Barnicoat: “Substantial” To Be on Sidelines for Three Months

Photo: Ben Barnicoat FB

Ben Barnicoat said it was “substantial” to be sitting on the sidelines for three months, although the Lexus driver said he’s back to 100 percent ahead of his racing return this weekend at Watkins Glen International.

Barnicoat sustained undisclosed injuries in a mountain biking accident in March, the week before the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, which ruled the 28-year-old Brit out of three IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races with Vasser Sullivan and two FIA World Endurance Championship rounds, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans with fellow Lexus outfit Akkodis-ASP.

“It was a hard thing to be on the sidelines when you’ve worked all your life to get to a point in your career where you’re a professional driver,” he told Sportscar365.

“Luckily this year I had two fantastic programs racing here in IMSA with Vasser Sullivan and obviously in WEC with Akkodis-ASP. They’re two top teams associated with a fantastic manufacturer.

“To have to sit on the sidelines for a couple of months is not nice at all. It’s something you work towards all your life. When you can’t do that, it’s hard to accept.

“At first it was obviously a bit more of a physical struggle. Then it becomes a bit more of a mental struggle.

“As you say, you kind of feel like you’re ready but obviously I wasn’t and I wanted to make sure I was 100 percent ready, which I am now.”

Barnicoat said he turned to fellow Lexus driver Jack Hawksworth for support in the early days of his injuries, with Hawksworth having been sidelined in 2022 after a motocross accident that also saw him miss three WeatherTech Championship races that year.

“Obviously I missed Sebring and Jack was one of the first people to come visit me after that race,” said Barnicoat.

“It was also very reassuring to me that I’d seen how amazing how everyone at Lexus and Vasser Sullivan was with Jack throughout his injury.

“It gave me a lot more peace of mind that you’re going to be OK from it when one of your close teammates and friends goes for a similar kind of thing.

‘It was a big help.”

Barnicoat declined to go into details on the extent of his injuries, other than saying he “just banged myself up pretty good.”

“Obviously it was substantial to have to take a couple of months out. But I’m feeling good now; I’m back at 100 percent and ready to go,” he added.

“It’s great to be back. Obviously I had a good start to the weekend ending up P2 in practice. I’m really excited to be back with the team and hopefully to continue as normal.”

He got his first laps back in Vasser Sullivan’s Lexus RC F GT3 in a test at Watkins Glen a few weeks ago.

“I’ve still got some steps that I need to take before I know I’m back,” he said. “To be honest, until I win a race again, I want to see through the other side of it.

“That’s the level I was at before and I want to make sure I’m back at that level after.”

In addition completing the remainder of the WeatherTech Championship season, Barnicoat reaffirmed plans to return to the WEC with Akkodis-ASP, beginning with September’s Lone Star Le Mans event at Circuit of The Americas.

He will miss the next round at Interlagos due to the previous WeatherTech Championship clash at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

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