Tandy Moves to AO in All-New Full Season GTD Pro Lineup

Photo: Porsche

Nick Tandy will make the switch from the GTP to GTD Pro class in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year, joining rising British star Harry King in AO Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo for the full season.

Tandy, who spent the last three years with Porsche Penske Motorsport, was notably absent from the team’s lineup, which released on Wednesday, amid reports that the 41-year-old Englishman would be re-focused on GT3 efforts within the German manufacturer’s activities.

The 2024 GTD Pro championship-winning team then later in the morning announced that Tandy will share the ‘Rexy’ liveried Porsche with 25-year-old King, with Alessio Picariello returning for the Michelin Endurance Cup races.

It represents an all-new full season lineup, after Laurin Heinrich and Klaus Bachler drove the car this year.

Heinrich, who won the 2024 GTD Pro title with the Illinois-based team, has been promoted to Porsche Penske’s endurance lineup for next year.

“I am very excited to welcome Nick, Harry, and Alessio to AO Racing and Rexy for 2026,” said team principal Gunnar Jeannette.

“We think this lineup has the perfect combination of speed and experience to allow us to fight for the GTD Pro Championship. I can’t wait for all of us to get started in our new 2026 GT3-R Evo at Daytona.”

Tandy became the only drive to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nürburgring 24, Spa 24 Hours and Rolex 24 overall this year with his triumph in Penske’s No. 7 Porsche 963 entry in the WeatherTech Championship season opener.

While also scoring victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Tandy and co-driver Felipe Nasr’s championship run was derailed mid-season following an accident at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and several penalty-inflicted races.

Teammates Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet took the GTP championship this year in the sister No. 6 Porsche.

The 2026 season will mark Tandy’s full-time return to GT competition since his two-year stint with Corvette Racing in 2021-22.

“AO Racing has proven to be one of the most popular, friendly, yet fiercely competitive teams within the sports car paddocks in the last few years,” said Tandy. “I’m extremely excited to join the team next year.

“Rexy is one of the most iconic racing cars of the modern era, I’ve got lots of old friends within the team already who I’m looking forward to enjoying my racing with again, plus new friends to meet.

“I’ve known both Harry and Alessio for a while now. Both are exceptionally fast and dedicated professionals so I’m eager to see what the season brings.”

King, meanwhile, comes off a season of GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS with Verstappen dot com racing, where he won the Endurance Cup Gold class title.

“I’m delighted to be partnering up with AO Racing for my full-time debut in the IMSA championship,” said King.

“I’m thankful to Gunnar and Porsche for the trust. I’ve always closely followed Rexy’s progress and results in the past, so now I look forward to adding to that successful list alongside teammates Nick and Alessio.

“It’s a great combination of drivers and team, I have a good feeling.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John