If you thought you knew what DragonSpeed was all about, you’d better buckle up. This team has always been a bunch of restless spirits, never content to just sit still in one category. After clawing their way to a hard-fought runner-up spot in the 2025 GTD PRO championship, you might think they’d run it back. But that’s not how Elton Julian and his crew operate.

They’re shaking things up, shifting gears, and coming back to their roots with a vengeance. For 2026, DragonSpeed is diving headfirst into the brutal, fender-banging world of IMSA’s GTD class, and they’re not coming empty-handed.

They’re bringing a brand new, fire-breathing Corvette Z06 GT3.R to the fight.This isn’t just a whim. It’s a calculated strike. This is a reunion, a homecoming of sorts. Dragonspeed is renewing its vows with General Motors, a partnership with real history.

It feels like just yesterday they were rookies at the Indy 500, with Chevy power behind them, and now they’re set to unleash the very same model of Corvette that dominated the GTD PRO class this year. The team gets its hands on this American beast later this month, and you can bet they’ll be tearing up the tarmac in private testing before the ink is even dry.

A Return to the Cockpit and a Quest for Glory

The heart of this new chapter for DragonSpeed is the return of a familiar face. Henrik Hedman, the team’s long-standing Bronze-rated driver, is strapping back in for a full season. But he’s not just coming back for a joyride. Hedman has his eyes locked on a singular, prestigious prize: the Bob Akin Award.

It’s the highest honor for a Bronze driver in the GTD class, and it comes with a golden ticket an automatic invitation to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. For Hedman, a Florida-based Swede with a burning passion for racing, this is the ultimate motivation.

“I’m back!” Hedman declared, and you can practically hear the determination in his voice. “After a year out, I’m as motivated as ever and eager to take on the new challenge of racing against IMSA’s best GT teams and drivers.” He knows the firepower he’s bringing, too.

“The proven strength of DragonSpeed and the driver lineup gives us a strong foundation to take advantage of the amazing Corvette Z06 GT3.R platform. We’re exceptionally grateful to Chevy for their support and giving us the chance to run the Corvette in our quest for the Akin Award and what would be our sixth Le Mans entry.”

Assembling a Killer Lineup for the Corvette

You can’t win in IMSA with just one driver, and DragonSpeed has stacked the deck. Joining Hedman is the Italian dynamo, Giacomo Altoe. If you watched GTD PRO in 2025, you know this kid is the real deal. He snatched more pole positions than anyone else in his very first full season. He’s a natural, a wheelman with raw speed that leaves competitors breathless.

Filling out this powerhouse trio is the young British gun, Casper Stevenson. Don’t let his rookie status fool you. Stevenson turned heads all season, claiming his first pole and a victory at the treacherous Watkins Glen. He’s hungry, he’s fast, and he’s ready to contribute to Dragonspeed’s legacy. It’s a perfect blend of seasoned experience and raw, youthful talent, a combination that could prove lethal in the GTD class.

The Minds Behind the Dragonspeed Machine

Team principal Elton Julian is the mastermind behind this bold move. He sees this as a return home, a fulfillment of a long-held ambition. “We’re proud to rejoin the GM Motorsports family with the launching of our Corvette campaign,” Julian explained. “I’ll always remember the support we had from Chevrolet as rookies and sophomores! at the Indy 500. When we entered the GT fray after LMP2, it was very much with a future Chevy relationship in mind.”

Julian knows his team had to earn this shot. “Of course, we had to demonstrate that we could handle the transition between categories, and I think taking the championship fight to the last round this season showed we can do the job.”The mutual respect is palpable. Jessica Dane, the program manager for Corvette Racing, is thrilled to bring them into the fold.

“This continues to be an exciting time for Corvette Racing with the addition of DragonSpeed’s Corvette Z06 GT3.R for the 2026 IMSA GTD championship,” she said. “Everyone in our organization saw up close the talent and fight within the team during the GTD PRO title chase in 2025.”

Final Thoughts

This isn’t just a customer car deal. This is a true collaboration, a partnership that could shake the very foundations of the GTD class. With the might of Corvette Racing behind them and a driver lineup that’s pure dynamite, DragonSpeed is poised to make some serious noise in 2026. The dragon is awake, and it’s breathing fire.

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