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
European Le Mans Series:
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

History

AO Racing's Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) featuring the "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 the "Rexy" livery at the 2023 Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen

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 of 2022, they made the decision to form an auto racing team to compete in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. [6] The name AO stands for Autumn Oaks, which is the name of Hyett's car collection that helped start the race team. [7]

IMSA SportsCar Championship

2023

At the second round of the 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship held at Sebring International Raceway, the team debuted an all new Tyrannosaurus Rex themed livery dubbed "Rexy" by driver and team co-founder Gunnar Jeannette. [8] T. J. Harley is the livery designer. [9] The livery was culminated by team co-founder P. J. Hyett after his two children inspired him to sport a T-Rex and a Unicorn on his race helmet. "Rexy" quickly became a fan favorite, and it has become one of the most recognizable sportscar liveries.

2024

The team announced that they would field a second car competing in the LMP2 class in the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship. [10] 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. [11] 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.

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." [12] 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. [13] 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. [14] For the No. 99 LMP2 entry, the team signed Dane Cameron, Jonny Edgar, and Christian Rasmussen to partner team owner P. J. Hyett. [15]

European Le Mans Series

2024

Orlen Team AO by TF in 2024 4 Hours of Le Castellet. 2024 4 Hours of Le Castellet 15.jpg
Orlen Team AO by TF in 2024 4 Hours of Le Castellet.

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. [16] 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 team returned to the European Le Mans Series for a second season in 2025, once again partnering with TF Sport. [17] LMP2 class champion Louis Delétraz remained with the team, with team owner P. J. Hyett entering the series for the first time. [18] 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

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.svg Guilherme Oliveira
Flag of Portugal.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
SEB
LGA
DET
WGL
MOS
ELK
VIR
IMS
ATL
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
SEB
WGL
MOS
ELK
IMS
ATL

* 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

* Season still in progress.

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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. "AO Racing reveals T-Rex livery for Sebring 12 Hours". www.motorsport.com. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  9. IMSA Sebring Paddock Tour 2023 with Marshall Pruett presented by PILOTI , retrieved March 13, 2024
  10. "AO Racing Introduce 'Spike' The LMP2 Dragon!". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  11. "AO Racing expands to LMP2 with Hyett and Chatin; Priaulx and Heinrich in for GTD PRO". RACER. November 13, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  12. "Rexy roars to AO Racing's least-likely maiden win at Laguna Seca". RACER. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  13. "AO Racing prolonge son double programme LMP2 / GTD PRO en 2025". Endurance Info (in French). Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  14. Dagys, John (December 5, 2024). "Bachler to Join Heinrich for AO's GTD Pro Title Defense – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  15. "Dane Cameron Signs With AO Racing For LMP2 Campaign". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  16. "Robert Kubica with Orlen Team AO by TF in 2024". Endurance Info. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  17. "Record 44 Car Grid for 2025 European Le Mans Series Revealed". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  18. "ELMS - Louis Delétraz poursuit avec AO by TF en 2025". Endurance Info (in French). Retrieved December 19, 2024.