AO Racing will defend its GTD class win at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, entering the pink “Roxy” livery Porsche 911 GT3 R.
After winning last year with the combination of Jonny Edgar and Laurens Vanthoor, AO Racing has brought in Danish driver Mikkel O. Pedersen to make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut, joining full-time AO driver Harry King.
Pedersen satisfies the GTD class requirement for a Silver-rated driver: The 29-year-old is a two-time FIA World Endurance Championship class winner in the former LMGTE Am class, and a veteran of Porsche Supercup and GT World Challenge Europe.
“It’s great to be bringing Roxy to Long Beach this year after Rexy’s win in 2025,” said Gunnar Jeannette, Team Principal of AO Racing. “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 (Porsche 911) RSRs and are looking forward to his IMSA debut with us.”
King helped lead AO Racing to a runner-up finish at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, where “Roxy” led 130 laps and completed a Porsche 1-2 finish in GTD Pro, alongside co-drivers Nick Tandy and Alessio Picariello.
AO Racing joins Pfaff Motorsports as one of two confirmed GTD Pro regulars that will step over to GTD for the 100-minute sprint race at Long Beach on Saturday, 18 April.
Feature image © Jack Webster / Dailysportscar.com
