SALINAS, Calif. (May 14, 2024) – In the return of the GTD PRO class this weekend on the Course De Monterey at Laguna Seca, Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat completed fourth-place within the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 on Sunday. The No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 with Parker Thompson and Frankie Montecalvo completed ninth within the GTD class.

Hawksworth began from the fourth place on the GTD PRO grid Sunday afternoon, holding regular throughout the race’s first two stints. With an hour remaining within the dash race, Hawksworth handed the No. 14 over to Barnicoat to complete the race. The Brit cycled out in fifth place from the cease, however methodically chased down and overtook the No. 3 automotive with 10 minutes remaining to say the fourth place on the end. The No. 14 Vasser Sullivan group sits second within the GTD PRO driver’s standings with right this moment’s consequence.

The No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 group ended Sunday’s race at Laguna Seca within the ninth place of the GTD class after starting the day fifth. Montecalvo began within the No. 12, working between fourth and seventh place throughout the early parts of the race. After an early-race warning, Montecalvo cycled to the entrance of the GTD discipline and led seven laps throughout the first pit cease cycle. Thompson jumped into the No. 12 RC F GT3 with an hour and 21 minutes remaining, working as excessive as second throughout pit cease cycles. However, the group wanted yet one more warning to make their technique work, which didn’t happen they usually earned a ninth-place end.

The Vasser Sullivan Lexus group returns to motion in a dash race at Detroit Grand Prix on Saturday, June 1. To sustain with all of the racing motion, comply with Lexus Racing on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by utilizing #LexusEfficiency.

Vasser Sullivan Driver Quotes

JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
How was the race right this moment for the No. 14 group?
“Just a really solid day and solid weekend. We tested here a few weeks ago, knowing this place (Laguna Seca) is always tough for us. After the test, the engineers and mechanics all came up with some really good ideas to come back with and we made the Lexus RC F GT3 competitive. We had a really strong effort in qualifying yesterday to put us fourth on the grid and then in the race this afternoon, we were in the fight, just didn’t have the pace to battle for the podium. We hung in there all day and think we finished higher than what we showed pace-wise, which is all you can do. P4 on the day, happy with that, good set of points and now we head to Detroit, Watkins Glen and Mosport, which are places that have been really good to us. Our Vasser Sullivan team will focus and get our heads down.”

BEN BARNICOAT, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
Coming residence in fourth place, what was your race like?
“Today was just one of those days where early on, I think we realized we didn’t have the pace to win the race, so then you look towards strategy, right? What can we do? What can’t we do? I think everyone here at Vasser Sullivan and Lexus optimized what we had today. From a strategy point-of-view, the overcut looked quite powerful in the first pit stop, which helped us move forward a bit into second, but we dropped back to fourth as we didn’t quite have the pace to hang on. And then, we tried another overcut at the end in the last pit stop cycle, and we were undercut by a competitor and came out in fifth. But, I was able to get back forward at the end there past the No. 3. It was a tough race, obviously gave it everything we had. I think we have to see a fourth-place finish as almost like an internal win. That was the best we had, and on days when you’re not quite quick enough, you just have to do your best. Proud of everyone here for doing that. Jack (Hawksworth) had a great run and kept the car clean and in one piece, as I did in my run. Great to come out of this race second in the driver’s standings. Looking forward to Detroit.”

PARKER THOMPSON, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
How would you describe your race as soon as getting within the automotive?
“Today is a perfect day to describe sprint, endurance racing. We were in a perfect position, had a really fast Lexus RC F GT3, but unfortunately, a yellow came out 30 seconds before we needed it to, and that means we missed getting into the pits on schedule. It basically put us a lap down on the road. Apart from that, the No. 12 team did an awesome job with a great strategy to put us in contention to compete for a win. But we didn’t get another yellow like we needed, which meant I was saving (fuel) and battling for a position lower than we had hoped. But we live to fight another day. We’re all hungry. I know it sounds like a broken record, but this No. 12 crew deserves more, and we’re locked in for the upcoming rounds. I think we’re going to get a win.”

FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
Can you are taking us by your day and the way these cautions affected technique?
“I think we had a good car and something to battle with at the end there. All in all, the Vasser Sullivan team did a great job. We just kind of got held out by a yellow, which was just in the worst time, and then we didn’t get the yellow we needed. So, a top-10 finish in this one and onto the next.”

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