Mikkel Overgaard Pedersen(born 26 January 1997) is a Danish racing driver who competes in theFIA World Endurance ChampionshipforDempsey-Proton Racing.
| Mikkel Pedersen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality |  Danish |
| Full name | Mikkel Overgaard Pedersen |
| Born | 26 January 1997 Struer, Denmark |
| FIA World Endurance Championshipcareer | |
| Debut season | 2022 |
| Current team | Dempsey-Proton Racing |
| Racing licence |  FIA Silver |
| Car number | 77 |
| Former teams | Team Project 1 |
| Starts | 13 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Podiums | 4 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 2 |
| Last updated on: 17 November 2023. | |
Career
editEarly career
editBorn inStruer, Denmark,Pedersen's racing career began inkartingat the age of seven.[1]It was a family operation, with the Pedersens running the team out of a van in which they'd house the kart and travel to races. On Friday evenings, Mikkel would frequently watch thePorsche Supercupon TV, a series which he'd eventually compete in himself.[2]Throughout his career Pedersen has relied on local sponsor support to fund his racing endeavors.[3]
In 2012, Pedersen made his junior formula debut, taking part in the DanishFormula FordChampionship with DP Engineering. Pedersen's opening season in the series saw him compete in the Zetec category, driving the car that teammateMorten Donshad piloted the year prior.[4]The following season, he stepped intoPorscheracing, initially at a local level before expanding to thePorsche Carrera Cup Scandinaviain 2015.[5]At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Pedersen traveled to theLausitzringto take part in the annual Porsche Junior Shootout.[6]
Porsche Supercup
edit
Pedersen made his Supercup debut at the end of the2015season atCircuit of the Americas,where he was disqualified from the second event after the first race was canceled. The following season, Pedersen lined up a part-time campaign with MRS-GT Racing, supplemented with a drive at the2016 Dubai 24 Hour.In2017,he was able to compete for the full season,[7]tallying a best finish of eighth atAutódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.His second full-time season improved on the prior, with Pedersen registering three top-ten finishes including a fifth-place finish atMonaco[8]and a sixth-place finish atHockenheim.At the conclusion of the2018season, he was named Motorsport Talent of the Year at the Danish Motorsport Awards.[1]
In2019,Pedersen left MRS-GT Racing, taking part in his fifth year in the series with Italian outfitDinamic Motorsport.After utilizing a 2017 model for the previous two years, Pedersen upgraded to a 2019-spec version of the car.[9]2019 was Pedersen's best statistical season to date, as he claimed his maiden podium finish at Monaco[10]and tallied two fastest laps, once at Monaco and again atMonza.He would finish eighth in the championship, racking up 80 championship points.[11]
GT3 and beyond
editIn 2020, Pedersen continued with Dinamic for the team's globe-trottingGT3program for the year. In January, he began the season at theDubai 24 Hour,finishing on the GT3-Am class podium.[12]Pedersen's primary program for the season was a drive in theGT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup,where he'd join Adrien De Leener and Andrea Rizzoli in Dinamic's Silver Cup entry.[13]In the opening round of the season atImola,Pedersen's entry finished on the class podium,[14]and would finish the season 13th in the Silver Cup classification. Pedersen returned to the team for the following season, stepping up to the Pro class asRomain Dumasreplaced De Leener in the lineup.[15]The team would claim just one point, earned in a 10th-place finish at Monza, and finished 32nd in the series championship.
Pedersen's program expanded in 2022, where he took on drives in theFIA World Endurance Championship,Le Mans Cup,and GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. In the WEC, Pedersen served as the silver-ranked driver in one ofTeam Project 1'sGTE Amclass entries, joiningMatteo Cairoliand Nicolas Leutwiler.[16]With full-season entries guaranteeing a spot at the24 Hours of Le Mans,Pedersen was able to fulfill a career dream of competing in the race.[2]Although the entry retired due to puncture damage, the rest of the season proved relatively successful. The team claimed their first podium finish of the season at Monza,[17]before taking victory in the final race of the season, the8 Hours of Bahrain.[18]The trio were classified seventh in the GTE Am class championship.
Pedersen's Le Mans Cup campaign took place with Danish team GMB Motorsport, where he piloted aHonda NSX GT3.[19]He joined the team due to their long-term goal to compete at Le Mans in 2024, with the GT3 class being introduced to the race that year.[20]Although he did not compete in the full season, being replaced byJan Magnussenafter the Monza round,[21]Pedersen and co-driver Lars Engelbreckt Pedersen claimed one class victory over the course of five races.[22]
Pedersen's GT World Challenge Europe campaign was much more patchwork than his previous endeavors. After re-joining Dinamic Motorsport for an expected one-off at the24 Hours of Spa,Pedersen was asked to finish the season, joining Marius Nakken and Giorgio Roda in the team's Silver Cup entry.[23]Pedersen scored 12 points over the course of three races, finishing 22nd in the class championship.
