DragonSpeed signs Allen as test and development driver

DragonSpeed has signed Australia’s James Allen to serve as test and development driver for its NTT IndyCar Series effort.

The 22-year-old’s expansion into American open-wheel racing comes on the heels of competing for DragonSpeed in IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship LMP2 category (pictured), and he will contest the full European Le Mans Series LMP2 calendar, along with the next FIA World Endurance Championship round in LMP1, as part of the Elton Julian-owned program.

“James has consistently shown himself to be a genuine talent, from his previous ELMS successes and being thrown into the deep end of the WEC and LMP1 with us in 2018 to his performance at this year’s Rolex 24,” Julian said. “He has the essential combination of pace and maturity to deliver for us in sports cars this season and progress further up the racing ladder in years to come.”

Allen shared the No. 81 DragonSpeed ORECA 07-Gibson LMP2 entry with the team’s IndyCar driver, Ben Hanley, in January’s Rolex 24 At Daytona, and will share an ORECA with his countryman, and Henrik Hedman, at every ELMS round. Signing to test the No. 81 Dallara DW12-Chevy Indy car alongside Hanley is the first step in a possible career shift.

“It’s an honor to join DragonSpeed full-time after my guest drives with the team,” Allen said. “Under Elton’s leadership and with a brilliant crew and Henrik and Ben in the car, I look forward to fighting for the ELMS championship this season. It’s great to be part of a team that’s going places, and I hope the IndyCar opportunity will add the extra dimension to my career I’ve been looking for.”