DragonSpeed switches to Corvette for 2026 IMSA GTD PRO campaign

DragonSpeed has announced it will join the Corvette Racing family for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Along with its move to GTD after a successful 2025 GTD PRO campaign with the Ferrari 296 GT3 and technical partner Risi Competizione, DragonSpeed will change manufacturers and run the No. 81 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R next season.

Longtime DragonSpeed driver Henrik Hedman will return to full-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition and compete for the Bob Akin Award, a prize given to the top Bronze-graded driver in GTD, which also awards an automatic invitation to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Hedman will be joined for the full GTD season by Giacomo Altoè, who took three pole positions last year in DragonSpeed’s No. 81 Ferrari, helping lead the team and co-driver Albert Costa to a close second in the GTD PRO Championship behind Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ Antonio Garcìa and Alexander Sims.

Former Heart of Racing Team driver Casper Stevenson, who finished third in last year’s GTD championship, has also joined the team as the Silver-rated driver for the five-race Michelin Endurance Cup. 

Today’s announcement reunites DragonSpeed with GM for the first time since Chevrolet engines put DragonSpeed into the Indianapolis 500 three times, in 2018, 2019, and 2022.

“We’re proud to rejoin the GM Motorsports family with the launch of our Corvette campaign,” said DragonSpeed Team Principal Elton Julian. "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. 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 entire team is looking forward to working closely with the incredibly skilled and experienced group at Corvette Racing. The extraordinary competitiveness of the IMSA GTD class makes this one of our biggest challenges yet, but we are excited and ready to make the most of the opportunities offered by the mighty Z06 GT3.R and a collaboration with Corvette.”

Corvette Racing Program Manager Jessica Dane, added: “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. Everyone in our organization saw up close the talent and fight within the team during the GTD PRO title chase in 2025. We’re looking forward to having Henrik (Hedman), Elton, and crew bring that same level of competitiveness to an already strong GTD class with our third Corvette in the category.”

Hedman announced his return to IMSA by saying, "I'm back! 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. The proven strength of DragonSpeed and 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."

DragonSpeed will receive its first Corvette Z06 GT3.R chassis later this month, then begin private testing ahead of the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January – where the No. 81 Corvette will compete for GTD honors alongside reigning Daytona class winners 13 Motorsports (formerly AWA) and DXDT Racing, both members of the Corvette fleet.