Good-bye, Ferrari. Hello, Corvette.
That’s the word from DragonSpeed, which will be reunited with Chevrolet after successful runs with Chevy engines in the Indianapolis 500 in 2018, 2019, and 2022.
“We’re proud to join the GM Motorsports family with the launch of our Corvette campaign,” said Elton Julian, DragonSpeed team principal. “I’ll always remember the support we had from Chevrolet as rookies – and sophomores! – at the Indy 500.”
DragonSpeed will be campaigning in the #81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R next season – shooting for the Bob Akin Award, presented to the leading Bronze-graded driver in GTD with an automatic invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027.
DragonSpeed showed Chevy what it could do this year when it finished second to Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in GTD Pro.
“When (Chevy) said they would customer racing,” Julian reflected, “I went to them first before we looked at any other GT brand. At the time we were not selected. We continued with the P2 program and then came back with the Ferrari in GT. Ironically, [we were] battling them for a championship.”
Julian says he never stopped asking GM for a Corvette. “Eventually by the time VIR came around, they decided they would pick DragonSpeed,” he said.
DragonSpeed is shifting gears again for 2026! A move to the GTD class in IMSA will see the team renew its ties with GM Motorsports to field a new Corvette Z06 GT3.R. The team will take delivery of its chassis later this month, with private testing to commence shortly thereafter. pic.twitter.com/mucE4cFu0V
— DragonSpeed (@DragonSpeedLLC) November 11, 2025
DragonSpeed joins DXDT Racing and the new 13 Autosport (run by AWA) with Z06 GT3.Rs that will be running in IMSA GTD.
Drivers will be DragonSpeed veteran Henrik Hedman, Giacomo Altoe (winner of three poles last year in DragonSpeed’s #81 Ferrari), and Albert Costa – who narrowly lost the GTD Pro championship to Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims. Also in the lineup will be former Heart of Racing Team driver Casper Stevenson, third in last year’s GTD championship, who will be the Silver-rated driver in the five-race Michelin Endurance Cup.
“The entire team is looking forward to working closely with the incredibly skilled and experienced group at Corvette Racing,” Julian said. “The extraordinary competitiveness of the IMSA GTD class makes this one of our biggest challenges yet, but we are excited and ready to make the most of the opportunities offered by the mighty Z06 GT3.R and a collaboration with Corvette.”
Corvette Racing Program Manager Jessica Dane calls this “an exciting time” for Corvette Racing, welcoming DragonSpeed to the family.
“Everyone in our organization saw up close the talent and fight within the team during the GTD Pro title chase in 2025,” Dane said. “We’re looking forward to having Henrik, Elton, and crew bring that same level of competitiveness to an already strong GTD class with our third Corvette in the category.”
Source:
SportsCar365.com
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