After the stellar season that Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat put together for Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing in 2023, handily capturing the GTD PRO crown in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, it only made sense for them to have a shot at repeating. They’ll have that opportunity, as Lexuas Racing and Vasser Sullivan confirmed today that factory drivers Hawksworth and Barnicoat will return as the full-time lineup in the Vasser Sullivan No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3. As was the case the last couple of years, IndyCar Series driver Kyle Kirkwood will join them for select endurance races.
“This team is special. Nobody put us in contention to be champions a year ago except us,” said Jeff Bal, Senior Manager – Motorsports, Experiential Marketing & Sponsorships – Lexus Division.
“We put our faith in Jimmy and Sulli to build a program that would gameplan for success and put the right people in the right places to ensure this team showed up every weekend to win. We were never the fastest car. We just kept finding ways to out-hustle everyone and stay committed to the gameplan. That’s what makes it special. The amount of planning and determination these guys have put into finding a way for this program to be relevant — that’s what it’s all about. We couldn’t be happier for what they’ve achieved. And we couldn’t be more excited for what they’ve got lined up to accomplish in 2024. The Rolex 24 at Daytona can’t come soon enough. We’re ready to defend what is ours.”
Hawksworth is back for his sixth season with Vasser Sullivan and eighth with the Lexus Racing program, where he’s captured 10 victories and 25 podium finishes. He has been with Lexus Racing’s GT3 program since its inception in 2017.
“To say I am excited as we look to defend our GTD PRO title in 2024 would be an understatement,” Hawksworth said.
“We have a great foundation and consistency within the Lexus and Vasser Sullivan team which will allow us to keep pushing forward, work on refining our processes and bettering ourselves as we prepare for the challenges we’ll face in 2024. I couldn’t ask for better teammates than Ben and Kyle, and to be surrounded by such a talented and dedicated group in the garage and on the pit stand is special. 2023 was an exceptional year for us, but we start from zero in 2024, and it has only lit the fire to go and execute even better when the green flag drops in Daytona. Thank you to everyone at Lexus, TRD, and Vasser Sullivan for their continued to support. I can’t wait to get started!”
Barnicoat returns for his third season alongside Hawksworth, having been victorious four times and standing on 16 podiums, as well as earning a GTD class victory with Lexus at Detroit in 2022. On their way to the 2023 championship, Hawksworth and Barnicoat scored four pole positions and nine podium finishes in 11 races, including winning at the Long Beach Grand Prix in April and the Vasser Sullivan and Lexus double victory sweep of the GT classes at Watkins Glen in June.