The FAI-sponsored DragonSpeed LMP1 challenge at the 2019 Le Mans ended during the night, despite a huge effort to keep the car running to the finish. The Gulf-liveried and FAI-supported DragonSpeed LMP1 race came to a premature end with around nine hours to run, as the car was stranded out in the Le Mans countryside with a gear selection problem.

The 87th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours had started well for DragonSpeed and FAI, with Indycar racing star, Ben Hanley, comfortably holding his seventh-place from the grid and looking to move up the order. However, the car suffered a freak rear diffuser issue, which meant pitting. A strong drive from Henrik Hedman, brought it back up the field before the third driver, Renger van der Zande suffered a gearbox actuator failure. Despite the efforts of the team, the car ultimately lost gear selection completely out on the circuit and was forced to retire.

FAI Automotive Managing Director, Sean Walker, was quick to applaud the team and its efforts, “As a racer, I know that you don’t always make it to the finish line, but you can’t fault the effort the DragonSpeed team put in, so I understand the determination and passion of the team by trying to get the car to the end of the race. It was an exceptional endeavour.”