Pedersen Joins Vasser Sullivan Lexus GTD Effort

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Former NTT IndyCar Series driver Benjamin Pedersen will make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class debut as part of a revised full season lineup in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3.

Silver-rated Pedersen, who took part in the LMP2 ranks of the series this year with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports alongside a parallel program in the European Le Mans Series, will join Aaron Telitz in the GTD Lexus for the full season.

Frankie Montecalvo will again serve as the car’s third driver for the Michelin Endurance Cup races, with Toyota protégé Esteban Masson completing the lineup for next month’s season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The change comes amid Sportscar365’s previously reported reunion of Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat in the team’s No. 14 GTD Pro entry after Hawksworth spent a season in the GTD car alongside Parker Thompson, who has since departed the program.

IndyCar ace Kyle Kirkwood will compete the No. 14 car’s lineup for the endurance races.

Prior to his IMSA tenure, the 26-year-old Dane climbed the ranks in open wheel racing, with seasons in the British Formula 3 and Formula 4 U.S. championships, followed by Indy NXT and IndyCar competition.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic to be joining Vasser Sullivan and Lexus for the 2026 IMSA season,” said Pedersen. “The team’s professionalism, resources and hard work mentality is unmatched, and I can’t wait to get underway with this strong driver lineup.”

While Vasser Sullivan will start the season with its tried and trusted RC F GT3s, no word has been given if the recently launched Toyota GR GT3 could feature later in the year, as initially rumored.

Unlike the FIA World Endurance Championship that does not allow an in-season model change, the WeatherTech Championship permits one model change over the course of the year.

“We’re extremely fortunate to once again have one of the sport’s premier driver lineups with Vasser Sullivan for the 2026 IMSA season,” said Lexus Racing director of Motorsport Jeff Bal.

“The Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing team have worked incredibly hard over the offseason, fully focused on reclaiming the championship glory we achieved a few years ago.

“There would be no better way to begin our championship push than capturing victory at the season-opening Rolex 24, a win we’ve been chasing for a long time. We cannot wait to get back on the track.”

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