Imagine conquering the pinnacle of endurance racing not once, but in a symphony of victories that left fans and competitors alike in awe—Dane Cameron and his AO Racing team did exactly that in LMP2 this year, and it's a story that's equal parts triumph and tantalizing what-if.
Picture this: Dane Cameron, fresh from a stellar two-year stint with Porsche Penske Motorsport where he clinched the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP title, dove into the world of AO Racing under the leadership of Gunnar Jeannette. Together with co-driver PJ Hyett, they didn't just participate in LMP2—they dominated. Their haul included multiple championships and a class victory at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race that's the beating heart of motorsport dreams for so many. And here's where it gets intriguing: Cameron isn't shy about admitting that achieving both major titles in one go felt almost too good to be true, like striking gold twice in a single gamble.
Reflecting on the whirlwind year, Cameron shared his thoughts with Sportscar365, emphasizing how entering such ambitious endeavors often comes with a dose of realism. "You embark on these ventures hoping for success in one area, but snagging both feels a tad unrealistic or even greedy," he mused. Yet, that's precisely what unfolded. It wasn't a walk in the park—the team navigated hurdles, from early-season misfortunes to mechanical gremlins that tested their resolve. But as the year progressed, momentum built like a well-tuned engine, culminating in those hard-earned wins. This included the WeatherTech Championship LMP2 title after the Motul Petit Le Mans, and just a week later, partnering with Louis Deletraz to secure the LMP2 Pro-Am championship in the European Le Mans Series aboard an AO by TF-run Oreca 07 Gibson.
Cameron, who now holds a record-extending fifth WeatherTech Championship title (check out more on that here: https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/five-quite-a-special-number-for-garcia-cameron/), attributed much of the magic to the team's chemistry. He highlighted PJ Hyett, a Bronze-rated driver, whose journey from struggling for that elusive first class win at Le Mans to igniting a streak of triumphs—think victories at the ELMS race in Imola and the WeatherTech Championship LMP2 event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park—proved pivotal. "We assured PJ that once he broke through, the rest would follow," Cameron recalled. "And boy, did it! We were on a scorching hot streak through the summer." This pattern of peaking in the year's mid-to-late phase, stacking points strategically, is something Cameron has seen in his past championship runs. It's like building a snowball effect, where one victory fuels the next, positioning the team for dominance.
But here's the part most people miss: the underlying challenges that nearly derailed everything. The first half of the season was riddled with bad luck and setbacks, making those later successes feel like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Cameron explained that it was all hypothetical until the pieces clicked—luck, timing, and sheer persistence aligning perfectly. "The stars just aligned, and one win led to another," he said, underscoring the gratitude he feels toward his team, AO Racing, TF Sport, Gunnar Jeannette, and everyone involved in both the European and American projects.
A key factor in their crossover success was the engineering duo of Scott Besst and Nico Brisseau, present at every race. Despite differing rules and tweaks for tires and tracks, their consistent approach fostered communication and confidence. For PJ Hyett, logging extensive seat time in a familiar setup was crucial, helping him build the poise that shone in the second half of the year. And let's not forget the perfect driver pairings: Louis Deletraz bringing his European expertise to the ELMS, while Jonny Edgar and Christian Rasmussen shored up the U.S. side. It was a blend of experience and fresh energy that turned potential into reality.
Looking ahead, AO Racing's motivation is sky-high for 2026, with the core WeatherTech Championship lineup intact. Their sights are set on conquering IMSA's endurance giants like the Rolex 24 and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring—those "big trophies" that Cameron sees as essential for PJ Hyett's growth. "We stumbled a bit in the endurance rounds last time," he acknowledged, noting how these races now carry enormous weight in LMP2 due to IMSA's concise calendar. The team aims to repeat their double-championship feat, leveraging the stability of a second year together to attack harder. They were tantalizingly close at Daytona, but now, with everyone in sync and settled, the focus is laser-sharp.
Now, here's where it gets controversial: Is this level of success in LMP2 sustainable, or does it rely too heavily on luck and timing rather than pure skill? Critics might argue that racing's inherent unpredictability means even the best teams can falter, while others contend that AO's strategic blending of international programs gives them an unfair edge. What do you think—does this crossover model represent the future of endurance racing, or is it just a clever workaround that dilutes the purity of the sport? And on a broader note, with drivers like Cameron amassing record titles, should we celebrate these personal milestones, or question if they overshadow team efforts? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you agree that momentum and luck are the secret sauce to victory, or is there a counterpoint here I'm missing? Let's debate!
John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John (https://sportscar365.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#791c1d100d160b390a09160b0d0a1a180b4a4f4c571a1614)
