Dragonspeed doubles the ORECA factor for 2017

One of the newest teams into the Le Mans Prototype scene, Dragonspeed is already collecting some interesting results in their first season racing in the LMP2 class, and it seems that the 2016 season progress gave high hopes for Elton Julian and friends to upgrade their program.

It was confirmed that the American squad will feature not only one, but two models of the ORECA 07, one of the new models that will bring to track the coming regulations for the LMP2 class in 2017, along with an expansion of its current base at Paul Ricard in order to properly work in their pair of new cars.

The decision came after Dragonspeed’s incredible weekend in the 4 Hours of Imola, second round of the European Le Mans Series, where they got pole position and even though some trouble came in their way, they still got a third place finish, which was a very nice rebound over the retirement at the 4 Hours of Silverstone. That kind of efficiency was also proved in longer runs earlier this year still in America, as their same ORECA 05 used in ELMS debuted with a fourth place finish in the 12 Hours of Sebring, missing the podium by a little margin.

Along with their commitments in the ELMS next year, Dragonspeed will finally enter in the grid of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as they couldn’t make it this year by being in one of the reserve spots below the 60 cars called for the race. According to Sportscar365, Elton Julian is really hyped about their European adventure in 2016, so much that he thanked his partner Henrik Hedman for the support and he will be in the move with his family in order to fully commit to this program.

Dragonspeed is part of an intake of American teams that opted to leave the IMSA Sportscar Championship or Pirelli World Challenge to compete in Europe or around the world, like Krohn Racing and Tequila Patrón ESM.

PHOTO: European Le Mans Series