Oreca 07-Gibson cars.[9] The car #21 retained the same Hedman-Hanley-Lapierre line-up, while car #22 was branded as G-Drive Racing with Memo Rojas, Léo Roussel as their full-time drivers. Ryō Hirakawa due to his Toyota commitments was forced to miss Red Bull Ring and Circuit Paul Ricard rounds. He was sustained by Nicolas Minassian.[10] The team had their first double, winning Monza round.[11] G-Drive branded car won the series after their five podiums in six races.[12]

The team will continue to stand out car #21 in the LMP2 category of the 2018 European Le Mans Series with the same line-up of drivers (Hedman-Hanley-Lapierre).[13]

FIA World Endurance Championship

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A DragonSpeed liveried BR Engineering BR1 LMP1 car, competing at Silverstone in 2018
A DragonSpeed liveried Oreca 07 LMP2 car, competing at Le Mans in 2017
A DragonSpeed 'RGR Sport' liveried Oreca 07 LMP2 car, competing at Silverstone in 2018
A DragonSpeed Ferrari 296 GT3 car, competing at Watkins's Glen in 2025

DragonSpeed purchased BR Engineering BR1-Gibson car and made their debut in the LMP1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2018.[14] Their LMP1 squad featured Hendrik Hedman and Ben Hanley, while Pietro Fittipaldi and Renger van der Zande shared third-driver duties.[15] In addition, the team were represented in LMP2 class by Roberto González, Pastor Maldonado, Nathanaël Berthon and Anthony Davidson, who replaced Berthon after the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans race.[16]

IndyCar

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On December 17, 2018, DragonSpeed announced they would join the IndyCar Series in 2019 on a 5-race schedule, including the 103rd Indianapolis 500. The team's No. 81 entry was powered by Chevrolet and driven by Ben Hanley. In their first race, the 2019 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Hanley advanced to the second round of qualifying and qualified 12th, and then finished 18th, 2 laps down, in his IndyCar race debut. The team finished 21st at the 2019 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. In qualifying for their third IndyCar race at the 103rd Indianapolis 500, the No. 81 struggled for speed early on in the day but finished 27th fastest, confirming DragonSpeed's spot in the field. Hanley would proceed to finish 32nd in the race after a mechanical issue took the team out early. The team was scheduled to participate in 2 further races at Road America and Mid-Ohio, but visa issues prevented the team from getting on track and their inaugural campaign was reduced to 3 races.

In August 2019 team owner Elton Julian stated the team planned on entering ten races in 2020 with Hanley as the driver, with the possibility of additional races. Julian said different drivers could be used if the team were to go beyond the planned ten races, if the right combination of sponsorship and driver talent could be found.[17] In December, an announcement from the team said they had finalized plans to run six races in 2020 – St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Texas, Mid-Ohio, Laguna Seca and the Indy 500,[18] however the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Mid-Ohio and Laguna Seca races, and the team did not field an entry for Texas. On August 8, the team announced that Hanley would drive their entry for the Indianapolis 500, which was held on August 23.[19] With little preparation time, the team had numerous mechanical issues in practice, resulting in qualifying in the 33rd and last position.[20] The car finished the race in 23rd place.

On October 28, 2020, the team shuttered their IndyCar Series program and sold their IndyCar assets to Meyer Shank Racing, citing the team "being taken back two years" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Julian left open the possibility of returning to the series when "the next big thing happens for IndyCar" if the resources were available.[21]

While no one from DragonSpeed was involved, the car that once belonged to the team went on to win the 2021 Indianapolis 500, being driven by Hélio Castroneves for Meyer Shank Racing.[22]

DragonSpeed returned to IndyCar for the 2022 Indianapolis 500, fielding a joint entry with Cusick Motorsports for driver Stefan Wilson. DragonSpeed leased a chassis from A. J. Foyt Enterprises for the entry.[23]

