SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2024) – The Vasser Sullivan No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 was victorious in Saturday’s Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway with drivers Jack Hawksworth, Ben Barnicoat and Kyle Kirkwood. The win marks the primary for Lexus and Vasser Sullivan within the historic 12-hour occasion.  

Hawksworth led the GT subject to the inexperienced flag on Saturday after incomes the primary Twelve Hours of Sebring pole place for Lexus and Vasser Sullivan in Friday’s qualifying session. He led your complete stint nonetheless following the primary pit cease the No. 14 Lexus was accessed a drive via for a pit street process penalty. The trio of drivers was in a position to work their approach again to the entrance of the GTD PRO subject with an important technique put in place by the Vasser Sullivan crew. They mixed to steer 133 laps across the 17-turn, 3.74-mile street course en path to this system’s third GTD PRO endurance victory.

Hawksworth, Barnicoat and Kirkwood gained the primary endurance race for Lexus and Vasser Sullivan within the 2022 Petit Le Mans, and Hawksworth and Barnicoat gained the 2023 Six Hours of the Glen final season. The driver trio completed second at Sebring only one yr in the past.

Lexus and Vasser Sullivan additionally claimed a Sebring victory on the Florida street course in 2020 with Hawksworth and Aaron Telitz, profitable a dash occasion added to the IMSA schedule that yr.

Parker Thompson, Frankie Montecalvo and Telitz completed 13^th within the GTD class in Saturday’s race.  

Thompson began second within the GTD subject and jumped into the category lead simply after crossing the start-finish line to start the race. The trio of drivers led 54 laps and ran within the top-10 the vast majority of the day nonetheless a number of racing incidents in the course of the 12-hour occasion would relegate the No. 12 staff to a 13^th-place end.

The Vasser Sullivan Lexus staff returns to motion on the Long Beach Street Circuit for the Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday, April 20.  To sustain with all of the racing motion, comply with Lexus Racing on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok through the use of #LexusEfficiency.

Vasser Sullivan Driver Quotes

JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

Can you discuss how a lot of a battle it was on the market on the finish right this moment?

“Yeah, it was. We knew it was going to be a battle. These long races, you have to do everything perfectly. Everyone has to do their job absolutely perfectly just to be there to even have a chance at the end. Then you just hope that the cards fall your way. As Ben (Barnicoat) touched upon, we had a tough day. But the team, we made good steps over the off-season. We wanted to come and show what we could do. This has been a proper bounce-back. Today everyone was perfect. We had the one obviously drive-through early in the race, a wobble there. Other than that, it was rock solid all day. The guys on pit lane were unbelievable. Ben (Barnicoat) and Kyle (Kirkwood) were absolute monsters out there. Yeah, we ended up in the fight there at the end. Come out on top. I couldn’t be prouder of everybody on this Lexus and Vasser Sullivan team.”

BEN BARNICOAT, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

How a lot does it imply to the Lexus and Vasser Sullivan organizations to win the 12 Hours of Sebring?

“This is big. Obviously big for the group. All the Lexus racing crew have been grinding, working so laborious, in search of perfection yr in and yr out. I’ve been fortunate to step in this system at such a superb time. First yr we acquired Atlanta with the Petit Le Mans win, which was extremely big. Last yr we gained Watkins Glen after which the championship. Now we ticked off Sebring. We’ve simply acquired Daytona left to go.

We had an actual tough begin to this season, however that efficiency right this moment confirmed why we have been champions final yr. That was undoubtedly a champion’s comeback and acquired our season effectively and really again on monitor. We’re trying ahead to going from right here.”

KYLE KIRKWOOD, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

What does it imply to win the 12 Hours of Sebring right this moment?

“I’ve never been so nervous in my life watching a race car that you are part of go around a race track other than today. It got to the point where Ben (Barnicoat) and I would literally have to walk off the stand and not watch because of how nerve-wracking it was watching Jack (Hawksworth) absolutely send it on every single car that was out there. To be honest, we didn’t really have the pace, the raw pace, at the end of the race. Jack just knew at every moment that he had a chance to pass somebody, he’d just send it in there and keep them behind him. It ended up paying off. It reminds me of our win at Petit. Similar situation to that. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys right here. Of course, the Vasser Sullivan and Lexus team as well. These two drivers right here, it’s like you put them in the car, and they’re automatic. They get in, they send it, do everything perfectly. I’m proud to be a part of this team.”

PARKER THOMPSON, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

How are you feeling after the 12 hours of Sebring?

“The 12 car just needs a little luck because when I look back at this weekend. We did everything right. Unfortunately, the race didn’t fall our way. The Sebring 12 hours stands for me the craziest race that I’ve ever done, the second time in a row this year in 2024. We’ve got the Lexus RC F to win. We just need to piece it together and we need a little luck to do so. Things didn’t fall our way, but I couldn’t be prouder of our Vasser Sullivan team. We don’t give up and that was true all the way through the race. We kept digging all the way through and I’m proud of myself for not giving up. Three and a half hours in the car was definitely a challenge, but it’s nice knocking those boxes off. And, now as we’re about to start the sprint season, I’ve never been more confident in this group. They believe in me, and I believe in them and let’s go win some races for the 12. Congratulations to the 14 team on their GTD PRO win today!”

FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

How was your race?

“It was a good day. Congratulations to the 14 car for winning the Sebring 12 hour. It was a really great job and a team effort. We had a really good run going, we stayed upfront for a long time and everyone on this car did a good job. No complaints there. We’ll take this as another learning experience and continue working hard and getting ready as we go into Long Beach with our Lexus RC F GT3.”

AARON TELITZ, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

How was your race?

“First of all, what an amazing day for this Vasser Sullivan team and Lexus winning the 12 Hours of Sebring with the 14 car. This is a massively historic race and a really huge deal for the brand and team to get a big win at another one of these endurance races. Congratulations to our teammates. On the 12 car side, we had some issues earlier in the race that just kept on developing as the race went on and really hindered our performance unfortunately, and we weren’t able to battle for the win. At least we finished this race so that’s a great step in the right direction for us. I’m looking forward to getting back with the boys at the Six Hours of the Glen and until then I hope they win a couple sprint races.”

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