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- Category: Road Racing
By: IndyCar
October 7, 2024
October 7, 2024
Arlington, Texas – Three championship organizations are uniting to bring an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race to the streets of Arlington, Texas. Penske Entertainment, the Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment, the official events partner of the Texas Rangers, have announced a first-of-its-kind joint venture to establish and operate the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington, with the initial race set for March 2026.
The 2.73-mile track layout will feature two iconic sporting venues recognized by fans around the world: AT&T Stadium, home of the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys, and Globe Life Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers. The track will weave through Arlington’s core sports and entertainment district, which features an all-star lineup of events and venues and annually sells more than 1.6 million tickets to spectators near and far.
A celebration ceremony will take place tomorrow morning at Texas Live!, a special entertainment center located between AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field. The ceremony will unveil additional details about the proposed event, including a video that showcases the full track layout. Tomorrow’s gathering is closed to the public, any media attending must RSVP using this link.
The new racing event will provide the city of Arlington and its organizers a national network television showcase, with FOX set to provide live coverage through its recently unveiled partnership with INDYCAR.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel racing competition, featuring stars from across the globe competing at speeds faster than 230 mph. Along with hosting the world-famous Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, the series boasts a mix of oval, temporary street circuit and permanent road course races across North America, with the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington set to become its newest high-octane marquee event. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is sanctioned by INDYCAR, the governing body for North America’s premier open-wheel racing series and part of the Penske Entertainment family.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING – EVENT LEADERSHIP
“Through a truly remarkable and innovative partnership, we’re going to build racing’s next global spectacle. Everyone involved is fully committed to delivering an incredible and unique event weekend for the city of Arlington, anchored by the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. We’re grateful to the Cowboys, Rangers and REV Entertainment for entering into this partnership with us, and, of course, to Arlington’s leadership team for their excitement and ongoing support.” – Roger Penske, Penske Corporation chairman
“We are thrilled to join forces with the Texas Rangers, Penske Entertainment, and the city of Arlington to bring Grand Prix racing to the streets of the Arlington Entertainment District. The collaboration between our organizations will make the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington special, providing a unique NTT INDYCAR SERIES race experience for fans attending, while also creating a showcase with our friends at FOX and those watching around the world. An event of this magnitude is another great reflection of what we imagined over 15 years ago that AT&T Stadium could be a part of.” – Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner, president and general manager
“Today is a historic day for the Texas Rangers and REV Entertainment. We are proud to be at the forefront of the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington alongside such esteemed organizations in Penske Entertainment and the Dallas Cowboys. This event will set a new standard for the Arlington Entertainment District, and we look forward to welcoming fans from around the world to experience what Arlington has to offer.” – Neil Leibman, Texas Rangers chief operating officer
“We are truly thankful to our partners for their vision and dedication to bringing the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington here to The American Dream City. I can’t think of a more beautiful and vibrant backdrop for this competition than Arlington’s world-class Entertainment District, which has proven again and again to be a premier destination for sports and entertainment. This announcement is an economic win for North Texas, and we’re looking forward to welcoming this incredible racing series and its fans for an unforgettable experience.” – Jim Ross, Arlington mayor
MORE ABOUT THE INDYCAR GRAND PRIX OF ARLINGTON
Planning and preparation for the race weekend is underway, with veteran motorsport industry executive Bill Miller announced today as president of the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington. Miller brings more than three decades of experience to the role, including previously serving as president of California Speedway and senior vice president of operations at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a leading worldwide voice for more than 7,000 companies in the automotive aftermarket.
The INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington will provide a full weekend of racing and entertainment, with general admission, reserved seating, VIP hospitality and party zone areas available. Fans can register their interest by visiting the newly launched website: www.gparlington.com.
About Penske Entertainment: Penske Entertainment is a leading provider of world-class sports and entertainment, comprised of INDYCAR, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMS Productions. INDYCAR is the Indianapolis-based governing body for North America's premier open-wheel auto racing series, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and its developmental series, INDY NXT. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES features an international field of the world's most versatile drivers – who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses across the United States and Canada.
