Mikkel Overgaard Pedersen (born 26 January 1997) is a Danish racing driver who competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Dempsey-Proton Racing.

Mikkel Pedersen
NationalityDenmark Danish
Full nameMikkel Overgaard Pedersen
Born (1997-01-26) 26 January 1997 (age 27)
Struer, Denmark
FIA World Endurance Championship career
Debut season2022
Current teamDempsey-Proton Racing
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number77
Former teamsTeam Project 1
Starts13
Wins2
Podiums4
Poles0
Fastest laps2
Last updated on: 17 November 2023.

Career

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Early career

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Born in Struer, Denmark, Pedersen's racing career began in karting at 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 the Porsche Supercup on 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 Danish Formula Ford Championship with DP Engineering. Pedersen's opening season in the series saw him compete in the Zetec category, driving the car that teammate Morten Dons had piloted the year prior.[4] The following season, he stepped into Porsche racing, initially at a local level before expanding to the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia in 2015.[5] At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Pedersen traveled to the Lausitzring to take part in the annual Porsche Junior Shootout.[6]

Porsche Supercup

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Pedersen's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at Red Bull Ring in 2018.

Pedersen made his Supercup debut at the end of the 2015 season at Circuit 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 the 2016 Dubai 24 Hour. In 2017, he was able to compete for the full season,[7] tallying a best finish of eighth at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. His second full-time season improved on the prior, with Pedersen registering three top-ten finishes including a fifth-place finish at Monaco[8] and a sixth-place finish at Hockenheim. At the conclusion of the 2018 season, he was named Motorsport Talent of the Year at the Danish Motorsport Awards.[1]

In 2019, Pedersen left MRS-GT Racing, taking part in his fifth year in the series with Italian outfit Dinamic 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 at Monza. He would finish eighth in the championship, racking up 80 championship points.[11]

GT3 and beyond

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In 2020, Pedersen continued with Dinamic for the team's globe-trotting GT3 program for the year. In January, he began the season at the Dubai 24 Hour, finishing on the GT3-Am class podium.[12] Pedersen's primary program for the season was a drive in the GT 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 at Imola, 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 as Romain Dumas replaced 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 the FIA 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 of Team Project 1's GTE Am class entries, joining Matteo Cairoli and Nicolas Leutwiler.[16] With full-season entries guaranteeing a spot at the 24 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, the 8 Hours of Bahrain.[18] The trio were classified seventh in the GTE Am class championship.

 
Pedersen's Honda NSX GT3 at Circuit de la Sarthe in 2022.

Pedersen's Le Mans Cup campaign took place with Danish team GMB Motorsport, where he piloted a Honda 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 by Jan Magnussen after 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 the 24 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 the Asian Le Mans Series with 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 joined Dempsey-Proton Racing, driving alongside team principal Christian Ried and Frenchman Julien Andlauer.[25] In the trio's first race, the 2023 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-supplied Oreca 07 at the Bahrain rookie test.[28]

The Dane remained at Proton for the 2024 season, driving alongside Dennis Olsen and Giorgio Roda in the newly-formed LMGT3 class.[29] The trio scored points in two of the opening three races, before taking a podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours, with Pedersen and Olsen performing especially well during Sunday morning.[30]

Racing record

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Career summary

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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

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate 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

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GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate 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

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate 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 Porsche 4.2L Flat-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 Porsche 4.2L Flat-6 SEB
2
PRT
7
SPA
9
LMS
Ret
MNZ
1
FUJ
6
BHR
6
4th 80
2024 Proton Competition LMGT3 Ford Mustang GT3 Ford Coyote 5.4 L V8 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

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 Rank Points
2023 Herberth Motorsport GT Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DUB
1

5
DUB
2

16
ABU
1

9
ABU
2

4
6th 24

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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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 Andlauer
  Christian Ried
Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Am
118 DNF DNF
2024   Proton Competition   Dennis Olsen
  Giorgio Roda
Ford Mustang GT3 LMGT3 280 30th 3rd

References

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  1. ^ a b Hedegaard 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). Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b Orup 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). Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  3. ^ 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). Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  4. ^ "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. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Mikkel O. Pedersen's Career Course from Sport Karting to Club Championship". Mikkel O. Pedersen Racing. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  6. ^ "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. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  7. ^ Jensen, Jens (10 March 2017). "Mikkel O. Pedersen signs Porsche Supercup contract". Racing24-7. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  8. ^ Jensen, Jens (28 May 2018). "Good Monaco race for PMSC". Racing24-7. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  9. ^ Jensen, Jens (6 March 2019). "Fifth season for Mikkel O." Racing24-7. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  10. ^ 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). Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Mikkel O. Pedersen med i toppen i Mexico" [Mikkel O. Pedersen with the top in Mexico]. Motorsporten.dk (in Danish). 5 November 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Mikkel O. Pedersen fik tredjeplads i Dubai" [Mikkel O. Pedersen got third place in Dubai]. Motorsporten.dk (in Danish). 14 January 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  13. ^ Goodwin, Graham (11 March 2020). "GT World Challenge Europe News Notebook". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 21 March 2023. He will be joined by 23-year-old Danish racer Mikkel Overgaard Pedersen, who switches from the team's Porsche Supercup programme.
  14. ^ "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. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  15. ^ 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). Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  16. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (12 March 2022). "Leutwiler Completes No. 46 Project 1 Porsche Crew". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  17. ^ 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. Retrieved 21 March 2023. Matteo Cairoli, Mikkel Pedersen and Nicolas Lautwiller took final spot on the podium.
  18. ^ Euwema, Davey (12 November 2022). "No. 7 Toyota Wins Bahrain Finale; Sister Car Takes Title". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Mikkel O. Pedersen: "Det var en rigtig god oplevelse"" [Mikkel O. Pedersen: "It was a really good experience"]. Alticar (in Danish). 2 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  20. ^ 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). Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  21. ^ Goodwin, Graham (16 August 2022). "Jan Magnussen Joins GMB Motorsport For Remainder Of 2022". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  22. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (4 July 2022). "Weekly Racing Roundup (7.4.22)". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 21 March 2023. Lars and Mikkel O. Pedersen took class honors in their GMB Motorsport Honda NSX GT3 Evo22 after starting from the rear of the grid.
  23. ^ "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. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Mikkel O. Pedersen: "Godt at komme i gang igen"" [Mikkel O. Pedersen: "Good to get started again"]. Motorsport Danmark (in Danish). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  25. ^ Kilbey, Stephen (9 March 2023). "Sebring 1000M Preview: Part 1, GTE AM". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 21 March 2023. #77 Dempsey-Proton labeled 911 will be driven by team owner Christian Ried, Dane Mikkel Pedersen and rapid Frenchman Julien Andlauer.
  26. ^ "Porsche teams face huge challenges at the WEC season opener". Porsche Newsroom. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  27. ^ Kilbey, Stephen (9 July 2023). "Toyota finds redemption with victory at WEC Monza 6 Hours". Racer. Retrieved 17 November 2023. GTE Am, meanwhile, was won by the No. 77 Dempsey Proton Porsche of Julien Andlauer, Christian Ried and Mikkel Pedersen.
  28. ^ Dagys, John (5 November 2023). "Hyett Set for Proton Effort in Asia as IMSA LMP2 Prep". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 17 November 2023. 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...
  29. ^ Dagys, John (17 January 2024). "Proton Sets Ford LMGT3 Lineups". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Manthey Claims First LMGT3 Victory At Le Mans". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
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