Vasser Sullivan Racing’s #14 Lexus RC F GT3 took the win at the two‑hour‑and‑forty‑minute Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park after a razor‑thin pit‑lane tactic in the first pit cycle.
Strategic Pit Stop Breaks the Field
After a late‑comer launch from sixth, Jack Hawksworth steadied the car to fourth before the first pit stop 42 minutes into the race.
Engineer Geoff Fickling and strategist Dwight Brown opted for a short fill, leaving fuel levels low and completing the stop in 46.179 seconds. That brief lapse in time allowed the Lexus to leap ahead of its rivals on the pit lane.
Ben Barnicoat Seizes the Lead
Ben Barnicoat took over at the restart and quickly capitalized on the new position by slipping past Nikita Johnson’s McLaren on the same lap.
He then held the front for 78 of the final 118 laps, guiding the team to a 1.993‑second victory margin.
A Victory With Emotional Weight
The triumph marked the 20th IMSA win for the Lexus RC F GT3 platform and the 18th for Vasser Sullivan, with Canadian Tire Motorsport Park becoming the ninth circuit where the team has won.
Both drivers noted that starting from the front had previously hindered their efforts, and the sixth‑grid start felt like a strategic advantage.
Championship Implications
Back‑to‑back wins have pushed Hawksworth and Barnicoat back into the points conversation, 150 points behind the leaders and 60 points separating second through sixth.
Barnicoat emphasized that the team’s focus remains on outright victories, while Hawksworth noted that “the points will take care of themselves” if they keep winning.
With four races left, the pressure shifts to Vasser Sullivan’s rivals, but the team’s decisive moves could keep them in contention until the season’s finish.
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