Bachler Eager for “Very Challenging” AO Title Defense

Photo: Porsche

Klaus Bachler says he expects a “very challenging’ task for AO Racing to defend its GTD Pro crown in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with the Austrian personally joining after a title-winning FIA World Endurance Championship season.

Bachler will partner Laurin Heinrich aboard the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R starting at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with Alessio Picariello completing the lineup for the endurance races.

For Bachler, the move represents a return to full-time WeatherTech Championship competition as the reigning LMGT3 world champion, having won the title last year with Manthey PureRxcing.

The Austrian’s last full season in the U.S. came in 2023 with Pfaff Motorsports, finishing fourth in the GTD Pro standings.

“I’m really happy to be here back in IMSA for full time,” Bachler told Sportscar365.

“I drove here in 2023, we came up short, we could not finish [in the top three].

“We won the Sebring 12 Hours, so this was a season highlight. We [scored] a lot of podiums, but of course there is something I want to do better.

“To be here back in IMSA in 2025 with the champions from last year, with Laurin, GTD Pro champion, and also with Alessio as our third driver for the long races, it’s really cool because we have really good relations between the drivers.

“The team is so professional and we hope to do a good job and hopefully make a lot of good results and fight for the championship again this season.”

Bachler said he “pushed” to be able to join AO for his return to WeatherTech Championship competition, noting it was the “best possibility” when making a series comeback.

“In the end, they showed last year that they are able to win this championship,” he said.

“And if you are able to join this group, it’s something which I’m looking forward to.

“I was also pushing for this, to be in a team like AO, because you want to have the best possibilities. And for me this is the best possibility I could get in IMSA.”

As last year’s LMGT3 champion, Bachler is in the unusual position of having the opportunity of scoring back-to-back WEC and WeatherTech Championship titles, although he admitted that achieving that will be a tough ask.

“This will be very challenging,” he said.

“We know that the competition is even higher than last year. This is all the best drivers you can get in the world in GT.

“Also the teams, the manufacturers,  they have done IMSA for so many years. So in the end, everybody knows the rules, the tricks.

“It will be a big challenge. But my aim is that we can fight for the championship.

“Because it’s something I really missed when I did my first season in GTD Pro. At some stages we did not have really a chance to fight for the championship.

“This year, with the torque sensors, I think the competition will be tighter even, more fair.

“It will be hard fights throughout the season, but it’s ten races and you need to be consistent. My aim is to fight for it.”

Source: Sports Car 365