ELMS: DragonSpeed LMP2 squad to expand

The U.S. DragonSpeed LMP2 team will expand its European Le Mans Series assault to two cars in 2017 as it bids to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time.

DragonSpeed has opted to bring forward its plans to grow the team on the back of the third-place finish at the Imola ELMS round in May and has ordered a pair of new ORECA 07 P2s for next season.

Team principal and one-time British Formula 3 race winner Elton Julian said: "Imola was just what we needed to remind ourselves that we have the ability and hunger to back up our ambitions."

He thanked driver and principal backer Henrik Hedman for "his vote of confidence in the team."

Julian, who is visiting Le Mans this week with Hedman, revealed that the team will be expanding its base at Paul Ricard and is expecting to start talking to potential drivers for 2017 imminently.

DragonSpeed moved into the European sportscars in 2015 with an attack on the Blancpain Endurance Series before graduating to the ELMS this season with an ORECA-Nissan 05 shared by Hedman, Nicolas Lapierre and Ben Hanley.

Originally on Autosport.com