Bowmanville, Ontario – The Vasser Sullivan Lexus team makes its way to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, just an hour outside Toronto, for its seventh race of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and the fourth sprint race of the season. Both the No. 12 and 14 Lexus RC F GT3s travel north of the border fresh off fourth-place finishes in Watkins Glen two weeks ago.

 

Lexus factory drivers, Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat, arrive at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park just 49 points back of the GTD PRO team class championship lead after their solid weekend at Watkins Glen. Lexus also currently sits second in the manufacturer standings, just 50 points behind Porsche. The No. 14 team has found recent success at Mosport, earning the GTD PRO pole and leading 46 of the 62 race laps a season ago on their way to a fourth-place result, and are eager to claim some long-awaited hardware at the circuit this weekend.

 

After the endurance race in Watkins Glen, the regular, full-time driver lineup for the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 is back with Parker Thompson and Frankie Montecalvo. Like the No. 14, the No. 12 team has also shown pace at the 10-turn, 2.459-mile Canadian road course of late, with Montecalvo sitting on pole two years ago and claiming the second-starting position in GTD last year. Heading into the weekend, Lexus sits second in the GTD class manufacturer standings behind Mercedes, and the No. 12 team is currently seventh in GTD team points standings.

 

Live flag-to-flag coverage from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park can be seen on USA Network or streaming on Peacock beginning at 11 a.m. ET. 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  

Are you excited to return to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park?

 

"Canadian Tire Motorsports Park is without a doubt a highlight on the schedule! The ultra-high commitment corners and incredibly fast nature of the track make it a truly unique circuit and one I always look forward to driving. Our Lexus RC F GT3 cars have historically really suited the track and we have always been competitive, however we have never managed to quite put all the puzzle pieces together to actually get a big result at this place. We’ll focus on executing a clean weekend and try to take home a big haul of points for this Vasser Sullivan team.”

 

BEN BARNICOAT, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3  

What are your thoughts going into this weekend racing at CTMP?

 

”Mosport is another circuit on the IMSA schedule that will put a smile on your face. This track really does test your skill and bravery as a driver with its extremely high-speed twists and turns, which makes it a lot of fun. The championship table is tight at the top as we start the second half of the season, so we'll be looking to try and press on and get ourselves to the top of the standings. The Vasser Sullivan Lexus Racing team always gives us a fast RC F GT3 here in Canada, but we haven't been able to convert that into hardware the past couple of seasons. We'll be looking to change that this time around.”

 

FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3  

How are you feeling heading to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this weekend?

 

“I couldn’t be happier, rolling off into Mosport this weekend. This is my favorite circuit we race at and couldn’t be happier to drive it in the Lexus RC F GT3 for Vasser Sullivan. The 12 car showed great pace and almost clinched the victory at Watkins Glen. We’ll take all that momentum and roll into a circuit like Mosport where we should have a great race.”

 

How does it feel to be racing back home in Canada?

 

"It’s always exciting to race north of the border. Red Deer, Alberta, might be more than 1,700 miles away from Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, but every visit feels like a homecoming. I have so many great memories at this track and have met so many wonderful people in the area. I expect my visit this year to be extra special. After pole position, and a strong race at Watkins Glen, the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 is trending up! This weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park presents an opportunity for our team to earn our best result of the season to date and I’m extra motivated to do that in front of a home crowd."

 

About Lexus  

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, 42 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.