About REV Entertainment: REV Entertainment is a full-service company with the goal of producing first-class sports and entertainment events nationwide. REV Entertainment serves as the official events partner of the Texas Rangers, including serving as the official booking agent for both Globe Life Field and Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas. REV Entertainment has also created and produced several original concepts, including the Shriners Children’s College Baseball Showdown, one of the highest attended tournaments in college baseball. REV Entertainment also includes several entities focused on enhancing the events and entertainment business nationwide, including REV Production Services, REV Sports Management, REV Food Service, and REV Sports Marketing. For more information, visit REVEntertainment.com.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: Formula Regional Americas
September 27, 2024
September 27, 2024
Charlotte, North Carolina – With 2025 quickly approaching, Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) and Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4) have announced their 2025 race schedules. Mixing some of the most iconic circuits in North America with some of the best training grounds for young talent, each series will have a calendar focused on driver development and safety. In total, eight tracks are featured, as FR Americas competes at all eight venues, F4 U.S. at seven and JS F4 at six of the renowned circuits.
“We’re really looking forward to 2025 with FR Americas, F4 U.S. and JS F4,” said Race Director Scott Goodyear. “We’ve incorporated a lot of feedback from our community while building these schedules, and we’re excited with what’s planned. To have Barber Motorsports Park and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on the schedule—those are tracks where drivers are really challenged and you see them develop over the course of the weekend. Likewise, there’s few places in America that hold the same significance as racing across the yard of bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Each series continues to deliver great value with the lowest cost per mile compared to other professional racing series in North America, as well as the other Formula 4 and Formula Regional championships around the globe. Pair that with the impressive wheel-to-wheel competition like we’ve seen this season, and you’ll find that our series are a superb training ground for young drivers.”
As has become a tradition over the last few years, all three championships will open their season at NOLA Motorsports Park while headlining a special open-wheel weekend in The Big Easy. From there, it’s off to Elkhart Lake, Wis., where all three championships will take on the challenging Road America. Next, FR Americas will once again have the honor of racing across the yard of bricks as competitors take on Indianapolis Motor Speedway over Father’s Day Weekend. The following weekend, all three championships will reconvene at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Everyone will return to New Jersey Motorsports Park, which offers some of the most competitive racing all year. Then, FR Americas and F4 U.S. will head north of the border to race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park over Labor Day weekend. Following a one-year hiatus, all three series will return to VIRginia International Raceway, before closing out the season and crowning the 2025 champions at the highly-anticipated Barber Motorsports Park.
2025 Formula Regional Americas Championship Schedule (21 rounds):
March 27-30, 2025: NOLA Motorsports Park (Avondale, La.)
May 15-18, 2025: Road America (Plymouth, Wis.)
June 12-15, 2025: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indianapolis, Ind.)
June 19-22, 2025: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Lexington, Ohio)
July 31-Aug. 3, 2025: New Jersey Motorsports Park (Millville, N.J.)
August 28-31, 2025: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Bowmanville, Ontario)
September 18-21, 2025: VIRginia International Raceway (Alton, Va.)
October 17-19, 2025: Barber Motorsports Park (Leeds, Ala.)
2025 Formula 4 United States Championship Schedule (18 rounds):
March 27-30, 2025: NOLA Motorsports Park (Avondale, La.)
May 15-18, 2025: Road America (Plymouth, Wis.)
June 19-22, 2025: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Lexington, Ohio)
July 31-Aug. 3, 2025: New Jersey Motorsports Park (Millville, N.J.)
August 28-31, 2025: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Bowmanville, Ontario)
September 18-21, 2025: VIRginia International Raceway (Alton, Va.)
October 17-19, 2025: Barber Motorsports Park (Leeds, Ala.)
2025 Ligier JS F4 Series Schedule (16 rounds):
March 27-30, 2025: NOLA Motorsports Park (Avondale, La.)
May 15-18, 2025: Road America (Plymouth, Wis.)
June 19-22, 2025: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Lexington, Ohio)
July 31-Aug. 3, 2025: New Jersey Motorsports Park (Millville, N.J.)
September 18-21, 2025: VIRginia International Raceway (Alton, Va.)
October 17-19, 2025: Barber Motorsports Park (Leeds, Ala.)
