Both RC F GT3s Lead Field throughout 24-hour race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 29, 2024) – Lexus and Vasser Sullivan confirmed great battle and willpower throughout the 62nd Rolex 24 at Daytona after claiming entrance row positions for the 24-hour endurance occasion, nonetheless the outcomes didn’t showcase the workforce’s total efficiency. Challenges on the race monitor resulted in an 11th-place end for the No. 14 RC F GT3 within the GTD PRO class and a 15th-place end for the No. 12 RC F GT3 within the GTD class.
Starting from pole place, the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 was in competition for the GTD class win all through the 24 hours. Aaron Telitz began the race sharing the automobile with Parker Thompson over the primary few stints, the place the No. 12 RC F GT3 was the dominant automobile early on. After pacing the sphere for many of the first three hours, they handed the wheel to Ritomo Miyata who additionally led the race in his Rolex 24 debut, operating within the top-two the vast majority of his first run late Saturday afternoon.
Frankie Montecalvo jumped within the No. 12 for a double stint as dusk came to visit Daytona International Speedway and ran a constant tempo. Once a yellow flag waved with a little bit greater than 17 hours remaining, Telitz jumped again within the Vasser Sullivan Lexus, going from fourth to first on the following restart. He and Thompson managed to battle for the lead all through the night time hours and stayed inside the prime 5 Sunday morning. On the ultimate pit cease, nonetheless, with Thompson preventing for a podium place, the automobile caught fireplace within the pit lane, which led to a retirement and a fifteenth place end. In complete, the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 led 146 laps.
The No. 14 RC F GT3 began their GTD PRO title protection by overcoming early adversity within the Rolex 24 to complete in eleventh place with drivers Jack Hawksworth, Ben Barnicoat, Kyle Kirkwood and Mike Conway. Starting second, Barnicoat took the early lead for the primary 40 minutes of the race, main 14 laps. At the primary pit cease, Conway hopped within the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus for his first stint, however was hit by a spinning competitor on the following restart which put the workforce within the storage for repairs. Through unbelievable teamwork and effectivity, the crew completed all changes in simply over an hour to get the automobile again out within the race.
By clicking off laps and staying out of hassle, the No. 14 workforce was capable of get again into the highest ten by midnight as different rivals confronted their very own points. Unfortunately, the automobile needed to retire in hour 16 of the 24-hour endurance occasion on account of overheating points and finally got here house eleventh.
The Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3s return to motion at Sebring International Raceway for the 12 Hours of Sebring on Saturday, March 16. Live flag-to-flag protection will probably be on Peacock for authenticated subscribers, together with tv protection on the USA Network from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. To sustain with all of the racing motion, observe Lexus Racing on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by utilizing #LexusEfficiency.
Vasser Sullivan Driver Quotes
PARKER THOMPSON, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
How would you describe your efficiency and the workforce’s efficiency on the Rolex 24?
“Up until the last hour, the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus team did absolutely everything right. From the drivers to the pit crew, the engineers, we were the definition of perfection. To have it go away like that has me lost for words honestly. I can’t thank my teammates enough. Particularly Aaron Telitz who did a triple stint there at the end. We wouldn’t have been in that position without his effort. The pit box did an amazing job to keep us in the top race all day long. Unfortunately, we have to wait another 12 months to get another crack at it.”
FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
How was your race with the Lexus RC F GT3 earlier than what transpired within the final hour?
“It was a tough end to the day today. I feel like we were in the top two spots the entire time. It’s a hard blow to end this way. The No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus team did a phenomenal job. Qualifying on pole and then controlling the race for a while. We didn’t have contact until something inadvertent later in the race, which provided some damage. To end like this is a tough one. We had a great run going and had some great points going for us. Going out of the race early like this is tough for us and the team. But I know the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus team will get this thing back together and we’ll be ready for Sebring.”
AARON TELITZ, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
Can you’re taking us via the race for your self and all the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus workforce?
“I feel so bad for the Vasser Sullivan Lexus crew. I felt like we had a shot at the podium today. The whole team was operating at such a high level. To see it go away like that hurts a lot. My co-drivers did an amazing job throughout the race. Parker (Thompson), Frankie (Montecalvo) and Ritomo (Miyata) absolutely nailed their stints. Everyone contributed and the pit stops were excellent. Just a big bummer at the end, but I know this team will regroup and we’ll be hungry for Sebring.”
RITOMO MIYATA, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
Can you describe your first expertise on the Rolex 24 and with the Vasser Sullivan Lexus workforce?
“I tried to take everything step-by-step since it was the first time for me at the Rolex 24 and with the Vasser Sullivan Lexus team. The main focus for my stints was to conserve the car overall, tires, fuel, brakes, everything else. Once we were able to do that, our focus shifted to the finish and the target was going for the win. Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way we had hoped.”
BEN BARNICOAT, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
Can you describe the eventful Rolex 24 that the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus workforce had?
“Yeah, obviously, on a day like today that we had as a group, team, and family, you can only look to the positives that came from this race. We had a great qualifying result last week and got to start the Rolex 24 from the front row for the first time and take the lead in the first corner, which was special. First stint felt like we had great pace in our Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3. We were in good control and comfortable, but what happened when Mike (Conway) was in the car was unavoidable. Wrong place, wrong time. That happens sometimes in motorsports. Just bummed for everyone that put so much effort into this race. We kept going after that incident to get as many points as we could. Fantastic job by the Vasser Sullivan crew to get the car ready to go. We were still able to get some points from the day and we did everything we could to maximize what we could. No one in this group deserves what happened to us and the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan RC F GT3 team today, but we are champions and we have a champion mindset. We have championship drive and we’re not going to let this race deter us from going on to achieve great things this year. We’re going to get our heads down and get ready for Sebring.”
MIKE CONWAY, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
What occurred to take the No. 14 out of the race early?
“Really gutted we had the incident there in the first hour of the race. Not much I could do to avoid the spinning car in front of me. Maybe I could’ve seen it coming, but once it happened, I had nowhere to go. I’m really disappointed as I thought we had a good shot at the podium, so unfortunate we couldn’t achieve that. Also bummed for the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus team as they had a great shot at a podium as well. Tough day for the entire Vasser Sullivan team, but they’re a strong team and they’ll come back swinging. Big thank you to Vasser Sullivan and Lexus for the opportunity to drive the car again. And thanks to Jack (Hawksworth), Ben (Barnicoat) and Kyle (Kirkwood) for helping me. Hopefully we get to do it again.”