Racing results

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24 Hours of Le Mans

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Year Entrant No. Car Drivers Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2017 United States DragonSpeed – 10 Star 21 Oreca 07-Gibson United Kingdom Ben Hanley
Sweden Henrik Hedman
Sweden Felix Rosenqvist 		LMP2 343 14th 12th
Russia G-Drive Racing 22 Mexico José Gutiérrez
Japan Ryō Hirakawa
Mexico Memo Rojas 		327 39th 17th
2018 United States DragonSpeed 10 BR Engineering BR1-Gibson United Kingdom Ben Hanley
Sweden Henrik Hedman
Netherlands Renger van der Zande 		LMP1 244 DNF DNF
31 Oreca 07-Gibson France Nathanaël Berthon
Mexico Roberto González
Venezuela Pastor Maldonado 		LMP2 360 9th 5th
2019 United States DragonSpeed 10 BR Engineering BR1-Gibson United Kingdom Ben Hanley
Sweden Henrik Hedman
Netherlands Renger van der Zande 		LMP1 76 DNF DNF
31 Oreca 07-Gibson United Kingdom Anthony Davidson
Mexico Roberto González
Venezuela Pastor Maldonado 		LMP2 245 DNF DNF
2020 United States DragonSpeed USA 21 Oreca 07-Gibson France Timothé Buret
Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya
Mexico Memo Rojas 		LMP2 192 DNF DNF
27 United Kingdom Ben Hanley
Sweden Henrik Hedman
Netherlands Renger van der Zande 		361 16th 12th
2021 United States DragonSpeed USA 21 Oreca 07-Gibson United Kingdom Ben Hanley
Sweden Henrik Hedman
Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 		LMP2 (Pro-Am) 356 15th 1st

IndyCar Series

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(key)

Year Chassis Engine Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos. Pts.
2019 STP COA ALA LBH IMS INDY DET TEX ROA TOR IOW MDO POC GAT POR LAG
Dallara DW12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6 t United Kingdom Ben Hanley (R) 81 18 21 32 30th 31
2020 TEX IMS ROA ROA IOW IOW INDY GTW GTW MDO MDO IMS IMS STP
Dallara DW12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6 t United Kingdom Ben Hanley  R  81 23 33rd 14
2022 STP TXS LBH ALA IGP INDY DET ROA MDO TOR IOW IOW IGP NSH GAT POR LAG
Dallara DW12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6 t United Kingdom Stefan Wilson1  R  25 26 35th 10

* Season still in progress

1 In conjunction with Cusick Motorsports

References

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[edit]
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DragonSpeed

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from Grokipedia
DragonSpeed is an American professional team specializing in endurance racing, founded in 2007 by racing driver Elton Julian. The team is headquartered in the United States and has built a reputation for competing in prototype and GT categories across international series, including the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the , and the . DragonSpeed has also ventured into single-seater racing, making its debut in 2019 with a partial-season entry in the NTT . Initially focusing on GT racing, DragonSpeed debuted in 2011 with a at the 24 at Daytona, where it secured wins and championships in subsequent years across GT series including the Pirelli World Challenge. The team expanded into prototype racing in 2016, entering the with an in the LMP2 class and achieving its first ELMS victory that year at Spa-Francorchamps. By 2019, DragonSpeed became the first LMP2 team to win races in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, , and in a single season, highlighting its growing prowess in endurance prototypes. Among its most notable achievements, DragonSpeed has secured three class victories in the LMP2 category at the 24 at Daytona between 2019 and 2022. The team also won the LMP2 Pro/Am class at the 2021 with drivers Henrik Hedman, , and in an 07-Gibson. In GT racing, DragonSpeed's partnership with Risi Competizione in the Ferrari 296 GT3 yielded vice-championship honors in the 2025 GTD Pro class, including several podium finishes in IMSA events. Looking ahead, DragonSpeed announced in November 2025 a shift to the GTD class for the 2026 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, partnering with to field a GT3.R and renewing ties with . This move aims to pursue the Bob Akin Award for top Bronze-rated driver performance while maintaining the team's commitment to competitive endurance racing on a global stage.

History

Founding and early GT racing

DragonSpeed was founded in 2007 by professional racing driver Elton Julian in , establishing it as a driver-owned with an initial emphasis on Ferrari machinery. From 2007 to 2010, the team focused on development, including operational setup and preparations for competitive endurance racing. The organization's racing debut occurred in 2011 at the , where it competed in the GT class using a Challenge car entered as number 81 and driven by Cort Wagner, Fred Poordad, Doug Baron, and Nick Jones. The entry completed 588 laps to finish 15th in the GT class and 29th overall. As a nascent operation, DragonSpeed encountered typical startup hurdles in professional motorsport, such as constrained budgets and adapting to the demands of endurance . In , the sat out a full season, using the time to further build its . By 2013, DragonSpeed expanded participation in select GT events, laying the groundwork for structured series competition.