JS F4, F4 U.S. and FR Americas combine to form a powerful ladder on the Road to F1. Graduates of the championships have consistently advanced their careers, with alumni among the starting fields of the Indianapolis 500, INDYCAR, FIA Formula 3, IMSA, NASCAR, Super Formula, INDY NXT and more. One of the most powerful ways that the championships provide a forward trajectory is through scholarship programs, which include everything from champion-winning scholarships, to diversity scholarships, and a karts-to-cars scholarship program.
In 2025, the Ligier JS F4 Series Driver Champion will once again win a scholarship to compete in F4 U.S. the following season. Valued at $186,700, the prize includes the lease of an F4 U.S. chassis and Ligier Storm engine from Ligier Automotive, two sets of tires per event from Hankook Motorsports and race entry fees from Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH).
The 2025 F4 U.S. Driver Champion will also receive a scholarship to step up to the next level—FR Americas—the following season. The winner will be provided the use of a JS F3 chassis from Ligier Automotive, an F3 engine developed, engineered and provided by Mountune, three sets of tires per event from Hankook Motorsports, and race entry fees from PMH, for a package valued at $264,900. Both scholarship prizes cover the full cost of the season, excluding testing, prep and travel costs.
Details for the revamped FR Americas Driver Champion prize will be announced in the coming weeks.
FR Americas, F4 U.S. and JS F4 will close out their current season, crowning their champions at Circuit of The Americas, October 31-November 3. Tickets for the COTA SpeedTour are available now at SpeedTour.net. Fans at home will be able to enjoy a live stream of the weekend’s action, available on the SpeedTourTV YouTube Channel.
- Details
- Category: Road Racing
By: Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti
September 23, 2024
September 23, 2024
The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team earned its first top ten finish at an endurance event after a hectic six-hour TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).
Danny Formal started the six-hour race in sixth after a strong qualifying session placed the team toward the front of the 22-car GTD grid. He quickly made positions on track, maneuvering the car into third before steady rain caused continuous cautions, preventing progress for a large part of his double stint. The cautions also disrupted the team’s strategy, changing driver order and forcing the team onto the back foot in the early stages of the race. However, Formal kept the car out of trouble and ran in the podium positions before handing the car over to Kyle Marcelli from second position.
Marcelli continued to battle with adverse weather and cautions before the rain eventually cleared, and the black and red team was once again able to make progress through the field. Marcelli’s pace and strategy allowed the team to run at the front of the GTD field despite a plethora of yellow flags. Marcelli continued his strong pace and handed over the driver’s seat to Graham Doyle to take over for his first IWSC racing laps at IMS.
Doyle drove an impressive stint in changing conditions as he navigated the difficult field and lap traffic. He drove with impressive pace, managing to keep the No. 45 car on the lead lap throughout his stint before returning the car to Marcelli for the final hour of the race. However, an issue during the pitstop hindered the team’s further forward momentum. Marcelli still quickly found blistering pace, putting up similar lap times to the race leaders. He brought the car home in tenth after a challenging six hours for the WTRAndretti GTD team’s best endurance finish of 2024.
“It was an up-and-down day, but all-in-all, the car is getting better,” said Wayne Taylor, Team Principal of WTRAndretti. “Kyle and Danny drover really well and I am equally proud of Graham. For his first time here driving this GTD car on a racetrack with varying conditions, I just told him to keep it on the track, and that will be good enough, and everyone on the team told me how awesome he drove. I’m very happy for the DEX, the drivers and the WTRAndretti team.”
Next up, the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team will take on Road Atlanta for the iconic Petit Le Mans on October 10-12, 2024.
Driver Quotes
Kyle Marcelli, No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2: “We need to be really happy with the result today. We finished in tenth and on the lead lap. We got on our back foot early in terms of strategy, and driving line up if you will. We didn’t get Graham until just over two hours remaining, and he finished his drive time with just an hour left. So, all things considered, we had things happen to us early that hurt our strategy, but also a couple that helped us out toward the end. On our final pit stop, there was some kind of an issue, some kind of fuel rig problem. That really took us out of contention from trying to move forward in the last hour, but the pace was good. We were able to match the pace of the leaders. In the wet today we were quick. The No. 45 car passed a lot of cars today and we led multiple times but had to drop back for various reasons. I think a really good day for the team’s spirit, and I think the car is in good shape for Petit Le Mans.”
