Tandy Hopes to “Enjoy Racing Again” With AO GTD Pro Move

Nick Tandy says he hopes his move to AO Racing and the GTD Pro class of the IMSA WeatherTech Championship will allow him to “go out and enjoy my racing again” following the end of his time in the GTP class at Porsche Penske Motorsport.

The British veteran is part of a revamped lineup at the 2024 GTD Pro-title winning team, with newcomer Harry King partnering Tandy for the full season and Alessio Picariello serving as third driver for the long-distance races, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

It comes amid Porsche’s wider overhaul of its driver roster in the wake of its decision to end its factory Hypercar program in the FIA World Endurance Championship, resulting in Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Julien Andlauer all moving across to full-time Porsche Penske drives in the WeatherTech Championship for the upcoming year.

Explaining how his move to AO came about, Tandy said it stemmed from a desire to start a fresh chapter within the existing constraints of his Porsche contract.

“I enjoyed being part of the development of the 963, I enjoyed racing with my teammates, but my time with PPM had run its course,” Tandy told Sportscar365.

“I wanted to do something new. I needed a new challenge. I wanted to go out and enjoy my racing again. I am contracted to Porsche, so when we discussed plans for the season, they suggested the AO Racing gig.

“For me, how GTD Pro has developed in the last three years is phenomenal. A lot of the time in the last couple of years, I would be watching the GTD Pro race from the timing stand as much as I would be watching our GTP race.

“It ticked all the boxes as Porsche obviously had other drivers to fill the GTP seats.

“Will I miss racing a prototype? Of course. I have always enjoyed driving in LMP2, LMP1 and then in GTP. I am sure I will drive another prototype in the future.

“But looking ahead to this season, it’s something I am really excited about. The way AO Racing has become a top-level team in a short period is incredible. I look forward to hopefully going for another championship for them.”

Tandy, who last contested a full WeatherTech Championship season in a GT car back in 2021, added he is looking forward to working together with younger compatriot King.

“I’ve known Harry since he began his Porsche career,” said Tandy. “I was running a team when he was the Porsche GB junior and when he won the Carrera Cup title.

“He is a great guy, we’ve always got on well, super-fast and intelligent. I am hoping that I can learn what I can from him about the GT3 R, and maybe I can help to fast-track his IMSA-specific learning experience as all of the tracks are new to him.”

King “Excited” for First Season in U.S. After Europe, Japan Success

King meanwhile makes the move to the WeatherTech Championship after a stellar 2025 campaign that yielded the Gold Cup title in GT World Challenge powered by AWS Endurance Cup with Verstappen Racing, as well as a victory in SUPER GT’s GT300 class at Autopolis for the new Seven x Seven Racing team.

The 21-year-old says he is relishing the challenge of tackling all ten circuits on this year’s GTD Pro schedule for the first time, starting at Daytona.

King told Sportscar365: “I am delighted about joining Porsche on a multi-year agreement, as it’s something I’ve been working hard towards ever since I became a Porsche junior in the UK back in 2020. It all came full circle in the end.

“There have always been discussions each year, but I think a year out [racing cars other than Porsches] certainly did some good, and what I did in SUPER GT helped start some conversations and put me in the position I am in now.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without Gunnar [Jeannette] and PJ [Hyett], who were pushing hard to get me in the car, which is a big show of faith from them.

“It’s my first time racing in the U.S. There’s a huge amount of racing heritage here, so I am excited. And to do it alongside Nick, a guy who has created history in almost every season he’s done, there’s nobody better to work with.

“I’m a rookie, but I would say I am quietly confident. You look at the track record of AO, and what they’ve done in a short span of time, they’ve been very successful, so I am look forward to hopefully adding to that list of accolades.”

While King will be racing in other championships in his new capacity as a Porsche-contracted driver this year, he stressed IMSA will be his priority, while also confirming he will no longer be part of Seven x Seven’s SUPER GT program due to clashes.