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| With the 2022 Rolex 24 at @daytona on the horizon, we are very pleased to welcome back @eric.lux and @devlindefran to the team and also proud to add Super Talents @coltonherta and @patriciooward to the lineup. #Oneteamonedream Thank you to all our partners. We aim to make you proud 👊🏼 @kimoa @rembrandtcharms @jonessodaco @atmofizer @cgrnenergy @simplyevusa @gainbridgelife @neftvodkaus @flexboxracing @motul @orecagroup @gibsontechnology @michelinmotorsport @control_telemetry @salas_center_montmelo >>> Image & Caption Credit: dragonspeed_official (2021) |
DragonSpeed Stacks Driver Lineup With IndyCar Talent For 2022 Rolex 24 At Daytona
DragonSpeed is set to return to the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January with an all-star lineup featuring INDYCAR racers Devlin DeFrancesco, Colton Herta, and Pato O’Ward alongside Bronze-ranked Daytona veteran Eric Lux.
The US-flagged, Barcelona-based DragonSpeed team – LMP2 Pro/Am class winners at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours – has its sights set on returning to Daytona’s victory lane after taking the LMP2 laurels at the Rolex 24 in 2019 and 2020. DeFrancesco and Lux were part of the DragonSpeed squad which claimed third in the 2021 race, and are back with new teammates O'Ward and Herta in 2022.
DragonSpeed is aiming to reclaim the LMP2 Rolex after the team finished third
this year as Era Motorsport won for the first time.
O’Ward took a Prototype Challenge class win at Daytona in 2017 driving for
Performance Tech Motorsports, at the top of a title-winning season for the
Mexcian driver.
Now racing with Arrow McLaren SP, O’Ward finished third in the NTT IndyCar
Series standings this year behind Josef Newgarden and champion Alex Palou.
Herta, meanwhile, formed part of the BMW Team RLL factory crew that won the GT
Le Mans class in 2019 with a BMW M8 GTE.
The 21-year-old American recently placed fifth in the IndyCar championship
table and won the final two races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Long
Beach.
Herta is set for his prototype racing debut, while O’Ward got behind the wheel
of an Oreca twice during the 2018 IMSA season.
DeFrancesco will join the pair on next year’s IndyCar grid after signing with
Andretti Autosport for his series debut. The Canadian formed part of
DragonSpeed’s Daytona squad in January, sharing the LMP2 ride with Lux, Fabian
Schiller and Christopher Mies.
“This gives our streak of attracting the best driving talent to DragonSpeed
another massive bump,” said team principal Elton Julian.
“We already know how well Eric and Devlin can perform with us at Daytona from
last year, and adding two of IndyCar’s brightest stars to our 2022 squad makes
our prospects even more exciting.
“I can’t help but think it’s too bad we couldn’t secure a DPi for this race,
as this line-up clearly deserves one – we certainly tried!
“Most of our LMP2 rivals are capable of delivering a fast, efficient and
reliable run. We aim to do the same and give our all-stars – all with plenty
of Daytona experience – the platform they need to make the difference.
“I’m super impressed by IMSA and the turnaround for LMP2 they’ve achieved
going into 2022.
“The Rolex and the rest of the WeatherTech season look to be incredibly
competitive, in LMP2 and across the board.”
DragonSpeed has already committed to a full season in the IMSA WeatherTech
SportsCar Championship’s LMP2 class with Juan Pablo Montoya and Henrik Hedman.
Because Daytona only counts for points towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, the
team was able to create a different lineup for the season-opening Florida
enduro.
(ht:
sportscar365
& DragonSpeed)
The 2022 season officially begins in less than two months ... on January 21 at Daytona International Speedway for the annual Roar Before the 24 with the momentous Rolex 24 at DAYTONA immediately following. Practice begins on Thursday, January 27 with the race running January 29-30.
... notes from
The EDJE
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TAGS: DragonSpeed, @eric.lux, @devlindefran, @coltonherta,
@patriciooward, IMSA, Michelin Endurance Cup, LMP2, Rolex 24 at Daytona, The
EDJE
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