Barnicoat to Replace Injured Hawksworth at Belle Isle

Photo: Lexus Racing

Lexus factory driver Jack Hawksworth has been ruled out of this weekend’s Chevrolet Sports Car Classic at Detroit’s Belle Isle due to an injury sustained in a motocross accident, with Ben Barnicoat set to pilot Vasser Sullivan’s No. 17 Lexus RC F GT3 in the GTD class.

Hawksworth, who has been released from a hospital, is currently recovering at his home in England according to a statement from the manufacturer. A timeline for his return is yet to be determined.

Barnicoat and Hawksworth are co-drivers in the team’s No. 14 Lexus GTD Pro entry, which is not scheduled to return until the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on June 24-26.

The No. 17 entry was first utilized in the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio, due to GTD Pro not running that weekend, with Hawksworth having teamed up with Richard Heistand.

Vasser Sullivan has yet to confirm Barnicoat’s co-driver for Saturday’s 100-minute street race, with Heistand understood to be prioritizing his 24 Hours of Le Mans commitments this weekend.

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