Hawksworth Recalls “Whirlwind” Akkodis ASP Call-Up

Lexus factory driver Jack Hawksworth has described his “whirlwind” call-up to the Akkodis ASP team for next weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, as he arrived at scrutineering on Saturday fresh from an overnight flight from the U.S.

Hawksworth has been called up to replace Jose Maria Lopez in the lineup for the No. 87 Lexus RC F GT3 alongside Takeshi Kimura and Esteban Masson, following Toyota’s decision for Lopez to substitute for an injured Mike Conway in its Hypercar squad.

The Vasser Sullivan IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship full-timer was due to appear in this weekend’s Michelin Pilot Challenge race at Mid-Ohio before receiving word from Toyota that he would instead be heading across the Atlantic to join Akkodis ASP at Le Mans.

“I got the call at 12 p.m. on Friday, about three hours before first practice at Mid-Ohio,” recalled Hawksworth. “I was on my way to the circuit and then I got a phone call from Andy Graves from TRD.

“It was quite funny, because I had a text from [Vasser Sullivan IMSA teammate] Parker Thompson asking if I was going to Le Mans, and I was like, ‘Why would I be going to Le Mans?’ And then he sent me an article saying Mike had been injured.

“The second I texted him back to say I hadn’t heard anything, the phone rang, and that was it! I was on my way here, all systems go.

“I went to the track, picked up my stuff, then I went back to the hotel to pick up some more stuff, and then I went straight to Detroit and booked a flight on the way. I flew to Charles de Gaulle [in Paris] overnight and then came straight here.

“Because I thought I was racing at Mid-Ohio, I had only packed for two or three days, so I definitely need to do some clothes shopping!”

Notwithstanding the unusual nature of his debut, Hawksworth says he is relishing the prospect of his first Le Mans in his eighth year representing Lexus.

“I’m super-excited,” he said. “It’s something I’ve never done before, and also to do it with a Lexus, a brand I’ve been racing for for so long, is kind of cool as well. It’s been a whirlwind, but it’s going to be a nice experience. 

“It wasn’t on my radar for this year, but it all came about so quickly.

“I always wanted to race at Le Mans at some point, but with the way the GT3 class is here with the Am drivers, it was hard to see when I was going to get the opportunity. But here we are!”

Hawksworth, who will complete his mandatory simulator session at the ACO’s facility just outside Paris on Monday following Sunday’s test day, says he is keeping his expectations in check for his La Sarthe debut.

“It’s really hard to tell, we don’t know the performance of the car yet compared to anyone else,” said the Briton.

“It’s also the first Le Mans for the team, first for the RC F, so there are a lot of unknowns.

“My approach is to go in really open-minded, focus on the basics, try and get dialed in to the track, and let the week evolve. I don’t have any expectation of a result.”