Pedersen began his 2023 campaign by taking part in theAsian Le Mans Serieswith Herberth Motorsport.[24]During the four-race championship, the returning trio from the previous season's WEC entry tallied two top-five finishes and finished sixth in the championship. Pedersen's season continued with a full-season drive in the 2023 edition of the World Endurance Championship, albeit with a different team. He joinedDempsey-Proton Racing,driving alongside team principalChristian Riedand FrenchmanJulien Andlauer.[25]In the trio's first race, the2023 1000 Miles of Sebring,the team claimed a podium finish.[26]They claimed their first and only victory of the season at Monza in July, and would end up finishing fourth in the GTE Am class championship.[27]At the end of the season, Pedersen drove a Proton-suppliedOreca 07at the Bahrain rookie test.[28]
The Dane remained at Proton for the2024 season,driving alongsideDennis Olsenand Giorgio Roda in the newly-formedLMGT3class.[29]The trio scored points in two of the opening three races, before taking a podium at theLe Mans 24 Hours,with Pedersen and Olsen performing especially well during Sunday morning.[30]
Racing record
editCareer summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Danish Formula Ford Championship - Zetec | DP Engineering | 20 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 96 | 8th |
| Formula Ford 1600 Nordic | 3 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 11 | 10th | ||
| 2015 | Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia | Norges Racing Team | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 113 | 4th |
| Swedish GT Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 5th | ||
| Porsche Supercup | Land Motorsport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| 2016 | Porsche Supercup | MRS-GT Racing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 23rd |
| 24H Series - 991 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | ||
| 2017 | Porsche Supercup | MRS-GT Racing | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 13th |
| 2018 | Porsche Supercup | MRS-GT Racing | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 11th |
| 2019 | Porsche Supercup | Dinamic Motorsport | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 80 | 8th |
| Porsche Carrera Cup France | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | ||
| 2020 | GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup | Dinamic Motorsport | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Silver Cup | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 13th | ||
| Intercontinental GT Challenge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | ||
| 24H GT Series - GT3-Am | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | 1 | 24 | 6th | ||
| Danish Endurance Championship - Class 4 | Mikkel O. Pedersen Racing | 4 | 3 | ? | ? | 3 | 179 | 2nd | |
| Special Saloon Car - Extreme Denmark | ? | ? | 1 | ? | ? | 1 | 9th | ||
| 2021 | GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup | Dinamic Motorsport | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 32nd |
| Danish Endurance Championship - Class 5 | Mikkel O. Pedersen Racing | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | 1 | ? | ? | |
| 2022 | FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am | Team Project 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 71 | 7th |
| Le Mans Cup - GT3 | GMB Motorsport | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 57 | 5th | |
| GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup | Dinamic Motorsport | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Silver Cup | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 22nd | ||
| 2023 | Asian Le Mans Series - GT | Herberth Motorsport | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 6th |
| FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am | Dempsey-Proton Racing | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 80 | 4th | |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF | ||
| 2024 | FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 | Proton Competition | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 37* | 8th* |
*Season still in progress.
Complete Porsche Supercup results
edit(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position) (Races initalicsindicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Land Motorsport | CAT |
MON |
RBR |
SIL |
HUN |
SPA |
SPA |
MNZ |
MNZ |
COA C |
COA DSQ |
NC | 0 |
| 2016 | MRS-GT Racing | CAT 12 |
MON Ret |
RBR |
SIL |
HUN |
HOC Ret |
SPA |
MNZ |
COA |
COA |
23rd | 4 | |
| 2017 | MRS-GT Racing | CAT 16 |
CAT 12 |
MON 10 |
RBR 18 |
SIL Ret |
HUN 24† |
SPA 14 |
SPA 12 |
MNZ 15 |
MEX 8 |
MEX 10 |
13th | 37 |
| 2018 | MRS-GT Racing | CAT 12 |
MON 5 |
RBR 20 |
SIL 16 |
HOC 6 |
HUN 14 |
SPA 15 |
MNZ 27† |
MEX Ret |
MEX 10 |
11th | 39 | |
| 2019 | Dinamic Motorsport | CAT 6 |
MON 2 |
RBR 6 |
SIL 7 |
HOC Ret |
HUN 16 |
SPA 10 |
MNZ 4 |
MEX Ret |
MEX 6 |
8th | 80 |
† – Driver did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.
