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Reigning champion Ben looked to be on for a strong result to sign off the season, before a technical issue brought an early end to the challenge.
The IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with a new format for the penultimate round of the 2024 calendar. The iconic venue played host to the six-The IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship concluded over the weekend for Ben Barnicoat, and his Vasser Sullivan teammates at Motul Petit Le Mans. The reigning champion looked to be on for a strong result to sign off the season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, with the #14 Lexus RC F GT3 leading the GTD Pro field in the early stages of the 10-hour race, however a technical issue would bring an early end to the challenge. ‘Battle on the Bricks’, and Ben Barnicoat was back in the #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3, climbing the order to eventually finish P4 in challenging conditions.
The race had started well for the #14 crew, going off strategy early to make a move up the order. Ben’s full season teammate, Jack Hawksworth, took the start, gaining several positions before switching for Kyle Kirkwood, who took an early race lead as the race progressed. Just before the three-hour mark, having led for 28 laps, the #14 fluro yellow and black Lexus made another scheduled stop, switching for Ben, who picked up immediately where his teammates had left off.
With pace and strategy both looking strong, Ben continued to battle hard, but this charge was brought to an early conclusion, stopping at turn 7 with a technical issue which would prove terminal.
Ben explained:
“It is really disappointing to end Petit Le Mans early for the second year in a row. It looked like we had a good day going after Jack (Hawksworth) made a great start, and then we went off strategy with Kyle, and that was working out well. We made 16 seconds up on the field doing that, so I’m sure that would’ve come back to us later in the race, and we would’ve been in a positive position. I just hate that we had a technical failure, for everyone involved. It’s been a tough season, and it would’ve been nice to end on a high, with a result that everyone on this Vasser Sullivan team deserves. Congratulations to the #12 crew on the podium finish, it was very well deserved!”
While it was a disappointing end to a promising race start, and to the season as a whole, the 2024 campaign has seen Ben perform at his usual high standards, scoring a brace of IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship race victories and a further podium. Defending his GTD Pro title, the 27-year-old secured a memorable win at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, followed just a month later by a second consecutive win on the streets of Long Beach. His third visit to the championship podium came at Detroit, where he scored an impressive P2 finish.
Ben added:
“Looking back at this season, to win Sebring with two great teammates, and our entire Vasser Sullivan Lexus team, was a real highlight. Not only for the season, but in my career. Thank you to everyone for this season, and the opportunities that I have had. I look forward to what the future holds.”