Danny Formal, No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2: “It was a great weekend. We got our best endurance qualifying in sixth. The race pace was very good for us three. I had a really interesting stint. I got taken out in Turn 7, went back to eighth and worked my way back up to third. There were some really good passes, and the car felt awesome. It started raining, and that disrupted our strategy because we couldn’t pit for Graham to do his drive time. When we did pit, we went back to last. I made my way back to ninth in the rain, and the car felt amazing in the rain. Kyle and Graham both had great stints. It was definitely Graham’s best endurance stint of the season. He drove fantastically, and so did Kyle. Tenth at the end and our first endurance finish on the lead lap for the team. Graham is a very new driver in the IMSA paddock, so for him to finish in the top ten at this six-hour event just shows how much our team has grown, and the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán was just fantastic this weekend. I’m very grateful to be a part of this team, and we’re ready for Petit Le Mans in a month.”
Graham Doyle, No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2: “It was a pretty crazy race from start to finish. It started out dry but quickly went wet in the first stint. Danny did a great job throughout that; he did a double through the majority of the rain. Then Kyle hopped in for a bit when the rain started to fade out. He was able to run the car from wet to dry. That’s when I was able to get in, do a double and keep us on the lead lap, and Kyle finished it out for our first top ten finish in an endurance event this year. Altogether, great weekend, great work by the team, and I’m super happy for everybody and excited for the team.”
ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.
WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.
Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.
WTRAndretti’s long term partnerships include Lamborghini Squadra Corse, DEX Imaging, Harrison Contracting Company and Gainbridge.
Canadians In BOLD
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- Category: Road Racing
By: Bryan Herta Autosport
September 24, 2024
September 24, 2024
Fountain Valley, California – Hyundai has grown its Manufacturers’ Championship lead by 90 points after an incredible win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 120 by Mason Filippi and Mark Wilkins in their No. 98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR. This win at the Battle on the Bricks is the manufacturer’s third victory of the season and the first of the season for the #98 Elantra N TCR team. Completing the two-hour race on just one pit stop forced Filippi to master his fuel-saving techniques, taking the checkered flag on mere fumes. Their race from last to first elevates Wilkins and Filippi to third in the series standings, and still mathematically eligible for the title with just one round remaining.
Drivers Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens claimed the second step of the podium in the No. 33 entry to complete Hyundai’s one-two finish at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The pair started 11th and raced to their sixth podium finish of the season, strengthening their runner-up points position.
The #77 Elantra N TCR driven by Bryson Morris and Taylor Hagler matched their best finish of the year, finishing fourth at Indianapolis. The pair recovered from a dramatic fire during qualifying, which brought out a red flag and compromised not only their qualifying effort but also the effort of their teammates, the #33 and #98, forcing them to take the green flag from the final three positions on the grid.
Preston Brown earned his best starting position of the season when he qualified 4th in the #76 Elantra N TCR. His day ended abruptly on just the fourth lap when he was hit by a GS car. Brown and co-driver Denis Dupont are tied for fourth place in the TCR standings.
The final round of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge takes place at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. The Fox Factory 120 is a 2-hour "sprint" race on Friday, October 11, 2024, and will air live on NBC's Peacock.
#33 Elantra N TCR - 2023 CHAMPIONS
Started: 11th Finished: 2nd 2024 Rank: 2nd (2600pts)
Harry Gottsacker: "It’s nice to grab an other podium at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and bring home some much needed points. The team worked the strategy well today and that’s what put us in the position for a P2 finish. We have spent the last few races battling back from adversity and it will be good to put in a solid run at Atlanta."
Robert Wickens: "After a tough qualifying for BHA, we really showed who we are as a team. We never gave up and found ourselves in great position at the driver change. From there it was a really challenging stint saving enough fuel to make it to the end, but it was our best chance at keeping the championship fight alive. P2 was the best we could manage but it was great to see our teammates Mark and Mason pick up the win. Hyundai led a lot of laps which means a great day for Hyundai Hope On Wheels. September is pediatric cancer awareness month and I'm proud the Hyundai race cars raised $6700 at Indy for the Riley Children's Hospital.