Complete GT World Challenge Europe results
editGT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
edit(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position; races initalicsindicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Dinamic Motorsport | Porsche 911 GT3 R | Silver | IMO 16 |
NÜR 31 |
SPA 6H 38 |
SPA 12H 48 |
SPA 24H Ret |
LEC 23 |
13th | 30 | |
| 2021 | Dinamic Motorsport | Porsche 911 GT3 R | Pro | MON 10 |
LEC 12 |
SPA 6H 43 |
SPA 12H Ret |
SPA 24H Ret |
NÜR 36† |
CAT 19 |
32nd | 1 |
| 2022 | Dinamic Motorsport | Porsche 911 GT3 R | Silver | IMO |
LEC |
SPA 6H 33 |
SPA 12H 35 |
SPA 24H 25 |
HOC 26 |
CAT Ret |
22nd | 12 |
† – Driver did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
edit(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position; races initalicsindicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Team Project 1 | LMGTE Am | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Porsche4.2LFlat-6 | SEB Ret |
SPA 5 |
LMS Ret |
MON 3 |
FUJ 6 |
BHR 1 |
7th | 71 | ||
| 2023 | Dempsey-Proton Racing | LMGTE Am | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Porsche4.2LFlat-6 | SEB 2 |
PRT 7 |
SPA 9 |
LMS Ret |
MNZ 1 |
FUJ 6 |
BHR 6 |
4th | 80 | |
| 2024 | Proton Competition | LMGT3 | Ford Mustang GT3 | FordCoyote5.4 LV8 | QAT 9 |
IMO Ret |
SPA 8 |
LMS 3 |
SÃO 13 |
COA NC |
FUJ 16 |
BHR | 13th* | 37* |
*Season still in progress.
Complete Asian Le Mans Series results
edit(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position; races initalicsindicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Herberth Motorsport | GT | Porsche 911 GT3 R | Porsche4.0 LFlat-6 | DUB 1 5 |
DUB 2 16 |
ABU 1 9 |
ABU 2 4 |
6th | 24 |
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
edit| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 |  Team Project 1
|
 Matteo Cairoli Nicolas Leutwiler
|
Porsche 911 RSR-19 | GTE Am |
77 | DNF | DNF |
| 2023 | Dempsey-Proton Racing
|
 Julien AndlauerChristian Ried
|
Porsche 911 RSR-19 | GTE Am |
118 | DNF | DNF |
| 2024 | Proton Competition
|
 Dennis OlsenGiorgio Roda
|
Ford Mustang GT3 | LMGT3 | 280 | 30th | 3rd |
References
edit- ^abHedegaard Nielsen, Lars (15 March 2022)."Hele familien jubler: Drengedrømmen der gik i opfyldelse"[The whole family rejoices: the boyhood dream that came true].Struer Ugeavisen(in Danish).Retrieved20 March2023.
- ^abOrup Kristensen, Oliver (22 February 2022)."Gyldne opkald sikrer dansker Le Mans-debut: - Vi går efter at vinde"[Golden calls ensure Dane's Le Mans debut: - We're going to win].TV 2(in Danish).Retrieved20 March2023.
- ^Fonager, Olav (26 June 2022)."Racerkører på jagt efter millioner - skal bruge samme beløb som Blue Fox"[Racing driver in search of millions - must spend the same amount as Blue Fox].TV Midtvest(in Danish).Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^"God sæsonstart i Formel Ford til Struer kørerne"[Good start to the season in Formula Ford for the Struer drivers].Motorsporten.dk(in Danish). 16 May 2012.Retrieved20 March2023.
- ^"Mikkel O. Pedersen's Career Course from Sport Karting to Club Championship".Mikkel O. Pedersen Racing.Retrieved20 March2023.
- ^"Mikkel O. deltog i Porsche Motorsport Super Cup shoot-out"[Mikkel O. participated in the Porsche Motorsport Super Cup shoot-out].Motorsporten.dk(in Danish). 8 October 2015.Retrieved20 March2023.
- ^Jensen, Jens (10 March 2017)."Mikkel O. Pedersen signs Porsche Supercup contract".Racing24-7.Retrieved20 March2023.
