Following a standout 2024 season with two victories and three podium finishes, Lexus driver Ben Barnicoat is no stranger to winning. He also helped Lexus win the 2023 GTD PRO Driver and Manufacturer championship.

While these outstanding stats are a testament to his undeniable talent, losses also come with the territory — but don’t stop his drive. Most recently, he and Aaron Telitz earned an eighth-place result in the GTD PRO category in the No. 14 Lexus at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).

Although it wasn’t the outcome he hoped for, he’s still optimistic about what lies ahead.

“We tried our best and our best was a P8. 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, and 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 a lot of speed this weekend, and it really showed there in the race.” said Barnicoat, who is in his fourth season driving the No. 14 Lexus. “We lacked speed, but it wasn’t for lack of effort from everyone from Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing USA. We’ll analyze and see if there is anything we could have done to do a better job and try to improve things for the Indianapolis six-hour race.”

While he and Telitz earned an eighth-place result in the GTD PRO category in the No. 14 Lexus at VIR, Barnicoat’s stellar track record and strong professional background points to great things ahead for the racing driver.

Like Father, Like Son
Growing up in Chesterfield, England, Barnicoat was surrounded by construction, cars and the need for speed. He credits his father for introducing him to what would become a successful career.

“I think what first drew me to the sport of racing was my dad,” he says. “He worked in construction and was also quite a bit of a fan of racing, so I was always around machinery and moving.”

A family vacation also contributed to sparking his passion. “We would go go-karting locally and the rest is history,” Barnicoat says. “I’ve been racing ever since then.”

Defining Moments That Fuel Lasting Memories
Barnicoat’s extensive race history is marked by pivotal events and remarkable accomplishments that will last a lifetime.

“My favorite memory of driving the Lexus RC F GT3 was winning the Petit Le Mans in 2022,” he says. “That was my third win with the race team, and it was our first endurance win. Obviously, that was my first year on the team, and we won a couple of sprint races, but the team had already won sprint races and had good moments, but I just remember the feeling and the atmosphere was just electric around that win.”

While victory is always the ultimate goal, Barnicoat’s commitment to it remains unwavering, regardless of the race outcome.

“When you are having a bad day, it’s so easy to throw in the towel and think, ‘well, I’ll get it next time,’ but you really don’t know what’s around the corner, and you have to live every day like it’s your last, so you never give up,” he says.

Driving Forces Behind the Wins 
His accomplishments and fortitude stem from countless hours of practice, sacrifice and, of course, guidance. Most athletes don’t reach this level of success by themselves.

“I’ve been very, very lucky to have a lot of great people touch my career,” Barnicoat says.

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