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VASSER SULLIVAN CLOSES THE 2025 SEASON WITH A PODIUM FINISH AT PETIT LE MANS

Oct 13, 2025

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PODIUM FINISH MARKS STRONG SEASON END FOR NO. 12
 

Race Summary:

  • Frankie Montecalvo qualified the SealMaster liveried No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 11th in GTD for today’s Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and ran the opening three hours of the 10-hour race.  
  • During his stints, Montecalvo skillfully avoided an accident on the opening lap and slowly started working his way through the field. About three hours into the race, during the fifth caution, he pitted from second for tires, fuel and handed driving duties over to Parker Thompson. 
  • Thompson restarted third when the field went back to green and maintained his position throughout his stint. He pitted about four hours into the event for tires and fuel, and Jack Hawksworth got in the No. 12.  
  • Hawksworth ran one stint, remained in the top three, and pit about five hours into the race, handing driving duties back to Thompson. 
  • Thompson ran two more stints and remained in the top five before pitting with just under three hours remaining for tires and fuel. Hawksworth took over the helm of the No. 12 to close out the 10-hour season finale. 
  • Hawksworth returned to the track in sixth but quicky cycled back up to fourth. Before his next pit stop with about two hours remaining, he was up to third where he remained until the end of the race for the remainder of the race. 

Quotes:
Jack Hawksworth: 
“It was a really nice way to finish the season. To get on the podium is a massive moral boost for everybody. It was a really difficult weekend on the 12 side of the garage. We had an issue in practice 2 so we missed a lot of time. We had a chassis issue in practice 3 so we didn’t really have a clue what the car was going to be like going into the race today. We went with what we ran last year, and it turned out to be okay. Frankie (Montecalvo), Parker (Thompson) and I kept our Lexus RC F GT3 clean, we battled all day. The guys had a really good strategy, and we had a really good battle.”
 
Parker Thompson:
“I have to say this third-place finish feels really good with this group of guys. It was a tough weekend. We had a lot of things out of our control that didn’t quite go the right way, but we regrouped, we came together, we pushed through adversity like we always do, and we ended up on the box. I’m really proud of Jack’s (Hawksworth) drive at the end. He was a lion holding off that Aston Martin. Frankie (Montecalvo) did an awesome job as always and the only thing that went wrong today is the 14 car deserved to be up here with us and unfortunately, they got taken out by an LMP2. But this is good momentum to start next year.”
 
Frankie Montecalvo:
“I’m excited to finish the season on the podium. Everyone at the Lexus Vasser Sullivan crew did a phenomenal job and it was a nailbiter to the end. Jack (Hawksworth) and Parker (Thompson) had awesome drivers, we executed a perfect race, and it was a great way to finish the season.”
 

THE NO. 14 BATTLES UP FRONT ALL DAY BEFORE LATE-RACE CONTACT ENDS PODIUM BID 

Race Summary:

  • Aaron Telitz qualified on the outside of the front row in GTD PRO for today’s season finale at Road Atlanta in the SealMaster liveried No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3. He ran the opening hour and a half of the 10-hour race and pit during the third caution for tires, fuel and handed over driving duties to Kyle Kirkwood. 
  • Kirkwood drove the next hour and a half, and pit from sixth during the fifth caution for tires, fuel and a driver change to Ben Barnicoat.  
  • Just after three hours in, Barnicoat restarted fourth and was up to second by the end of his stint. He pitted for four tires and fuel and Telitz got in the No. 14 for two stints and maintained a spot in the top five. 
  • At almost six hours in, the sixth caution was displayed and Telitz came to pit road for tires and fuel. Kirkwood then climbed aboard the No. 14 for his final two stints. 
  • Kirkwood restarted third and quickly moved up to second. He maintained a position in the top three through a pit stop just after seven hours into the race. Kirkwood then pit from third just over eight hours in for tires, fuel and to pass over driving duties to Barnicoat. 
  • Barnicoat returned to the track in sixth and quickly cycled back up to third. With just under two hours remaining, he was hit in the back of the car by another competitor, resulting in a tire puncture and forced him to bring the No. 14 to pit lane. 
  • He got back on track and fought back to get on the lead lap to finish sixth at Petit Le Mans.

