Hyett, American software developer and co-founder of internet hosting service GitHub, first met Gunnar Jeannette through vintage racing. The pairing has come together as friends and co-drivers as Hyett continues to build his sports car racing career, making his professional debut in 2022. This season, Hyett will compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship.
Coming from a motorsports family, Gunnar Jeannette began racing in Historic Sports Car racing at the age of 16, and just two years later became the youngest driver to finish the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000. Now a three-time professional sports car racing champion, Jeannette is also an accomplished skydiver, with more than 1,500 skydives completed.
Matteo Cairoli began his racing career in karting and then moved up to single-seaters, where he competed in Formula Renault, Formula Abarth, and GP3 Series. Cairoli’s breakthrough came in 2015 when he switched to sports car racing, competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia and the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. He won both championships in his debut year and became the youngest ever champion in the history of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
Since then, Cairoli has competed in various international championships, including the European Le Mans Series, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. He has achieved notable success in these series, including several race wins and podium finishes. Cairoli has also competed in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he finished second in the GTE-Am class in 2018, and the 24 Hours of Daytona, where he finished third in the GTD class in 2020.
The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is a global sports car racing series that was founded in 2012. It is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and is one of the premier motorsport championships in the world.
The series features a diverse range of endurance sports cars, including prototypes and production-based GT cars from leading manufacturers such as Porsche, Toyota, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and more. The championship consists of a series of endurance races held across the globe, including iconic events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and 1000 Miles of Sebring.
The races range in length from six to 24 hours, and each race features a variety of classes, including Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), and GT cars, including GT Pro (GTE-Pro) and GT Am (GTE-Am). The championship has a strong emphasis on endurance racing, with a significant focus on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is widely regarded as the pinnacle of endurance racing.
The series attracts top professional drivers from around the world, including Formula One drivers, as well as up-and-coming talents. The championship is known for its close racing, high level of competition, and innovative technology, with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.
This season, AO Racing has partnered with Project 1, one of the leading teams in the international series. The new partnership will contest a full season in the 2023 World Endurance Championship.