Pirelli World Challenge and Blancpain GT Series

DragonSpeed made its competitive entry into major GT racing series in 2014 by contesting the Pirelli World Challenge GT America in the GTA class with a #10 Italia GT3 driven primarily by Henrik Hedman. The Florida-based team, leveraging its early GT experience from a Daytona debut, achieved consistent results including multiple podiums across the season's double-header rounds at circuits like St. Petersburg, , and Mid-Ohio. Hedman finished second in the GTA class standings, trailing champion Michael Mills by 70 points after strong performances such as eighth-place finishes in both races at Mid-Ohio. The team expanded significantly in 2015, fielding a four-car program in the Pirelli World Challenge with Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS GT3 entries to target multiple classes, including GTA and GT. Driver Frank Montecalvo secured the GTA class driver's championship in the #66 car, highlighted by three consecutive victories at Mid-Ohio, Road America, and Miller Motorsports Park, before clinching the title early with a second-place finish on Saturday and a win on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway—creating an insurmountable points lead over runner-up Henrique Cisneros. DragonSpeed's strategy emphasized driver development in the amateur-focused GTA class alongside professional efforts in GT, allowing the team to optimize resources across formats while navigating the series' sprint-style double-headers. Parallel to its North American campaign, DragonSpeed ventured into European GT endurance racing with a 2015 entry in the Blancpain Endurance Series (predecessor to ), becoming the first U.S.-based team to commit full-time to the five-round championship using a GT3. The #69 car was driven by Henrik Hedman (Bronze-rated), Elton Julian (Gold-rated), and Thomas Kemenater, with Ryan Dalziel (Platinum-rated) and Anthony Lazzaro (Silver-rated) joining for the Total —but the team retired after 277 laps. In 2016, DragonSpeed continued in the series with an upgraded GT3, focusing on endurance formats that demanded pit strategy precision and driver rotation to manage tire wear and fuel efficiency over three- to 24-hour races. Key drivers like Montecalvo and Julian contributed to the program's dual-continent approach, balancing North American sprints with European enduros. Competing across the Atlantic presented logistical hurdles for DragonSpeed, including extended shipping times for equipment from to European bases like and coordinating international driver schedules amid overlapping calendars. However, team principal Elton Julian noted that operations remained straightforward, akin to U.S. but with longer flights, enabling seamless multi-series participation without major disruptions. This transatlantic strategy honed the team's adaptability in GT formats, prioritizing reliable multi-class execution over exhaustive entries.

