AO by TF’s “Spike the Dragon” journey to Le Mans Pro/Am victory

Written by Ghazlan Atqiya Firmansyah, Edited by Aaron Carroll

AO Racing group photo before the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans | Credit: AO Racing

AO by TF’s No.199 Oreca 07 car, affectionately called “Spike the Dragon”, came close to taking the 24 Hours of Le Mans victory in 2024. This year, the fan-favourite dragon finally flew to the top of the LMP2 Pro/Am class of endurance racing’s most prestigious race. 

Making the most of the automatic entry

Spike took on Le Mans for the first time in 2024 with team owner P. J. Hyett, Louis Delétraz and Alex Quinn at the wheel. The team showed a strong pace by qualifying on pole and surviving the changing conditions en route to a second-place finish in LMP2 Pro/Am.

TF Sport runs AO Racing’s LMP2 program in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After the two teams collaborated, they swept the LMP2 Drivers’ and the Teams championships in 2024, receiving automatic entry to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Team Principal Gunnar Jeannette spoke fondly of the partnership and the fans’ great reception of Spike: “It’s great to continue AO’s relationship with TF in the ELMS for 2025.”

“Winning the overall ELMS championship and finishing second at Le Mans was an amazing start to our partnership that we look to build upon this year. After the great reception of Spike the Dragon at Le Mans in 2024, we can’t wait to see him flying around all the tracks in the ELMS Calendar."

Spike takes to the track in Barcelona | Credit: AO Racing

Spike’s first appearance in 2025 was in Daytona, where it contended for the LMP2 class win but finished fifth after a mechanical issue dashed any hopes of a win. It finished seventh in Sebring just over a month later.

Spike’s ELMS campaign began in Barcelona, where it qualified second in the Pro/Am class, but ended up finishing last in its class. Sunny days greeted the dragon at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, where it qualified on pole before finishing the race in second.

Surpassing expectations

Shortly before Le Mans qualifying, most DIVEBOMB writers picked the No.18 IDEC Sport car as the favourites of the LMP2 class, and not a single writer picked Spike. The No.18 car failed to advance to Hyperpole, whereas Spike would start his second Le Mans shot in third.

Hyett, Delétraz and Dane Cameron were the drivers who tackled the gruelling 24-hour race. The LMP2 class were as competitive as ever, with many battles for positions.

Spike during its nighttime pit stop | Credit: AO Racing

The field was neutralised shortly after the 12-hour mark with a safety car. Spike was challenging for third in the class. Cameron was in fifth, challenging Macéo Capietto in the Iron Lynx-Proton for fourth when daylight broke.

Spike continued its fight for the podium throughout the remaining hours and eventually took the LMP2 Pro/Am victory, finishing third in the overall LMP2 class.

The team finally achieved what it longed for — a victory in Le Mans. Spike joined its “siblings”, “Rexy” the Porsche GTD and “Roxy” the Porsche GTD Pro, as class winners in their respective series.

Celebratory mood at the camp

The victory in Le Mans was full of firsts for the drivers. This was Hyett’s first professional victory, the first 24-hour win for Delétraz and the first Le Mans win for Cameron.

Delétraz, Hyett and Cameron celebrating their LMP2 Pro/Am victory | Credit: AO Racing

Jeannette has been trying to win Le Mans since the 2000 edition and was elated that the team finally accomplished this feat: “I’ve been trying to win this race since the year 2000, and to finally accomplish that with our team, P. J. [Hyett], Dane [Cameron], Louis Delétraz, and Spike is very special.”

The 43-year-old was pleased Spike finally achieved its first victory and reflected how good it was for the brand: “Rexy has been super successful in the last year and a half, and so for Roxy and now Spike to get their first wins is great for the AO universe.”

“For Spike’s first win to come at Le Mans is something very memorable that everyone on our team will be able to remember forever and build upon in both IMSA and the European Le Mans Series”, Jeannette concluded.

“The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the greatest sports car race in the world, if not the greatest motorsport event in the world”, Hyett said. “To be able to stand on the top step is an unbelievable dream come true, and it’s hard to describe how special of an occasion this is.”

“I’m so happy with not just my co-drivers, but the entire team. It’s an enormous effort that goes on behind the scenes to make all of this happen. I’m so grateful for everybody with AO and TF Sport.”

AO Racing crew celebrating their LMP2 Pro/Am victory | Credit: AO Racing

Cameron was elated with the win and what it meant for his teammates: “It was a very incredible day. I’m very proud of everyone at AO by TF, and I’m thrilled for P. J. and Louis. P. J. has been trying for a long time to get his first race win, what a hell of a place to do it.”

“I know this race has been hard on Louis over the years, so it’s super special for these two guys. We had a great day and a great car. We knew coming through European Le Mans [Series] that we were close, so we came through and knocked on the door.”

Cameron concluded by saying every lap in Circuit de la Sarthe is special and will be a moment the American will cherish: “I’m so thrilled. It’s my favourite race, by far. Every lap here is special, and it’s unbelievable to have won the thing.”

Delétraz praised the team for the win and said they would sleep “very well” tonight: “It’s pretty amazing that we just won Le Mans. Everyone did such an amazing job, with few mistakes and a great pace.” 

“P. J. built us a gap in the night, and we managed it to the end. First Le Mans win, first 24-hour win. We will sleep very well tonight.”