Hawksworth: First Lexus GTD Pro Win a “Monkey Off Our Back”

Photo: Vasser Sullivan

Jack Hawksworth has described Lexus’ first GTD Pro win as a “monkey off our back” following a controlling race for the Vasser Sullivan entry in Sunday’s IMSA Fastlane Sportscar Weekend at Road America.

Hawksworth and co-driver Ben Barnicoat overcame the challenge of the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R to take their No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 to victory lane for the first time in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s new-for-2022 class.

Having started on class pole, Hawksworth and Barnicoat combined to lead 48 of the 61 laps in class, with Barnicoat ultimately having to fuel save during his stint after opting to go on a two-stop strategy.

“That was definitely, I’d say, the toughest race I’ve ever done,” said Barnicoat. “I went out on wets and I’ve not really done a lot of driving in wet conditions in the Lexus RC F GT3 before.

“I got by the Corvette straight away at the start, but I made a mistake and the 9 [car] got past me. I just was determined not to let that get the better of us.

“We had changing conditions and when we went out on slicks on the next stop the fuel number I had to hit was just crazy and I had to get that position back. I then had to save fuel and keep him behind me. That was the toughest thing I think I’ve ever done.

“Jack had a great start. He kept us in P1 and gave us good track position and then the guys at Vasser Sullivan and Lexus on the stand today gave me everything I needed today. I knew exactly the plan and knew what number I needed to hit.

“That’s the result of great teamwork, not just on me, that’s on everyone.”

While the championship-leading Pfaff Porsche opted for a three-stop race, benefitting from its final pit stop moments before a full-course caution, Barnicoat said he knew he had to hit his numbers in what ended up being a 1 hour and 17-minute final stint, which was aided by several yellows.

“Just before the Pfaff car pitted, I was already on the fuel save plan,” he said. “We knew it was going to be an extreme challenge because the length of the race but that was what we were aiming to do.

“Luckily the yellows fell for us in the right way and I was able to hold him off.”

The No. 14 crew bounced back from a fuel delivery issue in opening practice on Friday but was otherwise in the mix all weekend long.

The win came in the eighth race for the new GT3-based class featuring all pro drivers.

“It’s the monkey off our back,” Hawksworth said. “We’ve had such a strong weekend with our Lexus RC F GT3 and then today we were looking for a dry race.

“We started in the front and then had mixed weather conditions. To do it the way we did was perfect.

“The whole Vasser Sullivan and Lexus team did a great job and Ben drove his butt off today. Definitely a mega day.

“We knew it was going to be a tight battle between us and the 9 after qualifying. In the first stint we could see we were racing the same pace.

“It was a close race. Really glad we came out on top.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John