 
Quotes:
Ben Barnicoat: 
“Aaron (Telitz) did a fantastic job in qualifying to put us on the front row for the GTD PRO field. We ran in the top three all day long and we were right where we needed to be heading into the final two hours of the race at the front. I got in the car, we managed to get past the Corvette to be in third place and an LMP2 drove into the back of me, damaged the car and gave us a (tire) puncture. A disappointing finish for us today. Thank you to everyone at Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing who did a perfect job all day. Congratulations to the 12 car on the podium finish today.”
 
Aaron Telitz:
“What a tough way to end our 2025 season here at Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing. The 14 car was so good all day and the guys were killing it. We were staying at the front of the field all race and were in position for a podium there and just an absolute shame to get ran into on a straightaway by a competitor not even in our class. Just terrible luck and sums up our 2025 season. Big congratulations to the 12 car for getting on the podium today.” 
 
Kyle Kirkwood:
“It was not the best of ends here today in the 14 Lexus RC F GT3, but I’m happy for the 12 crew getting a podium here to finish off the year. It sets the tone for the offseason as we roll into what will be Daytona here shortly. We had a great race going on and factors out of our control kind of took over while we were running well on for a podium finish. I’m happy with the performance, happy with the teamwork, happy with everyone’s efforts here and happy with our Lexus. Just a little bit of misfortune caught us out here today and we hope to change that narrative next season.”
 
Notes:
No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3: 

  • Hawksworth and Thompson are the full-time drivers of the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season in GTD, with Frankie Montecalvo competing in all the endurance races. 
  • The No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus tied their best finish at Road Atlanta, with back-to-back third place finishes.  
  • Hawksworth has been with the Lexus GT3 program since its inception in 2017 and is contesting in his seventh season with Vasser Sullivan. The 2023 GTD PRO champion has scored 11 wins with the team and 12 total IMSA victories. Hawksworth has captured nine pole positions with Vasser Sullivan, 12 total with Lexus and 14 overall career poles in IMSA. He has earned one win at Road Atlanta in the 2022 Petit Le Mans with teammates Barnicoat and Kirkwood, and has earned three career poles at the 12-turn, 2.54-mile road course.  
  • Thompson is in his third season with Vasser Sullivan Racing and Lexus, this being his second season as a full-time driver after competing in the 2023 endurance races. The Canadian has two wins, the first coming at Watkins Glen in 2023 with Telitz and Montecalvo, and the second in 2024 at the Long Beach Grand Prix with Barnicoat. He has captured four poles with the team. 
  • Montecalvo is contesting in his seventh season with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus. He has scored two victories, the first in 2020 at Road America with Townsend Bell and the second at Watkins Glen in 2023 with Telitz and Thompson. He has earned five poles with the team.

 
No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3:

  • Barnicoat and Telitz are the full-time drivers of the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in GTD PRO with Kirkwood competing in select endurance races. 
  • The No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus had its best result at Road Atlanta by winning the 2022 Petit Le Mans with Hawksworth, Barnicoat and Kirkwood behind the wheel.  
  • Barnicoat is in his fourth season with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus. The 2023 GTD PRO Champion has seven IMSA wins, five in GTD PRO and two in GTD in as many starts. 
  • Telitz is competing in his seventh IMSA season, all with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus. He teamed with Hawksworth to win the 2020 GTD Sprint Cup driver, team and manufacturer championships. He has earned five wins and five poles in IMSA. 
  • Kirkwood, in his sixth season with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus, has been an endurance driver for the team since 2020. The Florida-native has won three IMSA races, two in GTD PRO and one in GTD in as many starts, and has captured two poles. Kirkwood was the 2021 Indy Lights Champion and is currently a full-time driver in the NTT INDYCAR Series competing with Andretti Autosport.

 
Vasser Sullivan Lexus:

  • This will be the eighth time Vasser Sullivan and Lexus will compete together at Road Atlanta with IMSA. They have one win at the 2.54-mile, 12-turn permanent road course with Hawksworth, Barnicoat and Kirkwood behind the wheel and two pole positions coming in 2022 and 2023. 
  • The 2025 season marks the seventh season Lexus and Vasser Sullivan have partnered together. During that time, the Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3s have earned an impressive 15 wins, 48 podiums, and 26 poles. They have won the GTD PRO Championship in 2023 and the GTD Sprint Cup Championship in 2020. 
  • Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta was the final of five endurances races and final race of the 2025 IMSA season. The other endurance races were the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, Six Hours at the Glen, and Battle on the Bricks at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.