AO to Return to Long Beach With GTD Entry for King, Pederson

Photo: Brandon Badraoui/IMSA

AO Racing will once again return to the GTD class in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, albeit with a revised lineup from its class-winning effort last year.

Confirmed on Thursday, the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo, known as ‘Roxy’ will contest the 100-minute GTP/GTD-only race with its new-for-2026 full season driver Harry King and newcomer Mikkel Pederson, who fulfills the class requirements of a having a FIA Silver or Bronze-rated driver.

Last year, the team claimed class honors with Laurens Vanthoor and Jonny Edgar. Vanthoor will be racing in the GTP class with Porsche Penske Motorsport, while Edgar will be on FIA World Endurance Championship duty at Imola that weekend.

“It’s great to be bringing Roxy to Long Beach this year after Rexy’s win in 2025,” said team principal Gunnar Jeannette. “Harry is no stranger to the team, but it will be Mikkel’s first time driving our dino-Porsche.

“We were impressed by Mikkel’s driving as teammates in the WEC RSR’s and are looking forward to his IMSA debut with us.”

AO is the second GTD Pro team to confirm an entry in GTD for the race, joining Pfaff Motorsports’ Lamborghini Temerario GT3, which will be driven by Andrea Caldarelli and Silver-rated driver Zachary Vanier.

Source: Sports Car 365