WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 28, 2019) – Lexus and AIM VASSER SULLIVAN (AVS) are set to compete in the third IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Michelin Endurance Cup race at Watkins Glen International on Sunday. The six-hour race is the third of four endurance events during the 2019 IMSA season.

AVS drivers Jack Hawksworth and Richard Heistand are coming off two consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class race wins in the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3. So far this season, Hawksworth and Heistand have teamed up to score wins at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in May and earlier this month at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park in Detroit. The No. 12 Lexus, driven by Townsend Bell and Frankie Montecalvo, also earned a podium result in Detroit with a third-place finish to give the RC F GT3 its first double-podium result in IMSA competition.

Lexus is currently second in the overall GTD manufacturer point standings and both AVS RC F GT3 entries currently rank second (No. 12) and third (No. 14), respectively, in the IMSA GTD championship point standings. Lexus leads the manufacturer point standings in IMSA’s new Sprint Cup Championship, that only includes the seven sprint races, and Hawksworth and Heistand lead the Sprint Cup driver and team standings with the No. 12 Lexus currently sitting in fourth place. This weekend’s race at Watkins Glen will not count toward the Sprint Cup point standings.

The Lexus RC F GT3 returns to Watkins Glen International for the third time. Hawksworth has raced the RC F GT3 twice at the 3.4-mile Upstate New York road course, recording a pole position last year and two top-five finishes in 2017 (fifth) and 2018 (fourth). Aaron Telitz returns to the No. 12 Lexus at Watkins Glen with co-drivers Bell and Montecalvo, while Philipp Frommenwiler joins Hawksworth and Heistand driving the No. 14 RC F GT3 at the Upstate New York road course. Telitz was victorious in his only start at the Glen, leading 23 laps en route to victory lane in the Indy Lights race there in 2017.

The No. 12 RC F GT3 has registered top-10 results in both endurance events this year, including a second-place podium result at the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona. The No. 14 recorded a fifth-place result at Daytona and had an issue at Sebring that ended their day early, finishing in 15^th-place.

 The six-hour event on Sunday begins at 9:45 a.m. EDT with live flag to flag coverage on the NBC Sports App. Race coverage on NBCSN will be a delayed broadcast and begin at 7 p.m. EDT on Sunday evening.  Fans can also keep up with Lexus Racing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by using #LexusRCF GT3, #LexusPerformance and #LexusRacing, and online at www.Lexus.com/Motorsports.

AIM VASSER SULLIVAN Driver Quotes

JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

What is your outlook racing the RC F GT3 at Watkins Glen coming off two consecutive race wins?
“I am really looking forward to the race at Watkins Glen. It is one of my favorite tracks, very high speed and very high grip and the kind of circuit that the Lexus RCF GT3 has worked very well at in the past. It has been a great start to the season for the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN team and it is important now that we do our best to continue that trend for the rest of the year. It’ll be great to have Phillip (Frommenwiler) back alongside Richard (Heistand) and myself, and I hope we can execute a really solid race weekend.”

RICHARD HEISTAND, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

Are you excited to get back on-track at Watkins Glen in the RC F GT3 after two straight victories?
“I’m really excited for the Glen. It’s a fast and flowing track. The fastest we have driven to date. No doubt the first few laps are going to be fun. From there you get used to it and it’s down to business. That said, this will be my first time returning to the Glen since I raced an Indy Lights car there in 2007. I never did end up racing that weekend due to an issue in practice so this will be a first.”

PHILIPP FROMMENWILER, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3

Are you looking forward to being back in the Lexus RC F GT3 at Watkins Glen?
“I’m really looking forward to the weekend. It’s great to be back with AIM VASSER SULLIVAN for the third round of the IMSA Endurance Cup. The Lexus RCF GT3 showed good pace in the last two races with two wins in a row. We are a strong team and I hope we are able to fight for the podium at Watkins Glen.”

TOWNSEND BELL, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

Do you enjoy racing at Watkins Glen International?

“Watkins Glen is a great track in a beautiful part of the world.  I always look forward to hitting the high-speed corners and aggressive flow that Watkins requires.  I’ve finished on the podium there but haven’t won, so we’re hungry for that top step.   Aaron (Telitz) will be back with us and I expect he’ll pick up right on the pace as he did in Sebring. “

FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

What is your outlook for Watkins Glen coming off a podium finish at Detroit?
“I am extremely excited to head to Watkins Glen for the six-hour race this weekend. We had an extremely productive weekend for the 12 Lexus at the Detroit Grand Prix. For such a little amount of track time, we as a team learned so much about the set up and driving of the Lexus RC F GT3. It will be great to get back to the Glen for our next round of the endurance championship and hope to continue the momentum from Detroit.”

AARON TELITZ, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3

Are you excited to get back in the Lexus RC F GT3 with AIM VASSER SULLIVAN this weekend?
“I can’t wait to get back at it with the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN guys at Watkins Glen. They’re on a roll and I’d like to keep it going. I love driving at the Glen. It’s an old school track with lots of fast flowing corners. It rewards bravery and bites hard if you go past the limit. I’ve had success at the Glen in the past and the team is really hitting their stride. It should be an awesome weekend.”