WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 28, 2021) – The Vasser Sullivan No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 finished sixth in Sunday’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship six-hour endurance race at Watkins Glen International with drivers Jack Hawksworth, Aaron Telitz and Kyle Kirkwood.

Kirkwood started on the pole position in the No. 14 Lexus for Sunday’s race and the trio of drivers combined to lead the GTD field for 22 laps around the 11 turn, 3.4-mile Upstate New York Road course. The team was in contention to fight for a win when a caution came out in the final hour of the race and the car was shuffled back along with the other leaders due to pit strategy and they went on to finish sixth.

The No. 12 Lexus ran as high as third during the race and finished 11th on Sunday with drivers Zach Veach, Frankie Montecalvo and Robert Megennis. Montecalvo started the six-hour endurance event in sixth and moved up quickly into the top-three, however the No. 12 Lexus fell back midway in the race and went on to finish 11th.

Lexus and Vasser Sullivan Racing return to the track on Friday, July 2 for a sprint race at Watkins Glen with live coverage on NBCSN beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET.  Follow the Lexus Racing action all season on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by using #LexusRCF GT3, #LexusPerformance and #LexusRacing.

Vasser Sullivan Driver Quotes
JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
Can you talk about your race today?
“We had a really good race. We had a really good battle with the 16 car. We were able to jump him a couple of stops before the end to allow a little bit of a gap and we felt like we were in really good position if the race stayed green. We were in great position, and we were in control of the race, but then a yellow came out and unfortunately, we had a bit of an issue with the fuel probe during our pit stop. We didn’t pit before the yellow and some cars had so we cycled back to seventh. It was so hard to pass out there. Once you were in the train there was nothing you could do. It’s impossible to pass at this track, but we were able to pass Patrick Long in the 16 and finish sixth. Another one just slips away. The Vasser Sullivan guys did a good job, and we were there again right until the end. Everything needs to go right in these races and we just missed out today.”

AARON TELITZ, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
How was your race?
“It was looking like a really promising day here at Watkins Glen for the Sahlen six hours. We started from the pole position and Kyle (Kirkwood) had a great couple of stints and then it just kind of turned into a strategy and fuel saving race from the halfway point on and we just got a little unlucky in the end. We weren’t on the right strategy when that last yellow came. What could have been, but the good news is we have a race in less than a week. We’ll be back here at Watkins Glen looking for a vengeance. We’re confident for next week as we know we have a good Lexus RC F GT3.”

KYLE KIRKWOOD, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
Are you disappointed with the race result today?
“I think we had an exceptional race. We dominated and had some really good strategy calls to get us back out front. Unfortunately, I lost one of those positions early on, but we were able to save enough to be able to be in contention. We can’t control those cautions and we have to run our own strategy and everyone kind of follows us. Some people ran some kind of split strategy to hope for something like that and it paid off for them. We did all we could do. We were set to win the race, but unfortunately the caution caught us out.”

ZACH VEACH, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
How was the handling during the race today?
“Definitely a hard day for us. It started off well with the first stint. Frankie (Montecalvo) did a heck of a job running in the top three and just seemed to lose pace throughout the race with a handling issue. I was doing pretty much everything I could. We were just kind of stuck where we were, we could never go forward. The Vasser Sullivan guys are great, and they’ll go through the entire car and figure out what’s going on. It’s just unfortunate because we had a great Lexus RC F GT3 and for things to go wrong for us in the race is just frustrating. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”

FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
How was your race?
“It was a tough race today for both Vasser Sullivan cars. We had a good start and worked our way up to P3 in my first stint and it was just a little tough luck at the end that put us out of contention for a podium and a top-10 at that. We’re looking on to next weekend’s race here at Watkins Glen. I think we learned a lot and we’re going to come out swinging again and we’ll have a good shot at it.”

ROBERT MEGENNIS, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
How was your race today?
“Today was the best I’ve felt in the Lexus RC F GT3. I wasn’t that far off the pace, so I was happy with the way I drove. There’s still some things I need to work on, and we need to work on as a team. The pit stops were tough today, but I know we have a great group of people at Vasser Sullivan who will keep pushing and rebound from this. I’m proud of everyone for making it through the six-hour and we just need to keep pushing. We have some wins coming.”