Hawksworth, Barnicoat Set for Reunion in Vasser Sullivan Lexus

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat appear set to be reunited in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 next year in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, after completing last weekend’s IMSA-sanctioned test together in GTD Pro entry with Kyle Kirkwood.

The duo, who won the 2023 GTD Pro title together, as well as teaming with Kirkwood to claim class honors in both the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (2024) and Motul Petit Le Mans (2022), were split up ahead of the 2025 season, which saw Hawksworth reassigned to the team’s GTD class Lexus alongside Parker Thompson and Aaron Telitz taking his seat with Barnicoat in GTD Pro.

While yet to be officially confirmed by the team or manufacturer, both drivers suggested that it’s a likely outcome for next year.

“You could maybe look at the entry list and put two and two together,” said Hawksworth. “I guess the guys are still sorting out exactly what the lineup’s going to look like for next year.

“It’s been a good combination in the past so it kind of makes sense to do it.”

Barnicoat added: “Obviously I can’t say too much, but we’re here driving together at the test,” he said. “And obviously I had the best memories I’ve had in IMSA racing with Jack and Kyle.

“What me and Jack achieved from the end of 2022 to the end of 2024 was really special; it was the peak and highlight of my career.

“When you start racing in IMSA and sports cars, you dream of being champions and winning the big races. We’ve won Petit and Sebring so we just need to tick off Daytona as a trio.

“We’re looking likely to get the band back together.”

The past season marked the first time the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus entry failed to record a podium finish, in a year that saw Barnicoat miss three races due to back injuries sustained in a mountain biking accident.

“2025 will easily go down as the worst and toughest year of my career,” said Barnicoat. “Hopefully I don’t have to experience anything like that again.

“But the back half of the season was a bit mixed because, it was obviously awesome to recover, bounce back, get back in the car.

“The results weren’t what we wanted them to be. We had some struggles, definitely felt like as a team, we deserved more than what we got at the end of last season, and we were looking really strong to finish on the podium at Petit Le Mans until we got hit by a P2 car and had a puncture, which, which was a bummer.

“We didn’t get the reward as a team for a challenging year. It’s the first season that we haven’t had a podium in the 14 since I’ve been there, which was a big shock and a disappointment.

“But at the same time, that kind of last kick was like a huge step of motivation, let’s work hard and do everything we can to make sure we start everything perfectly in Daytona.”

Hawksworth is equally optimistic for an improved showing next year, after his GTD campaign in the No. 12 Lexus netted five podium finishes but also go winless.

Victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona is the only major WeatherTech Championship endurance race that still alludes the team and manufacturer.

“We’re as confident as we can be,” said Hawksworth. “There was some stuff as a team that I think we needed to improve this past season.

“I think we all kind of recognized that and the team has taken really good, big steps to try and do that.

“I feel like, as a race team, personnel-wise, organizational-wise, we’re going into the season as prepared as we’ve ever been.

“Everybody always says that, going into a new season, but I genuinely feel that we’re way more prepared going into last season and we’re in a much better space.”

With Thompson having departed Vasser Sullivan and Lexus, an all-new lineup is expected in the team’s No. 12 GTD entry, with Telitz likely to be the pro-graded full-season driver, while Silver-rated Benjamin Pedersen ran with the team in last weekend’s test.

Frankie Montecalvo is likely to be back for the Michelin Endurance Cup races, with Toyota protégé Esteban Masson, who has impressed in Lexus machinery in the FIA World Endurance Championship, in line to complete the No. 12 car’s lineup for the Rolex 24.

Tony DiZinno contributed to this report

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