Lexus Racing driver Parker Thompson’s mom initially worried about his passion for racing, a path he inherited from his speed-loving dad, who bought him his first dirt bike at the age of five.

“It took about two weeks before my mom sold that bike out from under us and said, ‘No way is my son going down the path of two wheels,’” Thompson says. “‘It’s too dangerous!’ So, at eight, we convinced her four wheels was much safer. She bought it and almost 20 years later, here we are.”

The Alberta, Canada, native has been lighting up the racetrack ever since. This year, he returned to Vasser Sullivan in the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 for his third season, partnering with Jack Hawksworth.

Scoring Wins, Collecting Memories

Earlier this spring, he planted the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 on the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) pole for the third round of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

While his career is filled with outstanding racing memories, some moments have left a truly lasting impression.

“I’m biased, but the GTD class win at Long Beach in 2024 with Ben Barnicoat highlights what my career was,” he says. “Obviously, we finished second there this year, which is a highlight too, but the win in 2024 and getting my first IMSA sprint race win was special. And the magic around Long Beach. It’s one of the coolest races on the calendar. That one takes the cake.”

Losing Control To Stay Balanced 

Although many races stand out in his career, Thompson isn’t driven by one defining moment. Rather, he lives by a particular outlook that applies equally to his life on and off the track.

“I’ve come to realize in life there are things you can control and others you cannot control,” he says. “And if you worry about the things you can’t control, you forget about those you can control; so that’s something I try to take not only in racing, but in life. The only way you’re going to perform is letting go of the variables that happen that are out of your control.”

Loud and Proud 

Given the myriad variables inherent in racing, Thompson credits his team’s collective energy with keeping them charged and consistently pushing forward.

“Our personality makes us stand out,” he says. “We’re loud, we’re vibrant. It’s a great group of people working towards one goal.”