BRASELTON, Ga. (Oct. 14, 2023) – Lexus secured the GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship at the Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Saturday. Ben Barnicoat and Jack Hawksworth also won the GTD PRO Drivers title, and the Vasser Sullivan No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 clinched the GTD PRO Team championship. It marks the first full-season IMSA GT titles for Lexus and Vasser Sullivan, as well as Hawksworth and Barnicoat.

Hawksworth and Barnicoat had podium finishes in nine of the 11 races this season, including wins at the Long Beach street circuit and Watkins Glen International. Hawksworth also led the GTD PRO class with four pole positions this year, winning the 2023 Motul Pole Award for most poles in class. Hawksworth has been with the Lexus GT program since 2017, while Barnicoat has raced the RC F GT3 for two seasons. Endurance racers Kyle Kirkwood and Mike Conway also contributed to the Manufacturers title with endurance race starts in the Lexus RC F GT3 this season.

Lexus and Vasser Sullivan previously won the 2020 IMSA GTD Sprint Cup Championship as the top team across all of the sprint races that season.

Aaron Telitz and Frankie Montecalvo finished the 2023 season third in the IMSA GTD championship. They were joined by endurance racer Parker Thompson during the four endurance events this year. The highlight of the season for the No. 12 RC F GT3 came at Watkins Glen International in June when the trio dominated and won the six-hour endurance event, giving Lexus and Vasser Sullivan the first double victory in program history.

The 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season begins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 27 and 28.

Vasser Sullivan Driver Quotes

JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

What does it mean to win the first GT championship for Lexus in your seventh season?

“It’s been amazing. I’ve been with the program since it was formed at the end of 2016, and to see it grow has been incredible. It’s been quite the journey really. I just feel very grateful and thankful to Lexus and TRD and Vasser Sullivan who have stood by me and put their trust in me for a long time. To finally get a championship alongside two fantastic drivers in Ben (Barnicoat) and Kyle (Kirkwood), it’s been a dream come true for me this year. It’s been an awesome journey and I’m very proud of what we achieved this year.”

What does it mean to get the GTD PRO championship with the Lexus RC F GT3?

“It means a lot to get one with the RC F GT3 for sure. Over these seven years, we’ve found ways to squeeze more out of it every single year. Getting 1% better every couple of months. There’s advantages and disadvantages to having a car which has been around for longer. Right now, we have a car which is capable of winning races, and we know how to use it. From that perspective, it’s an advantage for us as well.”

BEN BARNICOAT, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

What does it mean to win the GTD PRO championship in your second season with the Lexus and Vasser Sullivan program?

“It’s been phenomenal. If you would’ve told me two years ago that I’d be a GTD PRO champion, I don’t know if I would’ve believed it or not. It’s been awesome racing alongside Jack (Hawksworth). All of the Vasser Sullivan engineers have given us an amazing Lexus RC F GT3. I’ve been able to slot into the family exceptionally well, and I plan on staying around and hopefully getting a few more titles.”

KYLE KIRKWOOD, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

What does it mean for you to see the team accomplish this success this year?

“It’s amazing. The amount that this team has grown over the past years. The amount that they’ve filled in their shoes and how much better they’ve gotten over the years is phenomenal. The fact that the Lexus RC F GT3 has been in circulation for so long and now it seemed like a very dominant year for Vasser Sullivan and Lexus is something that is so cool against these manufacturers that have been involved for many decades. I’m proud to be a part of it. I’m happy to continue this journey with them and watch them succeed.”

JEFF BAL, Senior Manager | Lexus Motorsports, Experiential Marketing & Sponsorships

What does it mean to have Vasser Sullivan earn the first GT championship for Lexus?

“Congratulations to Jack (Hawksworth) and Ben (Barnicoat) and Kyle (Kirkwood) and everyone at Vasser Sullivan on this championship. To earn this championship with the Lexus RC F GT3 is truly an incredible accomplishment.”

What has the relationship been like with Vasser Sullivan?

“For all of us, it was a tremendous leap of faith. As we are with our dealer network, we’re fiercely loyal and we wouldn’t want to do this and couldn’t do this without anybody but Jimmy and Sulli and this team. That’s the future for us.”

AARON TELITZ, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

How was your race?

“Obviously, a massive disappointing day all around for the Vasser Sullivan team other than the 14 car taking the green flag and clinching the first ever GT championship for Lexus. Not much else went right for us today. Our car was really fast in the beginning of the race, but I noticed early on that we had a bit of an issue with the drive train, and it just never got better. By the time Parker (Thompson) got in about midway through the race, it was so bad that we had to stop and fix it and the guys did an amazing job to do an entire rear-end change on our car in about an hour and get us back out there to pick up valuable spots to clinch third in the GTD championship. Not the way we wanted to end the season and we would’ve liked the 12 car to finish higher in the championship but we’ll celebrate with our 14 boys and we’ll be back stronger next year.”

FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

How was your day?

“Crazy day. It’s kind of a shame. I felt like we had a car there to be able to battle at the end. The team gave us a great car all weekend and we’re gutted from getting taken out from the top five. The Vasser Sullivan team did a phenomenal job changing the gearbox out and getting that done in 45 minutes to an hour. I think it’s going to make the difference in our championship points to get the car out there because it moved us up a couple spots and I think that will be what it takes to clinch third in the championship. Congratulations to the entire 14 team and Jack and Ben for winning the GTD PRO championship. I want to thank everyone at Vasser Sullivan and Lexus for another great season.”

PARKER THOMPSON, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

How was your race?

“Unfortunately, not the way we wanted it to end for the 12 side. We had a fast Lexus RC F GT3 today, but some gearbox issues about four hours in took a pretty easy ride in the top three down to scrapping away to get as much points as we could to seal up third in the championship for Aaron (Telitz) and Frankie (Montecalvo). They so deserve it. I can’t thank them enough as teammates. I’m glad to help get them third in the championship. Then, on the other side of the garage, to see the 14 boys – Jack (Hawksworth) and Ben (Barnicoat) along with Kyle Kirkwood win the championship. So deserving for them. Huge congrats to Ben, Jack and Kyle. Couldn’t pick three guys that deserve it more.”