Lexus Racing Grabs Podium Finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Lexus Racing delivered a strong performance at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sprint race, earning another podium for the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 team.

Jack Hawksworth and Parker Thompson secured a third-place finish in the GTD class after starting from pole position. Hawksworth, who earned his first pole of the season and third career pole at CTMP during Saturday’s qualifying, dominated the early part of Sunday’s race by leading the first 36 laps. A mid-race caution led to a busy round of pit stops, during which Thompson took over driving duties. Unfortunately, heavy congestion on pit lane caused the No. 12 to fall back in the GTD field. Despite the setback, Thompson drove with precision and determination, and smart strategy by the Vasser Sullivan crew kept the team in contention. A late-race incident led to an extended caution, ending the race under yellow and preventing Thompson from challenging for the lead in the closing laps.

The third-place result marks the fourth podium of the 2025 season for the No. 12 team, who continue to hold second place in the GTD driver and team standings, trailing the leaders by 93 points.

In the GTD PRO class, Aaron Telitz and Ben Barnicoat finished eighth in the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3. Telitz started the race from second and held that position until a scheduled stop brought Barnicoat into the car. After the GTD PRO field cycled through their pit stops, Barnicoat briefly took the lead and stayed there for five laps. However, like their teammates, the No. 14 team was affected by pit road traffic following the caution and lost critical track position. Barnicoat fought back and recovered a few spots before taking the checkered flag in eighth.

The Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 teams now look ahead to their next challenge at Road America on Sunday, August 3. Fans can stay up to date on all Lexus Racing news and race weekend coverage by following along on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok using the hashtag #LexusPerformance.

Jack Hawksworth, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

“Hard-fought third-place finish today. The Vasser Sullivan team gave us an excellent Lexus RC F GT3. We controlled the race early until that mid-race stop. Parker did a great job fighting back, and the team made some smart calls to get us into podium position. We would have liked to do even better, but we’ll carry this momentum into Road America.”

Parker Thompson, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

“It’s tough to not have a shot at the win after all the work the team put in, but this was a result we needed. We’re still in the title hunt. When your closest competitor finishes second and you come in third, you’ve done your job to stay in the fight. We’re heading to Road America ready to keep pushing.”

Ben Barnicoat, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

“It’s a frustrating finish to what had been a promising weekend. We had the pace, Aaron did an excellent job in his opening stint, and we led after the stops. That yellow flag and pit traffic set us back, and we just didn’t have enough time to recover. Still, the car felt great and the team continues to show what we’re capable of.”

Aaron Telitz, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

“We had the speed again this weekend, so it’s disappointing not to walk away with a better result. The mid-race stop shuffled us back, and we just weren’t able to climb our way back up. But we’re building strong momentum and I’m confident we’ll be ready for Road America.”