AO Racing
 | |
| Founded | 2022 |
|---|---|
| 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 drivers | IMSA SportsCar Championship: 77.  Klaus Bachler Laurin Heinrich .svg.png){kind=small} Alessio Picariello 99.  Dane Cameron  Jonny Edgar P. J. Hyett Christian Rasmussen 177. Jonny Edgar Laurens Vanthoor European Le Mans Series: 99. Dane Cameron .svg.png){kind=small} Louis Delétraz P. J. Hyett |
| Noted drivers | Gunnar Jeannette Sebastian Priaulx Michael Christensen 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]
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
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] Hyett credits Jeannette for originating AO Racing's brand approach, stating that he had come up with the idea based on the public reception towards Hyett's race helmet.[10] His race helmet includes a Tyrannosaurus rex and a unicorn on either side, a design he began using at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona that was inspired by his son and daughter.[11][12]
As of 2025, the team has three mascots, each represented on the cars that they use; 'Rexy', a green male Tyrannosaurus rex,[13] 'Roxy', a pink female Tyrannosaurus rex,[14] and 'Spike', a purple and orange dragon.[15] 'Roxy' is described by AO Racing as "Rexy's sister", and 'Spike' is the pair's cousin.[16][17]
The team first sported 'Rexy', a green faux Tyrannosaurus rex livery designed by T. J. Harley, for their Porsche 911 (992) GT3 R at the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring, drawing widespread fanfare for its unique design.[18] 'Roxy' was introduced five months later at the 2023 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR as a new mascot and as a substitute to the team's full-season 'Rexy' design. AO Racing had temporarily taken and applied their 'Rexy' livery on their Porsche 911 RSR-19 joint entry with Project 1 Motorsport ahead of the 2023 6 Hours of Fuji.[14] 'Roxy' has reappeared as an alternate livery in select IMSA SportsCar Championship races in the seasons following its debut,[19][20] a decision that the team like to describe as 'Rexy' "taking a vacation".[21] 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, they introduced a new mascot for the car, a purple and orange dragon named 'Spike'.[15]
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.[22] 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.[18] 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.[15] 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.[23] 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.
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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."[24] 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.[25] 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.[26] For the No. 99 LMP2 entry, the team signed Dane Cameron, Jonny Edgar, and Christian Rasmussen to partner team owner P. J. Hyett.[27]
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.[28] 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
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The team returned to the European Le Mans Series for a second season in 2025, once again partnering with TF Sport.[29] LMP2 class champion Louis Delétraz remained with the team, with team owner P. J. Hyett entering the series for the first time.[30] 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
| Year | Entrant | No. | Car | Drivers | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Project 1 – AO
|
56 | Porsche 911 RSR-19 |  Matteo Cairoli P. J. Hyett Gunnar Jeannette
|
LMGTE Am | 309 | 35th | 7th |
| 2024 | AO by TF
|
14 | Oreca 07-Gibson | Louis Delétraz P. J. Hyett Alex Quinn
|
LMP2 (Pro-Am) | 295 | 20th | 2nd |
| 2025 | AO by TF
|
199 | Oreca 07-Gibson | Dane Cameron Louis Delétraz P. J. Hyett
|
LMP2 (Pro-Am) | 366 | 20th | 1st |
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | No | Chassis | Engine | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Pos. | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Project 1 - AO
|
LMGTE Am | 56 | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6 | Matteo Cairoli P. J. Hyett Gunnar Jeannette.svg.png){kind=small} Guilherme Oliveira Miguel Ramos Efrin Castro
|
SEB 12 |
POR 6 |
SPA WD |
LMN 7 |
MON 8 |
FUJ 5 |
BHR 10 |
11th | 36 |
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
.svg.png){kind=small}
* Season still in progress.
Complete European Le Mans Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | No | Chassis | Engine | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Pos. | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Orlen Team AO by TF
|
LMP2 | 14 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK-428 4.2 L V8 | Louis Delétraz Jonny Edgar Robert Kubica
|
CAT 7 |
LEC 3 |
IMO 2 |
SPA 1 |
MUG 5 |
POR 2 |
1st | 93 |
| 2025 | AO by TF
|
LMP2 | 99 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK-428 4.2 L V8 | Dane Cameron Louis Delétraz P. J. Hyett
|
CAT | LEC | IMO | SPA | SIL | POR |
* Season still in progress.
References
- ^ "WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP AO RACING NO. 77". imsa.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP AO RACING NO. 99". imsa.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "Robert Kubica with Orlen Team AO by TF in 2024". Endurance Info. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Jeannette, Hyett launching AO Racing Porsche GTD effort for 2023". RACER. September 28, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Olson, Jefff. "AO Racing Porsche Hangs on for GTD PRO Title as Iron Lynx Lamborghini Wins Race".
- ^ "About". AO Racing. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "AO Racing 101". Instagram. February 2, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Smith, Steven Cole (January 28, 2025). "How to stand out in IMSA? AO Racing has Rexy and Spike". grassrootsmotorsports.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ Staff, SPEED SPORT (February 22, 2024). "Behind IMSA's Dinosaur And Dragon Team". SPEED SPORT. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ Chemello, Lalita (August 23, 2024). "The origin of the Porsche 911 GT3 Rawr, IMSA's wildest livery". Motorsport. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ Oreovicz, John (February 22, 2024). "Dinosaur and Dragon Team Quickly Making a Name for Itself". IMSA. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ Jupp, Ethan (March 14, 2023). "AO racing reveal crazy T-rex livery | GRR". www.goodwood.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Dagys, John (August 15, 2023). "AO Porsche in Alternative 'Roxy' Livery for VIR – Sportscar365". Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c Goodwin, Graham (January 9, 2024). "AO Racing Introduce 'Spike' The LMP2 Dragon!". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Brouillet, Kelly (July 16, 2024). "Roxy Returns: Rexy's Prehistoric Pink Sister to Take Over at Road America". AO Racing. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ "In the last of our character introductions, meet Roxy, Rexy's sister and Spike's cousin!". www.instagram.com. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ a b "AO Racing Unveils T-Rex Livery for Full Season – Sportscar365". March 13, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ "AO Racing's 'Roxy' to Return for Road America, VIR – Sportscar365". July 16, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ O’Connell, R. J. (April 24, 2025). "AO Racing's Roxy Returns For Laguna Seca". Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ Brouillet, Kelly (July 16, 2024). "Roxy Returns: Rexy's Prehistoric Pink Sister to Take Over at Road America". AO Racing. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ Malsher-Lopez, David (January 17, 2023). "AO Racing marks IMSA debut with tribute livery". Motorsport. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ "AO Racing expands to LMP2 with Hyett and Chatin; Priaulx and Heinrich in for GTD PRO". RACER. November 13, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "Rexy roars to AO Racing's least-likely maiden win at Laguna Seca". RACER. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ "AO Racing prolonge son double programme LMP2 / GTD PRO en 2025". Endurance Info (in French). Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ Dagys, John (December 5, 2024). "Bachler to Join Heinrich for AO's GTD Pro Title Defense – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ "Dane Cameron Signs With AO Racing For LMP2 Campaign". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ "Robert Kubica with Orlen Team AO by TF in 2024". Endurance Info. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ "Record 44 Car Grid for 2025 European Le Mans Series Revealed". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ "ELMS - Louis Delétraz poursuit avec AO by TF en 2025". Endurance Info (in French). Retrieved December 19, 2024.
External links
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