AO Racing Submit 2024 IMSA Entry Requests In LMP2 and GTD Pro

AO Racing, making a splash in IMSA and the FIA WEC in 2023 with their ‘Rexy’ and ‘Roxy’ GTE and GT3 Porsches look set to take a step up in more ways than one in 2024.

The team, under the guidance and management of Gunnar Jennette have confirmed this evening to DSC that they have submitted entries in both LMP2 and GTD Pro for the 2024 IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship with Bronze-rated PJ Hyett confirmed as the anchor for the LMP2 effort.

That effort will be undertaken with a brand new Oreca 07, set to be delivered to the team in time for the 2024 season, the team already have an ex PR1 Mathiesen Oreca on strength which will be used for pre-season testing.

On the GTD Pro front there’s no formal confirmation as yet on the marque set to feature but with the team’s effort so far fully focussed around Porsche, anything else would be a major surprise.

On the Pro driver front, Jeannette was happy to feed back that AO have been delighted with the efforts of Seb Priaulx this season in GTD and will be looking to discuss with Multimatic (who manage Priaulx Jr.) to continue an association.

“We are more than confident that if our entry request is accepted in GTD Pro by IMSA that there will be factory-level driver support there too,” Gunnar told DSC.

As for the FIA WEC where AO Racing have combined with Project 1 this season, the trio of calendar clashes make a full season in both IMSA and WEC more than tricky but Jeannette is clear: “We are looking at all of the options still available and want to do all that we can to ensure that we are back at Le Mans in 2024.”

The confirmation from AO Racing of their dual entry gives further boosts to both LMP2 where IMSA expect full season entries to graze double figures, and for GTD Pro where multiple additional entries are confirmed or likely including two-car efforts from Corvette Racing and Ford, plus a likely BMW effort from Paul Miller Racing with other teams too targeting IMSA’s premier GT class.

And what of ‘Rexy’ the AO Racing dinosaur-themed livery adopted by the team from Sebring in tribute to PJ Hyett’s young son’s passion for the prehistoric reptiles?

That looks set to grace the GTD Pro! Lord alone knows what the LMP2 will be sporting!