Hawksworth began the day on pole within the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3, however the day rapidly derailed after he was penalized and despatched to the rear of the sector for inadvertently hanging a crew member throughout his first pit cease.
Though the setback was important, the three drivers have been in a position to methodically march ahead. Hawksworth was handed the keys — and a possibility for redemption — for the ultimate stint.
The twelfth and last warning of IMSA’s once-around-the-clock endurance traditional featured an intense battle develop between race chief Daniel Serra in Risi Competizione’s Ferrari 296 GT3, Hawksworth, and the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Daniel Juncadella. Hawksworth and Juncadella went forwards and backwards for second earlier than the previous squeezed by and set sights on Serra.
With 20 minutes remaining, Hawksworth and Serra tangled in a livid battle across the 3.74-mile, 17-turn circuit that featured loads of gritty contact earlier than the Lexus pulled off a daring transfer down the within of the Ferrari into Flip 1 and rating a 0.121s victory.
“Yeah, it was. We knew it was going to be a battle,” Hawksworth mentioned.
“These lengthy races, it’s a must to do every part completely. Everybody has to do their job completely completely simply to be there to actually have a probability on the finish. You then simply hope that the playing cards fall your means. We had a troublesome day. However the crew, we made good steps over the low season. We needed to return and present what we may do, proper? This has been a correct bounce again.
“(Saturday) everybody was excellent. We had the one clearly drive-through early within the race, a wobble there. Aside from that, it was rock strong all day. The fellows on pit lane have been unbelievable all day. Ben and Kyle have been absolute monsters on the market. Yeah, we ended up within the struggle there on the finish. Come out on prime. I could not be prouder of everyone. Yeah, the final 4 hours on the market have been completely nuts.”
The victory was the primary for the crew since Watkins Glen final July, and the second endurance racing victory for Lexus. For Barnicoat and Hawksworth, the defending GTD Professional champions, this outcome made it podium finishes in 14 of 17 races courting again Lime Rock Park in July 2022.
Whereas it additionally was a step after final yr’s powerful runner-up outcome at Sebring, the outing offered a lift after struggling an early retirement to start out the season within the Daytona 24 Hours in January.
“Yeah, it is large,” Barnicoat mentioned. “Clearly large for the group. All of the Lexus racing guys have been grinding, working so exhausting, searching for perfection yr in, yr out. I have been fortunate to step in this system satellite tv for pc such an excellent time.
“First yr acquired Atlanta, Petit Le Mans win, which was extremely large. Final yr we received Watkins Glen and the championship. Now we ticked off Sebring. Simply acquired Daytona left to go.
“We had an actual tough begin to this season, however that efficiency (Saturday) confirmed why we have been champions final yr. That was undoubtedly a champion’s comeback and acquired our season nicely and actually again on monitor. We’re trying ahead to going from right here.”
Becoming a member of Vasser Sullivan and Risi Competizione on the rostrum was the Iron Lynx group within the No. 19 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.
Though Juncadella appeared poised for the rostrum however was knocked out of the race by AO Racing’s Laurens Heinrich within the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R, who was fell from competition after receiving a drive by penalty for his half within the incident.
Whereas there have been loads of damage emotions after the checkered flag, Hawksworth offered his tackle the physicality of the race.
“I imply, every part appeared all proper after the race,” Hawksworth mentioned.
“It’s what it’s. It is exhausting racing on the finish of the race. You are racing for the Twelve Hours of Sebring. On the finish of the day, we’re racing to win. Nothing past the road, if that is smart. It was tough, exhausting racing. I acquired roughed round a bit, misplaced positions. Different instances I received positions.
“Yeah, that is IMSA racing. It is hard-fought. There is a little bit of garbage racing, proper? That is what we do over right here. We come out on prime. If folks wish to cry, they’ll.”
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