Vasser Sullivan Racing has announced its drivers for the upcoming 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, headlined by the reunion of 2023 GTD PRO champions Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat for the full season.
The Lexus factory drivers make their return as the drivers of the No. 14 RC F GT3 in GTD PRO, while Andretti Global NTT IndyCar Series driver Kyle Kirkwood will return to support the team at select Michelin Endurance Cup races. Last season, Barnicoat drove the No. 14 car alongside Aaron Telitz, missed three races due to injuries sustained in a mountain biking accident, and ended the year with a best finish of fifth at Indianapolis.
Hawksworth moves over from the No. 12 GTD entry, where he and Parker Thompson finished fourth in the Drivers’ championship, and third in the GTD Teams’ championship, with five podiums and three pole positions together.
“I’m really excited to be back alongside Ben and Kyle in the No. 14 Lexus this season,” said Hawksworth. “We’ve had some historic victories together and of course, the 2023 GTD PRO championship. We’re coming into the 2026 IMSA season in a stronger position as a race team, and I know each of us drivers and every crew member within our Vasser Sullivan program are determined to bring championship performance and championship execution to the track next season. I can’t wait to get started!”
“Last year was not the season we had planned for, but in some of my hardest days, this team, which is now more like a family, were with me every step of the way,” said Barnicoat. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be back, and I can’t wait to repay everyone that stuck by me by fighting to get another IMSA championship for the team.
“Having Jack back in the No. 14 for the full season and having Kyle (Kirkwood) join us for the endurance races is a lineup I’m extremely excited to be a part of again. We’ve shared some special moments together and achieved so much in our time racing as a trio, and I have no doubt we will be adding to that long list of success in 2026.”
Vasser Sullivan’s No. 12 Lexus will have a new full-time driver line-up, with Telitz moving over from the No. 14 car to partner IndyCar alumnus Benjamin Pedersen, who made his IMSA debut last season with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports in LMP2, and scored a third-place podium finish at last year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Frankie Montecalvo will be the team’s third driver for the five-race Michelin Endurance Cup, as he was last year, while Toyota-supported young driver and reigning European Le Mans Series LMP2 Champion Esteban Masson will drive at Daytona, making his IMSA debut.
Masson split time between ELMS and Super Formula Lights in Japan, where the young Frenchman finished seventh in the standings after missing the opening round of the season.
With Friday’s reveal of the Toyota GR GT3 ahead of a full-scale launch in 2027, 2026 is expected to be the 10th and final season for the Lexus RC F GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. To date, Vasser Sullivan have combined to win 15 races, 49 podiums, 26 poles, and the 2023 IMSA GTD PRO title.
“We’re extremely fortunate to once again have one of the sport’s premier driver lineups with Vasser Sullivan for the 2026 IMSA season,” said Jeff Bal, Director of Motorsport for Lexus Racing. “The Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing team have worked incredibly hard over the offseason, fully focused on reclaiming the championship glory we achieved a few years ago. There would be no better way to begin our championship push than capturing victory at the season-opening Rolex 24, a win we’ve been chasing for a long time. We cannot wait to get back on the track!”