DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2024) – Lexus Racing and Vasser Sullivan will lead the GTD class to inexperienced within the 62nd Rolex 24 at Daytona after claiming their first pole place on the famed endurance race by Parker Thompson and the No. 12 RC F GT3. Lexus manufacturing unit driver, Jack Hawksworth, simply missed out on capturing pole place as nicely in GTD PRO, qualifying second within the class within the No. 14 RC F GT3, which begins its championship protection this weekend. Hawksworth and Thompson certified second and third, respectively, out of 37 whole GT entries.

The 25-year-old Thompson, now operating full time with Lexus and Vasser Sullivan, captured his first profession sequence pole with time of 1:44.494 on the three.56-mile Daytona street course. Thompson’s time claimed the GTD pole by a mere 4 one-hundredths of a second. Thompson made his sequence debut final season serving because the endurance driver for the workforce, and now takes on the total IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship schedule in 2024.

Joining the younger Canadian within the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan RC F GT3, can be Vasser Sullivan veterans Frankie Montecalvo and Aaron Telitz, together with first-timer and Toyota Gazoo Racing driver, Ritomo Miyata. Montecalvo enters his sixth full-time season driving the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 within the GTD class. Last season, he and Telitz completed third within the GTD class standings and captured victory at Watkins Glen. Telitz returns for his fifth season with Lexus and Vasser Sullivan, now as an endurance driver. Miyata is the ultimate addition to the No. 12 entry for the celebrated endurance race, making his debut within the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. The 24-year-old is the reigning Super Formula and Super GT500 Champion and also will be contesting the Formula 2 championship and the European Le Mans Series in 2024, together with serving because the reserve driver for the Toyota Gazoo Racing WEC Hypercar workforce.

Though he missed out on pole place by eight one-hundredths of a second, Hawksworth positioned the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan RC F GT3 in prime place when the inexperienced flies for the Rolex 24. The Bradford, England native and fellow Lexus manufacturing unit driver, Ben Barnicoat, start their GTD PRO class championship protection after capturing the primary full-season GT title for Lexus and Vasser Sullivan final season. En path to final 12 months’s championship, Hawksworth and Barnicoat scored victories at Long Beach and Watkins Glen to accomplice with 4 pole positions and 9 podium finishes in 11 races. Now of their third season collectively, they’re centered on successful the largest race in American sportscar racing after ending third final January.

Hawksworth and Barnicoat can be joined by Toyota Gazoo Racing driver Mike Conway, together with INDYCAR racer and Florida native, Kyle Kirkwood for this 12 months’s race. Both drivers additionally competed for Vasser Sullivan within the Rolex 24 final season within the No. 14 and No. 12 RC F GT3 entries. Conway brings in depth endurance race expertise with him making his seventh begin within the Rolex 24, together with a third-place end with Hawksworth and Barnicoat final 12 months. For Kirkwood, this can be his fourth begin within the endurance occasion with a greatest end of fourth in 2022 with Hawksworth and Barnicoat.

Twenty twenty-four marks the eighth season Lexus Racing is fielding RC F GT3s in IMSA competitors and the sixth season Lexus and Vasser Sullivan will race collectively within the GT classes. Over their partnership, Lexus Racing and Vasser Sullivan have amassed 13 wins, 39 podium finishes, 18 pole positions, the 2023 IMSA GTD PRO Driver, Team, and Manufacturer Championship, and the 2020 IMSA Sprint Cup titles.

The Rolex 24 at Daytona can be broadcast dwell on NBC beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 27 with extra tv protection all through the race on USA Network. Live flag-to-flag protection may even be streaming on Peacock for authenticated subscribers. 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
What’s your outlook for the race beginning on the entrance row?
“We feel like we’ve prepared well for the race with our Lexus RC F GT3. Obviously coming off the championship last year, we’ve kept the same people and crew on our Vasser Sullivan team to go along with good consistency in our driver lineup. Mike (Conway) did the Rolex with us last year and Kyle (Kirkwood) did a lot of endurance races, along with Ben (Barnicoat) and I coming back together again. We’ve continued to build since last year. We feel positive about everything, but the thing with this race is that you never really know until the last two or three hours. We’ll have to wait and see, but will give it our best from a good starting spot.”