- ^Jensen, Jens (28 May 2018)."Good Monaco race for PMSC".Racing24-7.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Jensen, Jens (6 March 2019)."Fifth season for Mikkel O."Racing24-7.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Majgaard, Niklas (26 May 2019)."MIKKEL O. PEDERSEN TAGER FØRSTE PODIE I PORSCHE SUPERCUP"[Mikkel O. Pedersen takes first podium in the Porsche Supercup].Boxengasse(in Danish).Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^"Mikkel O. Pedersen med i toppen i Mexico"[Mikkel O. Pedersen with the top in Mexico].Motorsporten.dk(in Danish). 5 November 2019.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^"Mikkel O. Pedersen fik tredjeplads i Dubai"[Mikkel O. Pedersen got third place in Dubai].Motorsporten.dk(in Danish). 14 January 2020.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Goodwin, Graham (11 March 2020)."GT World Challenge Europe News Notebook".Dailysportscar.Retrieved21 March2023.
He will be joined by 23-year-old Danish racer Mikkel Overgaard Pedersen, who switches from the team's Porsche Supercup programme.
- ^"Mikkel O. Pedersen var få sekunder fra sejren"[Mikkel O. Pedersen was a few seconds away from victory].Motorsporten.dk(in Danish). 27 July 2020.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Plümer, Jonas (1 March 2021)."GT World Challenge Europe: Dinamic Motorsport bestätigt zweites Endurance Cup-Trio"[GT World Challenge Europe: Dinamic Motorsport confirms second Endurance Cup trio].GT-Place(in German).Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Lloyd, Daniel (12 March 2022)."Leutwiler Completes No. 46 Project 1 Porsche Crew".Sportscar365.John Dagys Media.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Fernandez, Mat (10 July 2022)."Alpine Win Epic 6 Hours Of Monza Corvette Snatch Last Gasp GTE Pro Victory, Huge Accident For TF Sport Aston Martin".Dailysportscar.Retrieved21 March2023.
Matteo Cairoli, Mikkel Pedersen and Nicolas Lautwiller took final spot on the podium.
- ^Euwema, Davey (12 November 2022)."No. 7 Toyota Wins Bahrain Finale; Sister Car Takes Title".Sportscar365.John Dagys Media.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^"Mikkel O. Pedersen:" Det var en rigtig god oplevelse ""[Mikkel O. Pedersen: "It was a really good experience" ].Alticar(in Danish). 2 March 2022.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Munk Strægaard, Morten (21 December 2021)."Mikkel O. bliver del af Le Mans-projekt"[Mikkel O. becomes part of the Le Mans project].Dagbladet Holstebro-Struer(in Danish).Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Goodwin, Graham (16 August 2022)."Jan Magnussen Joins GMB Motorsport For Remainder Of 2022".Dailysportscar.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Lloyd, Daniel (4 July 2022)."Weekly Racing Roundup (7.4.22)".Sportscar365.John Dagys Media.Retrieved21 March2023.
Lars and Mikkel O. Pedersen took class honors in their GMB Motorsport Honda NSX GT3 Evo22 after starting from the rear of the grid.
- ^"Mikkel O. Pedersen atter til start for Dinamic Motorsport"[Mikkel O. Pedersen is back at the start for Dinamic Motorsport].Motorsport Danmark(in Danish). 1 September 2022.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^"Mikkel O. Pedersen:" Godt at komme i gang igen ""[Mikkel O. Pedersen: "Good to get started again" ].Motorsport Danmark(in Danish). 21 February 2023.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Kilbey, Stephen (9 March 2023)."Sebring 1000M Preview: Part 1, GTE AM".Dailysportscar.Retrieved21 March2023.
#77 Dempsey-Proton labeled 911 will be driven by team owner Christian Ried, Dane Mikkel Pedersen and rapid Frenchman Julien Andlauer.
- ^"Porsche teams face huge challenges at the WEC season opener".Porsche Newsroom.17 March 2023.Retrieved21 March2023.
- ^Kilbey, Stephen (9 July 2023)."Toyota finds redemption with victory at WEC Monza 6 Hours".Racer.Retrieved17 November2023.
GTE Am, meanwhile, was won by the No. 77 Dempsey Proton Porsche of Julien Andlauer, Christian Ried and Mikkel Pedersen.
- ^Dagys, John (5 November 2023)."Hyett Set for Proton Effort in Asia as IMSA LMP2 Prep".Sportscar365.John Dagys Media.Retrieved17 November2023.
Hyett is turning laps in one of the soon-to-be Proton Orecas alongside Harry Tincknell and Mikkel Pedersen in Sunday's WEC rookie test...
- ^Dagys, John (17 January 2024)."Proton Sets Ford LMGT3 Lineups".Sportscar365.John Dagys Media.Archivedfrom the original on 17 January 2024.Retrieved17 January2024.
- ^"Manthey Claims First LMGT3 Victory At Le Mans".dailysportscar.Retrieved2024-06-18.