Telitz, Montecalvo to Continue in Vasser Sullivan’s GTD Entry

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Vasser Sullivan has retained Aaron Telitz and Frankie Montecalvo for its GTD class campaign in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year, it has been confirmed.

The duo will continue at the wheel of the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 for a second consecutive season, with the remainder of the lineup for the Michelin Endurance Cup races, including the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona, to be announced “in the coming weeks” according to a joint statement from team co-owners Jimmy Vasser and James ‘Sulli’ Sullivan.

“Aaron and Frankie have wins, podiums and poles with our organization. We’ve got a lot of confidence in these guys to lead us to a championship,” said a joint statement from Vasser and Sullivan.

Telitz, who started his WeatherTech Championship career in the team’s No. 14 Lexus, made the switch to the No. 12 car alongside Montecalvo for the 2022 season.

“I’ve now got a year under my belt as car leader and am feeling comfortable in that role now,” Telitz said. “Frankie and I are hungry as we felt like we were robbed of a couple wins in 2022 that could’ve changed our entire season.

“We’ve got all the tools we need at our disposal with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus to go out and challenge for wins at every track and make a run at the GTD championship in 2023.”

Silver-rated Montecalvo, meanwhile, is set for his fifth season with the team.

“I’m very happy to be back in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 for another season,” he said. “It’s even better to be back in the car with Aaron to finish unfinished business.

“We, as a team, and the entire Vasser Sullivan group, have only grown stronger together. The 2023 season has great promise. We just need to build off of last year. I cannot wait to get going at Daytona.”

With the team’s GTD lineup set, it has resulted in an unchanged full-season squad for Vasser Sullivan following confirmation last week that Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat will return to the No. 14 Lexus in the GTD Pro class.

“We’re excited to see Frankie and Aaron together again campaigning the full season in the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 for Vasser Sullivan,” said Lexus Motorsports senior director Jeff Bal.

“The drivers and the entire team made incredible gains throughout last season and we’re ready to see them have success early and often beginning at Daytona next month.

“Strategy and execution were solid all season long in 2022. They just needed a little bit more luck during a few races to have the wins come their way.

“Overall, we’re excited to see what the team can do in their bid for a GTD championship run in 2023.”

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