BEN BARNICOAT, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
How does the robust qualifying effort construct confidence for the workforce heading into the Rolex 24?
“As a group for Lexus and Vasser Sullivan, it’s a great way to start off the year with a pole in GTD and a second starting spot in GTD PRO. From our side on the No. 14 RC F GT3, to start on the front row for a prestigious race as this is amazing. Jack (Hawksworth) has always done a super job in qualifying. On the 12 car side, so happy and excited for them with Parker (Thompson) getting the pole in his first GTD attempt. That’s very special and shows that even though we were champions last year, we’re not resting, and we’ve continued to work, especially the guys on the Vasser Sullivan team and Lexus. We’ve all worked extremely hard in the offseason to allow us to arrive here and start the year leading the field. Very excited to get to the race.”

KYLE KIRKWOOD, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
How has all the pieces gone thus far main as much as the race this weekend?
“So far, so good for our No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 Vasser Sullivan team. Really happy with the performance of the car and team. Everything has been very smooth so far which is exactly what you want going into a 24-hour race. The fact that we have some pace gives us confidence and everyone on the team is gelling well. Things have happened at this race in the first lap over the years, so being at the front and staying up there to keep our nose clean will help us avoid those situations happening behind us. Super proud of Parker (Thompson) getting pole in the GTD class, and Jack qualifying P2 is great. Really excited for this weekend.”

MIKE CONWAY, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
How is it being again with Lexus and Vasser Sullivan within the Rolex 24?
“Great to be back with Vasser Sullivan in the Lexus RC F GT3, driving a championship-winning car. I knew the guys were doing a great job last year when I was with them, so to see them win the championship at the end was great. Getting back in the car and used to the nuances of going fast around here. Good qualifying overall, starting in the front of the field. Looking forward to race day.”

PARKER THOMPSON, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
How does it really feel to say pole on the Rolex 24 and what’s your outlook for the race?
“One for one in GTD qualifying, getting pole at Daytona! Doesn’t get much better than that. It’s incredible to think I was spotting here two years ago and now I’m taking my first pole in a Lexus RC F GT3. I can’t thank the Vasser Sullivan team and Lexus Racing enough for the opportunity. Getting the first Rolex 24 pole for the team and Lexus is neat. I still have a lot to learn going into the race this weekend, but we’re starting from the best spot with the best driver lineup. There’s no reason we can’t compete for a Rolex watch on Sunday. Excited to see what we can make happen.”

FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
What does a pole on the Rolex 24 imply for all the workforce heading into the race?
“The team did a phenomenal job in a hectic qualifying, getting out in a hole after the red flag since it was basically a two-lap shootout. Both cars did a phenomenal job. Parker did an awesome job in his first qualifying effort in the No. 12 RC F GT3, putting us on pole for the Rolex 24, which is amazing. It’d be good to stay up at the front, away from all the hectic stuff in the back. Phenomenal start to the racing season that brings along some good points with the pole, so that will help us down the line considering to how many points it took for us to get third in the championship. We can take everything we can get early on. The Vasser Sullivan team has been firing on all cylinders this weekend. Our Lexus RC F GT3 keeps getting better and better, and the team keeps functioning as a complete family. I have complete confidence going into the race.”

AARON TELITZ, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
What are your ideas and emotions heading into the race this weekend?
“The Vasser Sullivan team is operating at such a high level just like we were all last season, carrying it over into 2024. The team has been working great. Ritomo (Miyata) has been awesome and is a great addition to the No. 12 RC F GT3 team. Parker (Thompson) sticking it on pole for the Rolex 24 has us on cloud 9. We’re really excited for this weekend.”

RITOMO MIYATA, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
Can you discuss your expertise thus far on the Rolex 24 and what you’re anticipating this weekend?
“My first time racing in the U.S. has been great. The Vasser Sullivan team and my teammates have been kind to me so far. I’m trying to take everything step-by-step with the difference in the RC F GT3 compared to what I’ve raced before. It’s been very good overall. I’ve had a great time working with everyone at Vasser Sullivan and Lexus so far and the result from qualifying is great as well. Really proud of the team. It’s all been very enjoyable.”

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