Prototype era in IMSA and ELMS

DragonSpeed's transition to prototype racing began in the Prototype Challenge (PC) class of the (), where the team debuted with an FLM09 chassis powered by a Chevrolet LS3 following its earlier GT successes. The squad achieved competitive finishes in this spec series, including podiums at events like , building operational experience with low-cost prototypes before evolving to the more advanced LMP2 category in 2015 as PC regulations began phasing out in favor of unified LMP2 rules. This period marked the team's initial foray into open-wheel prototypes, emphasizing reliability and driver development on demanding American circuits. In 2016, DragonSpeed expanded its prototype program by entering the LMP2 class full-time, aligning with IMSA's adoption of LMP2 specifications and simultaneously debuting in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) with an Oreca 05 chassis equipped with a Nissan VK45DE engine developed by Gibson Technology. The team's inaugural LMP2 outing came at the 12 Hours of Sebring, where drivers Henrik Hedman, Renger van der Zande, and Elton Julian secured a strong fourth-place class finish, demonstrating quick adaptation to the class's balanced regulations that mandate spec chassis from manufacturers like Oreca and standardized engines for parity. Technical modifications focused on optimizing the Nissan-Gibson powertrain for endurance, including enhanced cooling systems and electronic management to comply with ACO and IMSA fuel efficiency rules, while retaining the team's GT-honed strategy for multi-class traffic. The 2017 season solidified DragonSpeed's LMP2 presence with the introduction of the Oreca 07 chassis, powered by the new Gibson 4.2-liter , which replaced the unit for greater reliability and power output exceeding 560 horsepower under spec constraints. In ELMS, operating under the G-Drive Racing by DragonSpeed banner, the team clinched both the drivers' and teams' championships, with the #22 entry driven by and Leo Roussel securing the title through consistent podiums, while teammates like Renger van der Zande and Henrik Hedman in the #21 car contributed key results including a win at Spa-Francorchamps. This success highlighted the team's prowess in European endurance formats, with the Oreca 07's aerodynamic efficiencies and Gibson engine's torque delivery proving instrumental in multi-hour races. DragonSpeed's IMSA LMP2 effort from 2016 to 2020 yielded significant milestones, including three class victories at the Rolex 24 At Daytona—in 2019 with the #18 entry (James Allen, Henrik Hedman, Ben Hanley, and Paul di Resta), 2020 with the #81 (Ben Hanley, Henrik Hedman, Colin Braun, and Harrison Newey), and a return win in 2022 despite the program's conclusion. Complementary triumphs came at the 12 Hours of Sebring, notably the 2020 LMP2 win by the same #81 quartet, underscoring the team's endurance expertise on bumpy tracks where suspension tuning for the Oreca 07's carbon-fiber monocoque was critical. Engine choices evolved from the Nissan-Gibson 015S in 2016 to the pure Gibson V8 by 2017, with adaptations emphasizing thermal management and hybrid-free spec compliance to maintain competitive lap times. In ELMS, DragonSpeed maintained consistency from 2018 to 2019, achieving podium finishes such as third at in 2018 with the #21 (Ben , , and Henrik Hedman) and an outright LMP2 victory at Le Castellet in 2019 (Ben , Henrik Hedman, and James Allen). These results reflected refined setups for the Gibson-powered , including aerodynamic tweaks for high-downforce circuits like , contributing to the team's reputation for bronze-driver integration and strategic pit efficiency in the balanced LMP2 field.

FIA World Endurance Championship entry

DragonSpeed made its (WEC) debut in 2018 as a entrant in the LMP1 class, fielding a BR Engineering BR1 powered by a . The team's No. 10 car was driven by Henrik Hedman, , and Renger van der Zande, with the entry marking the first U.S.-based effort in the top prototype category. The program faced significant reliability challenges, including an early retirement due to accident damage at the after completing 244 laps, and limited finishes in subsequent rounds like the 6 Hours of Fuji, where the car placed fifth overall but struggled with mechanical gremlins common to non-hybrid s. In 2019, DragonSpeed shifted primary focus to the LMP2 class amid the ongoing LMP1 struggles, entering an 07-Gibson in addition to continuing the BR1 program, which was ultimately withdrawn from events like the 6 Hours of due to persistent issues. The LMP2 effort, driven by , Roberto Gonzalez, and , achieved strong results, including a maiden class victory at Spa-Francorchamps and finishes at Fuji (third place) and the season finale at (), highlighting the team's adaptability as a against squads. This success in LMP2 served as a stepping stone from their (ELMS) prototype experience. The team committed to full-season LMP2 campaigns from 2020 through 2023, retaining core drivers like Hedman and while rotating high-profile talents to build experience. A highlight was the 2021 , where the No. 21 secured victory in the LMP2 subclass, driven by Hedman, , and , overcoming fuel and stint-related penalties to finish 15th overall. These efforts emphasized driver development through dual ELMS-WEC programs post-2020, allowing emerging talents to gain global exposure. As privateers, DragonSpeed navigated key challenges including the 2021 introduction of the Hypercar (LMH/) regulations, which elevated LMP1's successor class and intensified competition for resources, alongside constraints that limited upgrades compared to manufacturer teams. Despite these hurdles, the programs fostered consistent midfield contention in LMP2 until the category's phase-out after 2023 in favor of the new Hypercar and era.