#76 Elantra N TCR
Started: 4th Finish: 11th 2024 Rank: 4th- tied (2410pts)
Denis Dupont: "Indy was a disappointing race for us. Preston started third and managed to stay at the front at the start. A competitor ran into him in turn 1. The car had too much damage to continue. On to Road Atlanta."
Preston Brown: "Clearly Indy was a big disappointment for us. I had good pace going into the race and felt strong in the car, and to cap it off I was starting in my highest grid starting position of the year. There was nothing I could have done to avoid the incident that occurred just a few laps into the race... being eliminated so quickly stings. We will recover and attempt to put on a strong end-of-the-year finish at Road Atlanta, and take what we have learned during our first year with Bryan Herta Autosport into next year's season."
#77 Elantra N TCR
Started: 12th Finished: 4th 2024 Rank: 7th (2220pts)
Taylor Hagler: "Our day didn’t start as planned, but we were able to rebound to finish the day with a solid fourth-place finish. A big thank you to the No. 77 Bryan Herta Autosport team for their quick work to replace the engine and get us on the grid in time to race. The start was one of those moments you love as a racing driver - finding the lane that is open and pushing the car before the first turn. We will finish out the season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with the same mentality of pushing as hard as we can."
Bryson Morris: "It was a good weekend. After a difficult qualifying, we were able to come back and finish fourth, matching our best finish of the year. We are still looking for a podium result at the next event, which also happens to be my favorite track in the USA, Road Atlanta."
#98 Elantra N TCR
Started: 13th Finished: 1st 2024 Rank: 3rd (2540)
Mason Filippi: "We won at Indy! Mark did an incredible job in the first stint and we had everything come together in the #98 Elantra N TCR. The fuel strategy was intense, and we had some good battles. It felt incredible to kiss the bricks, and Mark and I are looking forward to carrying this momentum into the final race. Huge thank you to the whole team and Hyundai for giving us an incredible race car."
Mark Wilkins: "This one feels great! It was anything but a straightforward race but we stayed out of trouble, had a fantastic pit stop, and Mason drove a perfect stint. We put it all together and it feels great. 1-2 for Hyundai at Indy is pretty sweet! We led a lot of laps for HHOW and extended the lead in the manufacturers' championship!
One more to go! Would love to end the season with another Win!"
Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian:
Founded in 2009, Bryan Herta Autosport has grown from a single car Indy-Lights team into a multi-championship winning auto racing franchise. Led by IndyCar and Sports Car star Bryan Herta, Bryan Herta Autosport has won races in every discipline they have entered, including Indy Lights, Indy Car, Global Rallycross, and championship titles in Pirelli World Challenge and IMSA. BHA rose to prominence after winning the 2011 Indianapolis 500 in what was the final race of the Centennial Era, a celebration of 100 years of racing at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with driver Dan Wheldon. Five years later, BHA partnered with Andretti Autosport, and defied the odds again, winning their second Indianapolis 500 with rookie driver Alexander Rossi. In 2018, BHA entered the American Sports Car scene beginning its immensely successful partnership with Hyundai. Together, BHA and Hyundai have won five consecutive team and driver championships, and four consecutive (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) manufacturer's titles in IMSA's Michelin Pilot Challenge. For more information, visit: www.BryanHertaAutosport.com.
BHA/Hyundai Customer Support: Bryan Herta Autosport is the U.S. sales agent and part support representative of Hyundai TCR race cars for customer teams. The BHA/Hyundai Customer Support Team offers trackside engineering support, setup and tuning advice, and part and order fulfillments for the Hyundai Veloster N TCR and TCA teams and drivers from the BHA’s headquarters in Speedway, IN. in 2024, there are five BHA Customer Support Teams racing Elantra N TCR cars in Canada, The USA and in Mexico.
Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America focuses on ‘Progress for Humanity’ and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 830 dealers sold more than 724,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com.
