AO Racing will make its Intercontinental GT Challenge debut next month as the American outfit teams up with Absolute Racing to tackle the iconic Suzuka 1000km, as Laurin Heinrich, Alessio Picariello and Julien Andlauer pilot the squad’s #8 Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Since launching in 2022, AO Racing has been a fan-favourite team, sporting its signature ‘Rexy’ livery and enjoying incredible success by clinching drivers’ and teams’ titles across both IMSA SportsCar Championship and European Le Mans Series.
For this event, they will join forces with Shanghai-based Absolute Racing, who delivered an impressive result at last year’s running of the Suzuka 1000km, finishing second and fourth as well as securing the Bronze Cup.
All three members of the driver line-up have competed for AO Racing in the past, with Laurin Heinrich claiming the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD Pro title with the team back in 2024.
Julien Andlauer was a teammate to Heinrich in selected rounds of that campaign and since then has moved into the Porsche 963, taking victories at Daytona and Sebring during the 2026 season alongside Heinrich.
Meanwhile, Alessio Picariello has experience with both outfits, earning a GTD Pro second-place finish at the 2026 12 Hours of Sebring for AO Racing. He’s also got a long-standing record with Absolute Racing and most recently secured a podium in the FIA GT World Cup Qualification Race at the Macau Grand Prix last year.
Following trips to Bathurst, Nürburgring and Spa, Porsche currently leads the Intercontinental GT Challenge Manufacturers’ Championship by eight points with just two rounds remaining, making next month’s event at Suzuka even more important.
AO by Absolute will run a special version of its iconic ‘Rexy’ livery as Bushi Rex, a new samurai-inspired car and character in the AO Racing universe, takes on the 50th running of the enduro on 11-13 September.
Laurin Heinrich, AO by Absolute: “Reuniting with AO was always on my mind ever since I did my last event with Rexy! I’m excited for this opportunity to finally fulfil that dream and what a race to do it at. Suzuka has always been one of my favourite tracks and together with my two former Rexy teammates, I’m confident we will be a competitive trio in this demanding enduro.”
Alessio Picariello, AO by Absolute: “I’m delighted to be racing Bushi Rex in Japan! This is a truly special project and being part of it through the collaboration of two teams that I genuinely enjoy working with makes it even more meaningful. Together alongside Julien and Laurin, we have a strong car and everything it takes to fight at the front. I’m looking forward to competing with the whole squad and taking on this iconic event. We’ll do everything we can to bring home a positive result.”
Julien Andlauer, AO by Absolute: “I can’t wait to be back with the AO team and to race Bushi Rex. This will be my first time at Suzuka, and I’ve wanted to do this race for a very long time. I’m super excited to compete there alongside such a great crew and amazing teammates, as I know everyone very well. I love the country as much as the racing, so I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Gunnar Jeannette, AO Racing Team Principal: “AO is excited to partner with Absolute Racing and Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific for the 2026 Suzuka 1000km. With a stellar driver line-up and an amazing new character, we are very much looking forward to putting on a show for our Japanese fans. This will be our first foray into Intercontinental GT Challenge, and we believe we have all the pieces in place to fight at the front.”
Fabien Fior, Director, Absolute Racing: "We're delighted to partner with AO Racing for Bushi Rex's first adventure. It makes the occasion even more special to do so alongside Porsche at such an iconic event as the Suzuka 1000km. We're confident Bushi Rex will capture the imagination of fans across Asia. Alessio is already part of the Absolute Racing family, while Laurin and Julien are two exceptionally talented drivers. We have every confidence in the trio's ability to deliver a strong result.”
Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd.: “We’re really pleased to announce the partnership between Absolute Racing and AO Racing for this year’s Suzuka 1000km - both are top class Porsche customer teams in their respective regions. We’re looking forward to welcoming Bushi Rex to Asia Pacific for the first time in September and believe that the combination of the strong driver line-up and this iconic liveried car, will be a favourite amongst the spectators and fans. Laurin, Alessio and Julien have all competed together with the squad in IMSA SportsCar Championship in previous years. This was a clear objective from Porsche, AO Racing and Absolute Racing to put together a proven driver line-up coupled with the highest level of technical infrastructure in order to fight for the win.”