IndyCar participation

DragonSpeed entered the NTT in 2019 as a partial-season entrant, fielding the No. 81 DW12-Chevrolet for British driver across three events. The team, leveraging its endurance racing background to prepare Hanley for open-wheel competition, debuted at the Firestone , where Hanley qualified 12th and finished 18th in a solid introductory performance despite limited prior experience in the series. Subsequent outings included a 21st-place finish at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama and qualification for the 103rd , starting from 32nd position after navigating a challenging bump day in time trials; Hanley ultimately crossed the line in 25th after 196 laps. This initial foray represented DragonSpeed's strategic push to broaden its operational expertise beyond prototype endurance racing, introducing the team to high-speed oval dynamics and the unique demands of 's mixed calendar. The team expanded its ambitions for 2020, announcing a six-race schedule with returning in the No. 81 entry, again powered by Chevrolet and supported by Cusick Motorsports. However, the disrupted plans, limiting participation to the season-opening , where replicated his 2019 result by qualifying 12th and finishing 18th amid a shortened field. DragonSpeed also qualified for the delayed 104th , with starting 24th and completing all 200 laps in 23rd place, marking the team's second consecutive "500" appearance. These efforts highlighted the challenges of transitioning from formats to 's sprint-style races and ovals, where the team struggled with setup optimization and speed relative to established squads, compounded by logistical hurdles from the global health crisis. By October 2020, DragonSpeed announced its withdrawal from the series, citing pandemic-related complications, escalating costs, and a strategic refocus on core programs, including the sale of its IndyCar chassis to . After a one-year hiatus in 2021, DragonSpeed made a brief return for the in partnership with Cusick Motorsports, entering the No. 25 DW12-Chevrolet for British veteran . This collaboration aimed to capitalize on the team's prior oval experience while providing Wilson his fourth "500" start; he qualified 33rd and finished 28th after 188 laps, affected by handling issues on the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The entry underscored DragonSpeed's ongoing interest in selective open-wheel opportunities to enhance driver development and technical knowledge, though high operational expenses and the preference for endurance racing's multi-class format ultimately precluded further full-season commitments. The team's involvement concluded with this single-race effort, allowing a pivot back to and international prototypes where its strengths in long-haul strategy proved more advantageous.

Recent IMSA GT involvement

After a period focused on prototype racing and , DragonSpeed made a one-off return to GT competition in the 2024 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, entering a GT3 in the GTD class at the Battle on the Bricks at with driver Henrik Hedman. The team later expanded this entry to include the season finale at , marking its re-entry into GT racing ahead of a full-season commitment. In 2025, DragonSpeed committed to a full-season program in the GTD PRO class with the No. 81 GT3, receiving technical support from Risi Competizione. Primary drivers Balboa and handled the sprint races, joined by Ferrari factory driver for endurance events, while Casper Stevenson participated in select Endurance Cup rounds. The team achieved multiple class victories, including at where Costa and Altoè capitalized on strategic pit stops to secure the win, and demonstrated strong qualifying pace with Altoè earning three poles. These results propelled DragonSpeed to runner-up finishes in both the GTD PRO teams' and drivers' championships (with Costa second among drivers), a remarkable debut season in the pro-amateur category against factory-backed entries. On November 11, 2025, DragonSpeed announced a shift to the GTD class for 2026, partnering with and to field a GT3.R under the No. 81 banner. The lineup will feature Bronze-rated Henrik Hedman full-time alongside Pro driver Giacomo Altoè and Silver-rated Casper Stevenson, aiming for the Bob Akin Award to earn an invitation to the . This move renews long-standing ties with Pratt Miller Motorsports and aligns the team with American endurance racing's competitive GT landscape, building on prior LMP2 successes in while prioritizing sustainability in a post-prototype era.

Racing results

24 Hours of Le Mans

DragonSpeed made its debut at the in 2018, entering two cars in different prototype classes as part of its expansion into endurance racing. The team fielded a BR Engineering BR1-Gibson in the LMP1 category (car #10) driven by Henrik Hedman, , and Renger van der Zande, which retired after 244 laps due to a crash. In LMP2, the 07-Gibson (car #31) with Roberto Gonzalez, , and Norman Berthon completed 360 laps to finish fifth in class. The team returned in 2019 with similar dual entries, continuing its LMP1 and LMP2 program. The #10 BR Engineering BR1-AER in LMP1, driven by Hedman, Hanley, and van der Zande, qualified seventh overall but retired after 76 laps with gearbox failure. The LMP2 #31 07-Gibson, crewed by Gonzalez, Maldonado, and , set the fastest LMP2 time in the first qualifying session at 3:26.804 but ultimately retired after 245 laps following contact with the #7 during the race. In 2020, delayed to September due to the , DragonSpeed entered two 07-Gibsons in LMP2. The #21 car, driven by , , and Timothée Buret, suffered mechanical failure and retired after 192 laps. The #27 entry with Hedman, , and van der Zande completed the full distance with 361 laps, finishing 12th in LMP2. This result highlighted ongoing reliability challenges, particularly for the #21 car. DragonSpeed's most successful Le Mans came in 2021, with a single LMP2 entry in the #21 07-Gibson driven by Hedman, , and Montoya. Starting from 18th in class, the car endured a tight battle in the final hours, securing victory in the LMP2 category after 356 laps and finishing 15th overall. This win marked the team's first class triumph at and showcased strong strategic execution. In 2025, DragonSpeed entered the #81 GT3 in the GTD Pro class, partnering with Risi Competizione. Driven by , Giacomo Altoè, and , the car secured a finish of third in class. Over five appearances from 2018 to 2025, DragonSpeed contested eight starts at , achieving four class finishes and four retirements, with its best result being the 2021 LMP2 victory. The team's entries consistently utilized 07-Gibson chassis in LMP2 from 2018 onward, emphasizing professional-am driver lineups blending experienced endurance racers like Hedman and with high-profile additions such as Montoya.

