Barnicoat: “A Huge Privilege” to Test Toyota With Hawksworth

Photo: James Moy/Toyota

Ben Barnicoat said it’s a “huge privilege” for he and Jack Hawksworth to have been invited by Toyota Gazoo Racing to sample its Toyota GR010 Hybrid in the FIA World Endurance Championship rookie test.

The recently crowned IMSA GTD Pro champions with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus are turning their first laps at the wheel of a Hypercar class entry in Sunday’s test at Bahrain International Circuit.

The prospects of climbing behind the wheel of the GR010 Hybrid came about during the penultimate WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one race before the British duo locked up the title.

“We’re both here with Toyota Gazoo Racing, which has just won the world championship with Car 8 yesterday and the manufacturer’s with a round to spare,” Barnicoat told Sportscar365.

“You always strive to be in the best car as you can be and this is the top class of endurance racing with the world champions. It doesn’t get any better.

“We’re humbled to be invited by the bigger Lexus/Toyota family to be here.”

While both drivers had previous LMP2 experience from selected starts in this year’s European Le Mans Series, Barnicoat and Hawksworth said the Toyota handled at times closer to a GT car following their initial impressions of the car on Sunday morning.

Both drivers logged around ten laps each, sharing the No. 7 Toyota with WEC-nominated driver Josh Pierson, with additional mileage to come this afternoon.

“I think the biggest thing is that the car feels a little heavier,” Hawksworth said in comparison to a LMP2. “So it feels a little bit more towards a GT feel than a prototype feel.

“From that side of it, it’s quite easy to adjust rather than when you look back at the LMP1 days, they were ten seconds a lap faster and the cars were a lot more rigid and more nimble and the high-speed corners were a lot faster.

“It’s kind of more like a GT. It’s definitely closer than what you’d expect.

Barnicoat added: “A Hypercar is quite different. There’s a lot more power with the hybrid engine.

“With it being quite heavy, the roll sensation is a little bit more like a GT. It’s quite a hybrid between a prototype style an a GT style.

“The first laps definitely wasn’t quite what I expected it to be.

“But I’m super impressed by the acceleration of the hybrid engine and also the deceleration with the re-gen and stuff. It just stops really fast. It took me by surprise.”

Hawksworth and Barncioat, who drive a Lexus RC F GT3 in the WeatherTech Championship, were both given a “light version” of the GR010 Hybrid manual to learn button placements and other elements of the prototype.

Additionally, the drivers had a seat fitting and simulator session at Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe’s headquarters in Cologne prior to this weekend’s test.

“For me it was like learn the track, learn the car, the systems,” Hawksworth explained.

“It’s very complicated when you’re on the track there’s so many switches and things and information you’re given and things they’re asking you to do, knowing where everything is on the wheel.

“It wasn’t just one thing that was challenging. It was all challenging to be honest.

“The amount of stuff you can do in the car is probably the hardest thing. There’s so many systems.”

Hawksworth was equally grateful for the opportunity to sample the GR010 Hybrid, in what’s been a larger amount of crossover in drivers between Toyota’s WEC and Lexus IMSA programs in recent years.

“We had Mike [Conway] in the car at Daytona [this] year, so there’s been some crossover,” he said.

“The whole Toyota/Lexus family globally, drivers going to the U.S. racing Daytona and us coming over here and doing this test.

“It’s mega they let us come do this and give us an opportunity.”

Hawksworth, Barnicoat Focused on Defending IMSA GTD Pro Title in 2024

Both drivers downplayed any potential future role with Toyota in the Hypercar ranks, as well as Akkodis-ASP’s planned Lexus LMGT3 program, stating their focus will be on defending their WeatherTech Championship crown in 2024.

The prospects of a third Toyota at the 24 Hours of Le Mans currently appear unlikely, with technical director Pascal Vasselon telling reporters this weekend they will probably stick to a two-car approach for the French endurance classic next year.

“Really, this is an amazing opportunity for us to come here,” Hawksworth said. “It’s a really nice thing to do at the end of the year after such a successful year.

“For the moment, my focus is with the program in the U.S. and Lexus.

“Where it leads in the future, who knows. You never know how things are going to shake out but at the minute we’re very happy doing what we’re doing.

“We’ve had a super successful season and this is amazing to come here and be a part of this.”

Barnicoat added: “I couldn’t agree more. We’re both incredibly grateful to be invited and get the opportunity to do it.

“It’s incredible but we’re literally here just to try it out. There’s nothing [more] than that right now.

“We’re looking forward to trying to defend our IMSA title next year.”

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