The 2026 version of the Sebring 12 Hours can be a profession milestone for Jack Hawksworth as he makes his a centesimal profession IMSA begin. He has a dozen wins, and nearly all of these got here whereas driving a Lexus RC F GT3.
“It is loopy, actually,” mentioned Hawksworth about his upcoming a centesimal begin. “Time flies, and clearly, I have been lucky sufficient to be with Lexus for the very best time. I imply, for a decade now, and you understand, we have competed in numerous races collectively, 100 to be actual, and can be after this weekend’s Sebring race. However, yeah, there’s been numerous fairly good moments, and a few so not so good moments. It has been actually cool to form of be a part of the a part of this household and be part of the success and the championships and the race wins that we have been capable of have. It’s been the spotlight of my profession to be with this model and to do it for therefore lengthy.”
Hawksworth additionally admitted that he had no concept bout the milestone till Lexus PR knowledgeable him, saying his preliminary response was ‘shock’ that he had already reached that many begins.
“It’s only a quantity, proper? The stats that you really want are the win stats and the and the rostrum stats. However the stat to have began 100 races with (principally) the identical producer, that is form of like, yeah, I believe it is cool and I look again a bit bit and form of simply understand the entire journey we have been on proper from the start of this program.”
The Vasser Sullivan driver is a champion of IMSA, profitable the 2023 GTD Professional title. Over time, Sebring has been considered one of his stronger tracks. Together with class wins in 2020 and 2024, he has podiums within the final three 12-hour races there. He would not actually have a solution for why, saying “it’s a tough one to form of put your finger on.”
2026 can also be the final yr of the RC F GT3 earlier than it’s phased out of competitors. Talking on that, Hawksworth mentioned: “You may form of hyperlink me nearly, you understand, with the beginning, definitely with the beginning of the Vasser Sullivan program and the beginning of the RC F GT3 racing in America and to see extra so to see the place this system has come from these early days. You understand, the start of 2017 to form of the place we at the moment are. I really feel we’re an element just about at any race, on any given day that we are able to win as a race crew. I believe it is cool to look again on. I am pleased with the truth that I have been on that journey the entire method and been capable of work with some actually good folks and a extremely good group.”
Teaming again up with Kirkwood after massive IndyCar win
Together with common co-driver Ben Barnicoat, they are going to once more be joined by IndyCar star Kyle Kirkwood. The American enters Sebring with numerous momentum, as he simply bested Alex Palou to win the inaugural IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington.
“It is positively good that he is coming off a win and becoming a member of us at Sebring,” mentioned Hawksworth of Kirkwood. “Kyle’s had a terrific begin to the IndyCar season, and we have all been cheering him on. For me, it’s form of bought me again into watching IndyCar a bit bit with him, with him racing over there and simply form of seeing his success this season’s been actually cool. So, I do know he is driving excessive off the again of that victory final weekend, so we’re hoping he brings that, brings that velocity and hopefully that profitable feeling to our race crew this weekend and yeah, it is cool. Having Kyle with us, he is been with the crew a very long time and seeing his success within the IndyCar aspect is superior and yeah, we’re fortunate to have him within the racecar with myself and Ben.”
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