AO Racing

Last updated

Flag of the United States.svg AO Racing
AORacingLogo.png
Founded2022
Founder(s) P. J. Hyett (owner)
Gunnar Jeannette
Base St. Charles, Illinois, United States
Team principal(s)
Current series IMSA SportsCar Championship
European Le Mans Series
FIA World Endurance Championship
Current driversIMSA SportsCar Championship:
77.
Flag of Austria.svg Klaus Bachler
Flag of Germany.svg Laurin Heinrich
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Alessio Picariello
99.
Flag of the United States.svg Dane Cameron
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Edgar
Flag of the United States.svg P. J. Hyett
Flag of Denmark.svg Christian Rasmussen
177.
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Edgar
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Laurens Vanthoor
European Le Mans Series:
99.
Flag of the United States.svg Dane Cameron
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Louis Delétraz
Flag of the United States.svg P. J. Hyett
Noted drivers Flag of the United States.svg Gunnar Jeannette
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sebastian Priaulx
Flag of Denmark.svg Michael Christensen
Flag of France.svg Julien Andlauer
Teams'
Championships
IMSA SportsCar Championship :
2024 (GTD Pro class)
European Le Mans Series :
2024 (LMP2 class)
Drivers'
Championships
IMSA SportsCar Championship :
2024: Laurin Heinrich (GTD Pro class)
European Le Mans Series :
2024: Louis Delétraz, Jonny Edgar, Robert Kubica
Website https://aoracing.com/

Autumn Oaks Racing, doing business as AO Racing, is an American sports car racing team that currently competes in the LMP2 and the GTD Pro classes of the IMSA SportsCar Championship and in LMP2 in the European Le Mans Series. [1] [2] [3] The team was founded in 2022 by P. J. Hyett and Gunnar Jeannette. [4] The team won the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship in the GTD Pro class with driver Laurin Heinrich. [5]

Contents

Background

AO Racing was founded in 2022 by GitHub co-founder and technology entrepreneur P. J. Hyett, and American race car driver Gunnar Jeannette. Hyett and Jeannette met through vintage racing and became friends. [4] In September 2022, they made the decision to form an auto racing team to compete in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. [6] The name AO is an abbreviation for Autumn Oaks, which is the name of Hyett's car collection that helped start the race team. [7]

Branding approach

AO Racing's Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) featuring their 'Rexy' livery at the 2023 Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen. AO Porsche WGI23 10.jpg
AO Racing's Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) featuring their 'Rexy' livery at the 2023 Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen.

In lieu of the conventional approach focusing on sponsor exposure and brand prestige, AO Racing promotes a playful and expressive brand personality, utilizing faux creature designs and mascots as part of their brand identity with a large focus on fan engagement, a strategy which has allowed them to grow into a fan favorite team in sports car racing. [8] [9]

As of 2025, the team has three mascots, each represented on the cars that they use; 'Rexy', a green male Tyrannosaurus rex, [10] 'Roxy', a pink female Tyrannosaurus rex, [11] and 'Spike', a purple and orange dragon. [12]

Their branding approach was first introduced at the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring, when the team first sported 'Rexy' for their Porsche 911 (992) GT3 R. [13] The livery, created by T. J. Harley, was culminated by P. J. Hyett after his two children inspired him to sport a Tyrannosaurus rex and a unicorn on his race helmet. [14] [15]

'Roxy' was first introduced at the 2023 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR as a new mascot and as a substitute to the team's full-season 'Rexy' design, which they had temporarily taken and applied to their Porsche 911 RSR-19 entry, racing in conjunction with Project 1 Motorsport, ahead of the 2023 6 Hours of Fuji. [11] 'Roxy' has reappeared as an alternate livery in select IMSA SportsCar Championship races in the seasons following the design's debut, [16] [17] a decision that the team like to describe as 'Rexy' "taking a vacation". [18] The next year, AO Racing announced that they would field an Oreca 07 and expand into the LMP2 class for the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship. Following the announcement, the team introduced a new mascot for the car, a purple and orange dragon named 'Spike'. [12]

Racing history

IMSA SportsCar Championship

2023

AO Racing completed their sports car racing debut at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona, entering a Porsche 911 (992) GT3 R driven by Harry Tincknell, Sebastian Priaulx, and team founders Gunnar Jeannette and P. J. Hyett. The team sported a tribute livery based on the Porsche 935 from Henn's Swap Shop Racing that won the race 40 years prior. [19] AO Racing experienced a difficult race, finishing 19 laps down on the GTD class winner.

At the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring, AO Racing unveiled a new full-season livery named 'Rexy', a green Tyrannosaurus rex themed design that would become the basis for the team's bold brand personality that would grow the team into a fan favorite racing team. The livery was inspired by P. J. Hyett's two children, who had both influenced his helmet design which included a Tyrannosaurus rex and a unicorn. [13] The race would prove difficult, finishing the race 16 laps down on the GTD leader.

