Salinas, California – Lexus and Vasser Sullivan return to the West Coast for the second sprint race of the 2024 IMSA season in the Course De Monterey at Laguna Seca. The team arrives in California on a roll, capturing wins in the last two IMSA events with the GTD PRO win at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March and a GTD class win at the Grand Prix of Long Beach three weeks ago.

 

Drivers return to Laguna Seca with a new challenge ahead of them as the circuit experienced a repave after IMSA visited in 2023. The new racing surface provides better tire grip, paving the way for faster lap times and an exciting two hour and 40-minute race ahead.

 

The GTD PRO class is back in action after not competing at Long Beach, with the return of Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat to the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3. Barnicoat is currently on a two-race win streak, victorious at both Sebring with Hawksworth and endurance teammate Kyle Kirkwood, and at Long Beach in the re-numbered No. 89 GTD class entry with Parker Thompson. That momentous 12-hour race victory by Hawksworth and Barnicoat two months ago catapulted the No. 14 team to third in the GTD PRO driver and team championship standings, while Lexus took over the class manufacturer’ points lead. The Brits look to continue their momentum into Laguna Seca, where they’ve finished runner-up the last two seasons.

 

Parker Thompson and Frankie Montecalvo reunite in the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 at Laguna Seca this weekend, hoping to overcome early season adversity. Thompson is coming off the win with Barnicoat in Long Beach and seeks to carry that momentum into the weekend as Lexus currently stands third in the GTD class manufacturer’s standings three races into the 2024 season.

 

The Course De Monterey will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock starting at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 12. To keep up with all the racing action, follow Lexus Racing on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by using  #LexusPerformance. 

 

Vasser Sullivan Driver Quotes 

JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 

 

“Laguna Seca has historically been very low grip with a lot of tire degradation. However, the track has been resurfaced and it should offer a lot more grip and have a huge effect on tire degradation. This will make the race a bit of an unknown and will no doubt throw us and everyone else some challenges. Last time out at Sebring, we won, but almost two months with no GTD PRO races marks a complete reset for our Vasser Sullivan team and our first sprint race of the year. We'll try to execute a clean weekend in the Lexus RC F GT3 and put ourselves in the mix."

 

BEN BARNICOAT, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 

 

“I’m excited to be back racing in the GTD PRO class and continuing my championship quest there with Jack (Hawksworth). Laguna Seca is another iconic track on the calendar and following the repave of the circuit, I feel it’s going to be a very different race to what we have seen in previous years. Our Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing team are going to have to be on it to get the most from our car now that the track surface is so different, but I have no doubts they will get our No. 14 SealMaster RC F GT3 fighting for victory lane.”

 

PARKER THOMPSON, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 

 

“Laguna Seca is my favorite track in the world, so I couldn’t think of a better place to get back with Frankie (Montecalvo) and the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 crew! Everyone on the 12 team deserves a good result after a few tough times so far this year, so I’ll be doing everything I can to help put us on top and end our west coast swing on a high note.”

 

 

“I’m ready to get back to Laguna Seca. The new surface should make for a much faster lap time and sent our engineers to the drawing board to re-learn the circuit. Parker (Thompson) and I will be ready to fight for a win with our No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 team.”

 

The Lexus RC F GT3 enters its eighth season in the GTD class, and third year in the GTD PRO category, competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Over the last six seasons, Lexus and Vasser Sullivan have combined to earn 15 wins, 41 podium finishes and 21 pole positions with the RC F GT3. Lexus won its first full-season IMSA GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship on the strength of two wins and podium positions in nine of 11 races in 2023. 

 

Lexus' passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With eight models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, one F performance model and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.