Tandy headlines all-new 'Rexy' line-up at AO Racing for 2026 IMSA season

AO Racing has announced a brand-new lineup for its popular 'Rexy the Porsche 911 GT3 Rawr' in the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, headlined by the addition of Nick Tandy and Harry King, who will run full-time in the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R.

Tandy and King will be joined by the returning Alessio Picariello in the five-race Michelin Endurance Cup.

The announcement comes after Tandy was dropped from Porsche Penske Motorsport’s IMSA GTP line-up after three seasons. With wins at Daytona and Sebring, Tandy became the first driver to take overall victories in all four major 24-hour endurance races – plus the Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans – to complete what has been called the "Tandy Slam” in 2025.

Tandy replaces Laurin Heinrich, who graduates from AO Racing’s GTD PRO effort after two seasons, and will run part-time for Porsche Penske in the No. 7 Porsche 963.

“AO Racing has proven to be one of the most popular, friendly, yet fiercely competitive teams within the sportscar paddocks in the last few years,” said Tandy. “I’m extremely excited to join the team next year. Rexy is one of the most iconic racing cars of the modern era, I’ve got lots of old friends within the team already who I’m looking forward to enjoying my racing with again, plus new friends to meet.

“I’ve known both Harry and Alessio for a while now. Both are exceptionally fast and dedicated professionals so I’m eager to see what the season brings.”

King will make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut in 2026, coming off a season in which the young English driver won the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup in the Gold Cup class, driving for Verstappen com Racing. A graduate of Porsche’s one-make racing ladder, King also raced in the SUPER GT Series GT300 class and gave Porsche its first win in the Japanese series since 2012.

“I’m delighted to be partnering up with AO Racing for my full-time debut in the IMSA championship,” said King. “I’m thankful to Gunnar (Jeannette, team principal) and Porsche for the trust. I’ve always closely followed Rexy’s progress and results in the past, so now I look forward to adding to that successful list alongside teammates Nick and Alessio. It’s a great combination of drivers and team, I have a good feeling.”

“I’m really happy to return with Rexy and AO for the endurance races,” said Picariello. “I enjoyed working with the team a lot last season, and taking the win at Sebring was definitely a highlight. We were left with a bitter feeling after Daytona, so I’m looking forward to sharing the car with Nick and Harry this year and putting things right.”

It’ll be AO Racing’s third season in GTD PRO with Rexy, following a championship-winning 2024 campaign and a 2025 season that included class victories at Sebring, Long Beach (in GTD) and Laguna Seca (with Rexy’s sister Roxy).

“I am very excited to welcome Nick, Harry, and Alessio to AO Racing and Rexy for 2026,” said Jeannette. “We think this lineup has the perfect combination of speed and experience to allow us to fight for the GTD PRO Championship. I can’t wait for all of us to get started in our new 2026 GT3 R Evo at Daytona. "