Ricky Taylor To Race For DragonSpeed In ELMS Season Opener At Barcelona
DragonSpeed have announced that Ricky Taylor will join full-season ELMS duo Henrik Hedman and Ben Hanley in the team’s #21 Oreca 07 Gibson for the season-opener at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Reigning IMSA Champion Taylor will be making his first LMP2 appearance since the 2019 Le Mans 24 Hours where he raced with Jackie Chan DC Racing and his first ever appearance in the ELMS.
Taylor’s appearance is intended to be the first of a number of ‘guest star’ rives in the 2021 ELMS for DragonSpeed with a differing third driver planned at each round this season.
DragonSpeed team principal Elton Julian said, “Our ELMS program is really designed to support our WEC effort. Carrying over a Bronze-plus-two-pros lineup to the ELMS will help sharpen our WEC Pro/Am campaign in terms of driver preparation, race strategy, and acclimating to the new spec Goodyear tyres. Having the ELMS prologue and first round at Barcelona is a bonus, given that our shop is just five minutes from the circuit. The ELMS races are also a perfect way for us to bring some great drivers into the team as ‘guest stars’ with an eye on our ambition to compete at the top level of global sportscar racing.”
Ricky Taylor said, “I’ve always admired DragonSpeed’s accomplishments on and off the track, so I’m excited and grateful for the chance to join the team alongside Henrik and Ben. My ELMS debut will let me combine my enjoyment of racing LMP2 with a shot at the top step of the podium as part of a team that’s been there many times. Thanks to Elton and Henrik for the opportunity to make a contribution to the effort!”
The number 21 DragonSpeed LMP2 ORECA O7-Gibson takes to the track in Barcelona for the ELMS pre-season test and 4-hour race from 13 to 18 April in its build-up to the WEC prologue and 6-hour enduro at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit from 26 April to 1 May.
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