Jonny Edgar Opens 2026 Season with Top-Five Finish and Silverware at Daytona
Rolex 24 At Daytona
BRDC Superstars and Motorsport UK Academy Team UK driver, Jonny Edgar, proudly supported by D Tolson & Sons, opened his 2026 racing season in impressive fashion, finishing fifth in the LMP2 class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Alongside his AO Racing teammates, Jonny also claimed the IMSA Endurance Cup Race Winners’ Trophy, awarded to the crew that scores the most points across the round.
After a quiet December, the Cumbrian racer made the journey to Daytona Beach, Florida for the opening round of both the IMSA Championship and the Endurance Cup. The team’s campaign began with the traditional three-day test, “The Roar Before the 24” where Jonny and his teammates Dane Cameron, PJ Hyett and Christian Rasmussen completed 132 laps in day and night conditions without major issues. That strong preparation allowed them to fine-tune their gold-liveried Oreca LMP2, celebrating AO Racing’s 2025 class title.
Their pace was immediately evident in qualifying, with Hyett securing a front-row start, just 0.008 seconds off the pole, before three smooth practice sessions boosted confidence heading into race day.
In front of a record breaking crowd, Hyett took the start and expertly grabbed the class lead by the end of lap one before the first of nine Full Course Yellows. Consistent stints from Hyett and Cameron saw the #99 car stay at the sharp end, with Jonny climbing aboard as night fell to extend their advantage and secure valuable Endurance Cup points for leading at the six-hour mark.
Jonny’s second stint, shortly after halfway, was hampered by a lengthy six-hour fog delay, during which the race was neutralised. When the green flag returned, the team continued to battle at the front until a late puncture cost valuable time in the closing hours. Jonny returned for a final stint under clear skies, setting the team’s fastest lap of the race before handing back to Cameron for the finish.
After 24 hours of racing, the AO Racing crew crossed the line fifth in class. Their strong performance and 14-point haul put them at the top of the IMSA Endurance Cup standings, earning a place on the podium as top scorers in LMP2.
Jonny: “We had a really strong race and it’s great that we came away with a trophy and the lead in the LMP2 endurance cup standings. The whole team did a great job preparing the car and it was good to have spent a lot of the race fighting at the front of the field and hopefully this race has set the tone for our season. It was disappointing to pick up that puncture, we definitely could have been on for at least a podium but we’ve still made a really good start to the season and it’s always amazing to open the year at Daytona.”
The IMSA season continues at the 12 Hours of Sebring on 21 March, with live coverage on the IMSA YouTube channel.
