TELITZ, PEDERSEN CLAIM VICTORY IN NO. 12 VASSER SULLIVAN LEXUS RC F GT3 AT GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH
Race Summary:
Vasser Sullivan Championship Racing returned to victory lane for the first time since 2024, bringing home the victory at the Grand Prix of Long Beach in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 with Aaron Telitz and Benjamin Pedersen behind the wheel.
Pedersen qualified the No. 12 seventh but started sixth after their teammate was issued a post-qualifying penalty. After the drop of the green flag, Pedersen settled into seventh before working his way forward, breaking into the top five by Lap 9.
Continuing to show a strong pace, Pedersen climbed to fourth before making the team’s only pit stop of the 100-minute race on Lap 26 for a driver change to Telitz and fuel only. Telitz returned to the track in fifth before cycling up to fourth as pit strategy played out across the field.
By Lap 35, Telitz advanced to third and just five laps later, moved into the runner-up position. When the No. 89 sister car pitted from the lead, Telitz inherited the top spot. From there, Telitz controlled the race, leading the final 29 laps to secure his sixth career victory with Vasser Sullivan and Pedersen’s first win with the team and in GTD competition.
Quotes:
Aaron Telitz:
“Such a big win for this Vasser Sullivan Lexus team; for Sealmaster, Endava and all the partners who’ve stuck with us. It’s been a couple of years since the Lexus RC F GT3 has been in victory lane. Couldn’t be prouder to do it here in Long Beach!”
Benjamin Pedersen:
“Oh my goodness! Have to give it to my teammate here (Aaron Telitz). (I) handed the car off in a good spot and he brought it home! This beast (Lexus RC F GT3) was absolutely on rails all day. Aaron did a great job, as did the whole crew. Long Beach! What can be better than that!?”
Notes:
No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3:
Telitz and Pedersen are the full-time drivers of the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season in GTD.
The No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus had its best finish at the Grand Prix of Long Beach today as they brought home the win.
Telitz is competing in his eighth 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.
This is Pedersen’s first season with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus. He progressed through the open-wheel ranks with campaigns in British Formula 3 and Formula 4 United States championships before advancing to INDY NXT and the NTT INDYCAR Series. Over the past two seasons he previously competed in IMSA’s LMP2 class, earning three top five finishes in 2025.
Vasser Sullivan Lexus:
This was the sixth time Vasser Sullivan and Lexus competed together at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. The team has two wins, including in GTD PRO with Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat in 2023 and in GTD with Barnicoat and Thompson in 2024, along with three double podiums, and three pole positions.
The Grand Prix of Long Beach kicks off the sprint season as the first of six sprint events in the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar season. The others are at Laguna Seca, the Detroit Grand Prix, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Virginia International Raceway and the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The 2026 IMSA season marks the eighth year Lexus and Vasser Sullivan have partnered together. During that time the Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3s have earned an impressive 16 wins, 49 podiums, and 27 poles. They have won the GTD PRO Championship in 2023 and the GTD Sprint Cup Championship in 2020.