IMSA action resumes with a tough weekend at VIR

The IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Challenge continued with the GT-only round at VIRginia International Raceway at the weekend, and Ben Barnicoat was back on track with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing. The Brit showed quick pace, and the team looked to shake up the result through strategy, battling hard to claim P8 at the line.

After progress being made over the opening practice sessions, Ben’s teammate Aaron Telitz took on qualifying duties, ending the shootout session with some work to do in the race, lining up in P10.

The race got underway with incidents from the green flag lap, as Aaron battled hard to gain ground while simultaneously defending from the chasing pack. A first caution period was thrown on the second lap, and the #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 ran in P9 after a strong restart. A roll of the dice saw the pitwall make a strategy call shortly before the 40 minute mark, making a switch to Ben.

Fully serviced, Ben joined the action with just over two hours remaining, and set about closing the gap to the field ahead. He battled hard, posting clean and consistent laptimes around the 3.27-mile VIR circuit, making steady progress to bring down the gap ahead, climbing up to P8 before a further full course yellow.

A gamble on strategy saw the #14 crew make a fuel stop with just over an hour remaining, and the team then covered off the risk with a final splash-and-dash while the field ran under caution. This play had seen the #14 climb as high as P6, but with the field now closed up and with Ben running on aging tyres, he was forced to defend for the remaining laps. A defiant effort saw the Brit hold on to P8 as the Michelin GT Challenge drew to a close.

Ben explained:

“We tried our best, and our best was a P8. I don’t feel like we could have done a lot different out there to change our end result, in all honesty. We had a clean start, the guys did a fantastic job in the pits, and I feel like we made the best strategy calls we could. Ultimately, we were lacking some speed this weekend, and it showed up in the race. It wasn’t for lack of effort from everyone from Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing, but we’ll analyse everything and see if there is anything we can do to improve things for the Indianapolis six-hour race.”

Ben is back in action with the Lexus RC F GT3 at his much anticipated return to the World Endurance Championship over the weekend 5-7 September. The calendar heads Stateside for the Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of the Americas as Ben rejoins Team Akkodis ASP. The IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship then resumes at the Battle of the Bricks, 19-21 September.