The team spent most of the 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship season in the midfield, completing the season 13th in class.

2024

The team announced that they would field a second car competing in the LMP2 class in the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship. [12] The announcement revealed that the Oreca 07 would feature a purple and orange dragon themed livery dubbed "Spike". The team signed Matthew Brabham and Paul-Loup Chatin to partner P. J. Hyett for the full season in the LMP2 entry, with Alex Quinn joining the team for the Michelin Endurance Cup. [20] The GTD Pro entry would see Michael Christensen, Laurin Heinrich, and Sebastian Priaulx drive the team's Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) for the full season.

The No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 (992) featuring the alternate "Roxy" livery at the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Weekend Panning (53905973882).jpg
The No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 (992) featuring the alternate "Roxy" livery at the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Weekend

At the third round of the season at Laguna Seca, the team scored their first win as an organization in the GTD Pro class with Heinrich and Priaulx behind the wheel of "Rexy." [21] After two further wins at Detroit and Indianapolis, the team became GTD Pro champions by four points at the last race at Road Atlanta. [5]

2025

The team returned for the 2025 season once again competing in the LMP2 and GTD Pro classes. [22] 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD Pro champion Laurin Heinrich remained with the team to drive the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Joining him would be Klaus Bachler, who drove the No. 77 Virginia International Raceway in 2024, and Belgian racer Alessio Picariello. [23] For the No. 99 LMP2 entry, the team signed Dane Cameron, Jonny Edgar, and Christian Rasmussen to partner team owner P. J. Hyett. [24]

European Le Mans Series

2024

On November 29, 2023, the team announced that they would field an LMP2 entry in the 2024 European Le Mans Series season in partnership with TF Sport. The team signed Louis Delétraz, Jonny Edgar, and former Formula One driver Robert Kubica to drive the car full-time. [25] Polish oil company Orlen would sponsor the car for the full season and the team would compete as Orlen Team AO by TF. The team would go on to win the LMP2 championship ahead of the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition entry.

2025

The No. 199 AO by TF Oreca 07 featuring the "Spike the Dragon" livery at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans 24H Le Mans 2025 Nr. 199 (2).jpg
The No. 199 AO by TF Oreca 07 featuring the "Spike the Dragon" livery at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans

The team returned to the European Le Mans Series for a second season in 2025, once again partnering with TF Sport. [26] LMP2 class champion Louis Delétraz remained with the team, with team owner P. J. Hyett entering the series for the first time. [27] The team would be competing in the LMP2 Pro-Am category as Hyett is an FIA Bronze driver.

Racing record

24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearEntrantNo.CarDriversClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2023 Flag of Germany.svg Project 1 – AO56 Porsche 911 RSR-19 Flag of Italy.svg Matteo Cairoli
Flag of the United States.svg P. J. Hyett
Flag of the United States.svg Gunnar Jeannette
LMGTE Am 30935th7th
2024 Flag of the United States.svg AO by TF 14 Oreca 07-Gibson Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Louis Delétraz
Flag of the United States.svg P. J. Hyett
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alex Quinn
LMP2 (Pro-Am)29520th2nd
2025 Flag of the United States.svg AO by TF 199 Oreca 07-Gibson Flag of the United States.svg Dane Cameron
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Louis Delétraz
Flag of the United States.svg P. J. Hyett
LMP2 (Pro-Am)36620th1st

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantClassNoChassisEngineDrivers1234567Pos.Pts
2023 Flag of Germany.svg Project 1 - AO LMGTE Am 56 Porsche 911 RSR-19 Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6 Flag of Italy.svg Matteo Cairoli
Flag of the United States.svg P. J. Hyett
Flag of the United States.svg Gunnar Jeannette
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Guilherme Oliveira
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Miguel Ramos
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Efrin Castro
SEB
12
POR
6
SPA
WD
LMN
7
MON
8
FUJ
5
BHR
10
11th36

