G-Drive Racing by DragonSpeed signs Gutierrez for Le Mans

Mexican IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver Jose Gutierrez is set to take on his first Le Mans 24 Hours this year with G-Drive Racing by DragonSpeed. The 20-year-old will drive the team's No. 22 ORECA 07 Gibson with fellow Mexican Memo Rojas and Toyota Gazoo Racing LMP1 reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa in the record 25-car LMP2 field.

In recent years the 20-year-old has raced in the Prototype Challenge and Prototype categories in IMSA's WeatherTech series, racing with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports this year in its Ligier JS P217 at Daytona, Sebring and COTA thus far.

"It feels awesome to be racing at the 24 hours of Le mans with G-Drive Racing by DragonSpeed!" Said Gutierrez. "It's a dream come true to race in this historic track with a lot of history. I want to thank everyone that helped me make this happen.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It's going to be awesome, I have no word to describe the feeling I have right now. We have a great car, DragonSpeed is a top team, and my teammates Memo Rojas and Ryo Hirakawa have a lot of experience. We will do our best to show everyone our potential and achieve a good result."

This year's Le Mans 24 Hours is the first for the American 10star DragonSpeed outfit. It will take two cars to the world-famous French endurance race, with the second sporting No. 21 with full-season European Le Mans Series drivers Ben Hanley and Henrik Hedman along with team newcomer Felix Rosenqvist.

"It's great to have Jose on board for our first trip to Le Mans as a team," added 10star DragonSpeed team principal Elton Julian. "He has shown over the past few years that he is capable of competing with some of the best drivers in sports cars racing in IMSA, winning classes and finishing on the podium. I feel he will be right at home with Memo and Ryo, and give us a real chance to win the class."

The 85th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours is set to take place on June 17-18.