European Le Mans Series

DragonSpeed made its debut in the (ELMS) in 2016, entering the LMP2 class with an 05-Nissan as the #21 car, driven primarily by Henrik Hedman, , and . The team achieved a class victory at Spa-Francorchamps, a runner-up finish at , along with three pole positions, culminating in a fourth-place finish in the LMP2 teams' standings with 76 points. In 2017, DragonSpeed transitioned to the 07-Gibson chassis for both its #21 entry and a partnership with G-Drive Racing on the #22 car, the latter featuring drivers , Léo Roussel, and Ryo Hirakawa. This collaboration secured the LMP2 teams' championship for DragonSpeed with 110 points, marking the team's first international title and the 07's inaugural ELMS crown. The season included a 1-2 finish at for the #22 and #21 cars, contributing to four class podiums overall, while the #22 drivers , Roussel, and Hirakawa claimed the LMP2 drivers' championship. The #21 car, driven by Hedman, Lapierre, and , added consistent points with a best finish of second at . From 2018 to 2023, DragonSpeed maintained a strong presence in LMP2, achieving podium finishes and occasional victories while rotating drivers such as James Allen, Roberto Lago, and Andrea Pizzitola alongside core members Hedman and . In 2018, the team earned 50.5 points for fifth in LMP2 teams', highlighted by multiple top-five results. The 2019 season brought a class win at with Hanley, Hedman, and Allen, alongside consistent top-five finishes across the calendar. Partnering with Racing Engineering from 2020 onward, DragonSpeed fielded the #21 in LMP2 , securing seventh in class in 2021 and additional podiums in subsequent years, including poles at key events. By 2023, competing as #81, the team logged top-10 results but opted to withdraw from the series afterward to concentrate efforts on WeatherTech SportsCar Championship programs. This ELMS tenure, spanning eight seasons, yielded multiple wins, poles, and podiums, laying the groundwork for DragonSpeed's subsequent entry.

FIA World Endurance Championship

DragonSpeed entered the (WEC) in the 2018–19 super season with a dual-car program, competing in both the LMP1 and LMP2 classes. The team's LMP1 effort utilized a BR Engineering BR1-Gibson, driven by Renger van der Zande, , and Henrik Hedman, but struggled with reliability issues, resulting in zero points across six races. Notable retirements included a crash at , where the car failed to finish after 83 laps, and a mechanical DNF at Spa-Francorchamps following an early incident. Switching to a full LMP2 program with an 07-Gibson for the remainder of the 2018–19 season and beyond, DragonSpeed achieved greater success. In 2019, the team, now led by drivers Roberto Gonzalez, , and , secured third place in the LMP2 teams' championship with 93 points from eight races. Key highlights included a second-place podium at , where Gonzalez's strong stint helped the #31 car finish behind the winning Racing Team Nederland entry, and a class victory at Spa-Francorchamps amid challenging wet conditions. The season featured consistent top-five finishes but was marred by retirements, such as at Sebring due to suspension failure. The 2019–20 season was heavily impacted by the , reducing the calendar to four rounds. DragonSpeed's LMP2 , driven by Hedman, , and varying support drivers, earned 40 points, highlighted by a class win at the —the team's second LMP2 victory in the series. However, mechanical issues led to DNFs at and , limiting overall consistency. Driver lineup changes marked the transition to the 2021 season, with replacing Gonzalez alongside Hedman and in the #21 07. The team delivered top-five consistency, finishing fourth in the LMP2 teams' standings with 102 points across six races, including podiums at and but retirements at and the due to accidents. In 2022, the same core trio maintained strong form, securing fifth place in the championship with 77 points, bolstered by a second-place finish at Fuji and reliable top-six results, though engine failures caused DNFs at Sebring and . DragonSpeed's 2023 LMP2 campaign concluded with a solid fourth-place finish in the teams' championship, amassing 81 points over seven races with Hedman, , and Montoya. The season emphasized endurance and strategy, featuring a at Spa-Francorchamps and consistent points hauls, despite retirements at Le Castellet and Fuji from mechanical woes. This marked the final full WEC season for LMP2 before the class's replacement by LMGT3 in 2024.

