AO Racing Acquires Ex-PR1 Oreca LMP2 Car

Photo: Harry Tincknell

AO Racing has acquired an Oreca 07 Gibson from PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports as part of a potential evaluation for a LMP2 program in the future according to team manager Gunnar Jeannette.

The Chicago area-based team tested the Oreca with Jeannette, Harry Tincknell and its Bronze-rated driver PJ Hyett at Road America last week, in what marked the first proper outing with the car, which is a three-time Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring class-winning chassis.

“We did a rollout with it around Long Beach but [Road America] was the first time that we personally ran it ourselves. It was fun,” Jeannette told Sportscar365.

When asked if the team could be preparing a move to LMP2 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which features a Bronze driver mandate, Jeannette said it hasn’t even yet been formally evaluated on what could happen with the LMP2 car.

The team currently campaigns a Porsche 911 GT3 R in the GTD class for Hyett and Seb Priaulx, while also taking part in the FIA World Endurance Championship in association with Project 1 in GTE-Am.

“In racing the answer is never no,” Jeannette said. “There are no concrete plans as to what we’ll be doing next year, or two years or in three years.

“I come from the background that of having experience in various types of cars will always benefit you when you go back to something else.

“When we signed up for GTD this year, we were under the assumption from IMSA that it was going to be a Bronze mandate and they reversed it.

“We’re keeping our options open. We’re very happy with what we’re doing with Porsche and all that kind of stuff.

“But if there is an opportunity next year to hop in Asian Le Mans Series, do something in ELMS, you don’t want to be showing up to the event and try to learn how to drive a P2 car for the first time.

“Anything is open. None of these questions have even been asked on our side [yet]. We’re preparing AO Racing for the future.”

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