Canadians In BOLD
- Details
- Category: Road Racing
By: VasserSulllivan Lexus
September 23, 2024
September 23, 2024
Indianapolis, Indiana – Jack Hawksworth, Ben Barnicoat and the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 team finished fourth in the GTD PRO class at Sunday’s Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, narrowly missing out on their third podium of the 2024 IMSA season. The result is the fifth top-five finish for the defending class champions this season. Parker Thompson, Frankie Montecalvo and Aaron Telitz’s day ended early in the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3, resulting in a 22nd-place finish in the GTD class on Sunday.
Hawksworth began the day behind the wheel of the No. 14 RC F GT3 starting 10th in the GTD PRO class, but the Vasser Sullivan crew elected for an alternate strategy amid inclement weather and a full course caution early on. The Brit stayed out on slick tires while others pitted, putting him in the class lead for 12 laps. The strategy paid off as Hawksworth ran in the top half of the GTD PRO field through the pit cycle before handing the car over to Barnicoat just past the halfway point. Barnicoat stayed towards the front of the GTD PRO field, and with the final yellow coming out with just over an hour remaining, Hawksworth hopped back in the cockpit with a podium finish in reach. He fought his competitors hard over the final laps, coming home fourth at the checkered flag.
The No. 12 RC F GT3 team qualified third in the GTD class behind a tremendous effort from Thompson but started at the rear on Sunday due to a post-qualifying inspection penalty. Like their GTD PRO teammates, the No. 12 crew elected for slicks while others went to the wet weather tires early – through a pit stop where Montecalvo jumped in the car for Thompson. The New Jersey native made his way to the top-three in class, but an on-track incident just over an hour into the race damaged the rear of his RC F GT3 and ended the team’s day in the 22nd position of the GTD class.
The Vasser Sullivan Lexus team heads to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the Petit Le Mans 10-hour endurance race on Saturday, October 12, which is the final event of the 2024 IMSA season. 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
Can you describe racing in the mixed conditions today?
“It was a really crazy race with mixed conditions all the way through. It started off dry, then it rained, and the guys made a good call by staying out on slicks. We took the lead at one point, which was good and then the rain came again. We ended up cycling to the back because we stayed out earlier, but with good speed on the wet tires, we were able to come through and get into a good position again. We were up to second or third, but then had to fight to hold off the Corvette and the Aston Martin. Almost got up there to get a podium, but just ran out of rear tires at the end of the final stint. Unfortunate to miss out on the podium, but we gave it everything we had.”
BEN BARNICOAT, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
How was your race today?
“The inaugural six-hour Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis sure lived up to the expectation of what we thought it was going to be in terms of a crazy race. There were a lot of mixed conditions, with that big downpour of rain and a lot of yellows to navigate throughout the day. So proud of everyone here at Vasser Sullivan, Lexus Racing, and my teammate Jack (Hawksworth). It was a really tough day with a lot of difficult calls to be made, and I felt we made the right call at every stop and every scenario. We just didn’t quite have a fast enough car today. I felt we got everything we could out of our Lexus, it just wasn’t quite enough to get a win. Missing out on the podium with two laps to go is tough, but Jack was doing absolutely everything he could to hang on around quick cars. He put up an incredible fight as this whole Vasser Sullivan team did today. I’m just really proud of everyone. We’ve just got to focus forward and go try to get another Petit Le Mans win.”
PARKER THOMPSON, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
What are your emotions after going out early in today’s six-hour race?
“After a solid start to the day for the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus team, we unfortunately ended up on the wrong side of a strategy and weren’t able to continue the race and the battle for the GTD win. I’m disappointed now, but will be ready to fight back at Road Atlanta to finish out the season strong so we can get things sorted out in the off-season to go win a championship in GTD next year.”
FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
Can you take us through your stint in the race?
“Overall, short race for us today. I feel like the team made the right call initially getting us out there on slicks (tires) during the driver change from Parker (Thompson) to myself. We saw a lot of people go out on rain (tires) and we were one of the ones that went out on slicks. When it initially stopped raining as hard, we started gaining positions. I think we fought our way up to P3 and then a caution came out and it started dumping down there. It was just tough conditions to be out on slicks, and we just caught a section of the track, when it went green, that was just way too wet. It sent me into the wall pretty much right on the front straightaway. We will come back from this. We have one of the best teams in the paddock and they’ll put it back together and get it ready for the next race.”
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 23 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.
Canadians In BOLD