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

DragonSpeed entered the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class starting in 2017, fielding 07-Gibson prototypes in a part-time program focused on endurance races. The team achieved notable success with three consecutive class victories at the 24 at Daytona from 2019 to 2021, driven by lineups including , Henrik Hedman, , and in 2019 and 2020, and Patricio O'Ward, , and in 2021. In 2019, DragonSpeed expanded to a two-car LMP2 effort for select events, including the 24 win with the No. 18 entry, contributing to the class's competitive depth alongside full-season programs. After scaling back LMP2 activities post-2021, DragonSpeed returned to in 2024 with a one-off Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) entry, the No. 81 GT3 driven by Henrik Hedman, , and Toni Vilander, finishing fifth in class at the Battle on the Bricks in . For 2025, DragonSpeed committed to a full-season GTD Pro campaign with the Ferrari 296 GT3, partnering with Risi Competizione for technical support. The No. 81 entry, driven primarily by and Giacomo Altoè, secured class wins at and , leveraging strategic pit calls and strong pace in mixed conditions. The team finished as runner-up in both the GTD Pro teams' and drivers' championships, trailing by a narrow margin after consistent podiums and poles throughout the season. Across its tenure, DragonSpeed has recorded at least six class victories, primarily in LMP2 endurance events, with multiple poles but occasional retirements due to mechanical issues in longer races. The team's GT roots informed its seamless transition back to grand touring machinery in 2024–2025.
ClassVictoriesPolesNotable Retirements
LMP2 (2017–2021)3 (all Rolex 24)24 (mechanical in Sebring, )
GTD/GTD Pro (2024–2025)231 (contact at Daytona 2025)

IndyCar Series

DragonSpeed entered the NTT in 2019 as a part-time entrant, fielding the No. 81 Chevrolet powered by Chevrolet for British driver in a planned five-race schedule. The team ultimately contested four events, achieving a best finish of 18th at the season-opening . Hanley encountered challenges, including a mechanical failure at the that limited him to 54 laps, resulting in a 32nd-place finish. The team skipped the season finale at due to logistical considerations. Hanley accumulated 31 points across the partial campaign, placing 30th in the driver championship standings. The team returned in 2020 for a limited schedule amid the pandemic's impact on the calendar, again with in the No. 81 Chevrolet. At the , Hanley started 24th and finished 33rd after a late-race incident. He improved to 23rd at the , completing 191 of 200 laps before a crash ended his run. These two starts yielded 14 points, positioning Hanley 33rd in the championship. DragonSpeed announced the suspension of its program later that year to prioritize its efforts in and the . After a one-year absence, DragonSpeed re-entered the series in through a with Cusick Motorsports, fielding the No. 25 Chevrolet for British driver exclusively at the 500. Wilson qualified 33rd and finished 26th, running as high as 20th before handling issues in the closing stages. This single start marked the team's most recent involvement to date. Across its IndyCar tenure from 2019 to 2022, DragonSpeed made six starts, all powered by Chevrolet engines, with no laps led and a mix of mechanical and incident-related retirements. handled five of those outings, while Wilson drove the sixth. The team focused on road courses and ovals, leveraging its endurance racing expertise for driver selection but without achieving top-15 finishes beyond 's St. Petersburg result.
YearRaceDriverStartFinishStatusPoints
2019Firestone 1218Running16
2019Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama2421Running12
2019Chevrolet Race 12220Running14
2019103rd 2732Mechanical (54/200 laps)0
2020Firestone 2433Running0
2020104th 3323Crash (191/200 laps)14
2022106th 3326Running14

References

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