AO keeps LMP2 squad intact for 2026

AO Racing has announced an unchanged LMP2 line-up for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, as one of sports car racing's fastest-growing privateer teams looks to defend its 2025 IMSA LMP2 titles.

Reigning LMP2 champions PJ Hyett and Dane Cameron will return to drive the No. 99 ORECA 07-Gibson – affectionately known as "Spike the Dragon” – in all seven LMP2 races. After a successful appeal of his 2026 FIA driver categorization, Jonny Edgar will return as the designated Silver-rated driver in the five-race Michelin Endurance Cup. And one of the NTT IndyCar Series' newest race winners, Christian Rasmussen, will return for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, in pursuit of his second LMP2 class win in three years.

“A wise man once said, ‘If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,’” said AO Racing team principal Gunnar Jeannette. “Our LMP2 crew and Spike had such a great 2025 season that we want to do the same thing for 2026. PJ, Dane, Jonny, and Christian all performed fantastically for us over the course of the year, and we look forward to getting 2026 started at the November Daytona test.”

Not long after taking Spike's first win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Hyett and Cameron won back-to-back IMSA races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Road America, on their way to winning the LMP2 championship. First-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion and AO Racing owner Hyett won three straight pole positions at Watkins Glen, CTMP and Road America, the most for any LMP2 Bronze driver in 2025.

“Winning the LMP2 championship in 2025 was a dream come true, but we have unfinished business,” said Hyett. "The top step at all of IMSA’s endurance races have yet to be reached for our crew, and 2026 sounds like the right year to do it.”

That starts with a return to Daytona, where AO Racing was a strong contender for the victory throughout most of the race, until a mechanical failure took Spike out of contention on Sunday morning.

For Cameron, this season brought his fifth IMSA championship since unification in 2014, all in different classes – including three different iterations of the premier prototype class.

“I’m super excited to be back with AO Racing to defend our championship,” said Cameron. “It will be hard to top 2025, but I feel we were getting stronger as a group as the year went on. There is so much benefit to having continuity, and I believe with this group, we can start the year with a win at Daytona.”