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantClassNoChassisEngineDrivers1234567891011Pos.Pts
2023 Flag of the United States.svg AO Racing Team GTD 80 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6 Flag of the United States.svg P. J. Hyett
Flag of the United States.svg Gunnar Jeannette
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sebastian Priaulx
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Harry Tincknell
DAY
14
SEB
16
LBH
DNS
LGA
11
WGL
14
MOS
8
LIM
7
ELK
11
VIR
6
IMS
10
ATL
8
13th2245
2024 Flag of the United States.svg AO Racing GTD Pro 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6 Flag of France.svg Julien Andlauer
Flag of Austria.svg Klaus Bachler
Flag of Denmark.svg Michael Christensen
Flag of Germany.svg Laurin Heinrich
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sebastian Priaulx
DAY
2
SEB
9
LGA
1
DET
1
WGL
6
MOS
3
ELK
4
VIR
7
IMS
1
ATL
11
1st3122
LMP2 99 Oreca 07 Gibson GK-428 4.2 L V8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Matthew Brabham
Flag of France.svg Paul-Loup Chatin
Flag of the United States.svg P. J. Hyett
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alex Quinn
DAY
8
SEB
11
WGL
7
MOS
8
ELK
3
IMS
4
ATL
7
6th1942
2025* Flag of the United States.svg AO Racing GTD Pro 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6 Flag of Austria.svg Klaus Bachler
Flag of Germany.svg Laurin Heinrich
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Alessio Picariello
DAY
8
SEB
1
LGA
1
DET
5
WGL
5
MOS
3
ELK VIR IMS ATL 2nd1903
LMP2 99 Oreca 07 Gibson GK-428 4.2 L V8 Flag of the United States.svg Dane Cameron
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Edgar
Flag of the United States.svg P. J. Hyett
Flag of Denmark.svg Christian Rasmussen
DAY
5
SEB
7
WGL
2
MOS
1
ELK IMS ATL 2nd1297
GTD 177 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Edgar
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Laurens Vanthoor
DAY SEB LBH
1
LGA WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS ATL 21st382

* Season still in progress.

Complete European Le Mans Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantClassNoChassisEngineDrivers123456Pos.Pts
2024 Flag of the United States.svg Orlen Team AO by TF LMP2 14 Oreca 07 Gibson GK-428 4.2 L V8 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Louis Delétraz
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Edgar
Flag of Poland.svg Robert Kubica
CAT
7
LEC
3
IMO
2
SPA
1
MUG
5
POR
2
1st93
2025 Flag of the United States.svg AO by TF LMP2 99 Oreca 07 Gibson GK-428 4.2 L V8 Flag of the United States.svg Dane Cameron
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Louis Delétraz
Flag of the United States.svg P. J. Hyett
CAT LEC IMO SPA SIL POR

* Season still in progress.

References

  1. "WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP AO RACING NO. 77". imsa.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  2. "WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP AO RACING NO. 99". imsa.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  3. "Robert Kubica with Orlen Team AO by TF in 2024". Endurance Info. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Jeannette, Hyett launching AO Racing Porsche GTD effort for 2023". RACER. September 28, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Olson, Jefff. "AO Racing Porsche Hangs on for GTD PRO Title as Iron Lynx Lamborghini Wins Race".
  6. "About". AO Racing. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  7. "AO Racing 101". Instagram. February 2, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  8. Kallmann, Dave. "Dinosaurs and a dragon are making sports car racing more fun. They'll compete at Road America this weekend". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  9. Smith, Steven Cole (January 28, 2025). "How to stand out in IMSA? AO Racing has Rexy and Spike". grassrootsmotorsports.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  10. Jupp, Ethan (March 14, 2023). "AO racing reveal crazy T-rex livery | GRR". www.goodwood.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Dagys, John (August 15, 2023). "AO Porsche in Alternative 'Roxy' Livery for VIR – Sportscar365" . Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 Goodwin, Graham (January 9, 2024). "AO Racing Introduce 'Spike' The LMP2 Dragon!". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  13. 1 2 "AO Racing Unveils T-Rex Livery for Full Season – Sportscar365". March 13, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  14. Chemello, Lalita (August 23, 2024). "The origin of the Porsche 911 GT3 Rawr, IMSA's wildest livery". Motorsport. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  15. Oreovicz, John (February 22, 2024). "Dinosaur and Dragon Team Quickly Making a Name for Itself". IMSA. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  16. "AO Racing's 'Roxy' to Return for Road America, VIR – Sportscar365". July 16, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  17. O’Connell, R. J. (April 24, 2025). "AO Racing's Roxy Returns For Laguna Seca" . Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  18. Brouillet, Kelly (July 16, 2024). "Roxy Returns: Rexy's Prehistoric Pink Sister to Take Over at Road America". AO Racing. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  19. Malsher-Lopez, David (January 17, 2023). "AO Racing marks IMSA debut with tribute livery". Motorsport. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  20. "AO Racing expands to LMP2 with Hyett and Chatin; Priaulx and Heinrich in for GTD PRO". RACER. November 13, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  21. "Rexy roars to AO Racing's least-likely maiden win at Laguna Seca". RACER. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  22. "AO Racing prolonge son double programme LMP2 / GTD PRO en 2025". Endurance Info (in French). Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  23. Dagys, John (December 5, 2024). "Bachler to Join Heinrich for AO's GTD Pro Title Defense – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  24. "Dane Cameron Signs With AO Racing For LMP2 Campaign". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  25. "Robert Kubica with Orlen Team AO by TF in 2024". Endurance Info. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  26. "Record 44 Car Grid for 2025 European Le Mans Series Revealed". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  27. "ELMS - Louis Delétraz poursuit avec AO by TF en 2025". Endurance Info (in French). Retrieved December 19, 2024.