Lexus’ Championship Pair Reunites for What Could Be the RC F GT3’s Final Season
It’s been nearly a decade since Jack Hawksworth first strapped into the cockpit of a Lexus RC F GT3. Back in December 2016, during a winter test at Daytona, the car was a fresh-faced challenger. Fast forward to November 2025, and Hawksworth is still there, grinding out laps at the World Center of Racing.
But things are different now. The Englishman has over 100 IMSA starts, a dozen wins, and a GTD PRO championship trophy on his shelf. And as we head into the 2026 season, he’s getting the band back together for what looks like one last ride with the current machine.
In a move that has racing fans buzzing, Vasser Sullivan has confirmed that Hawksworth will reunite with his 2023 championship-winning co-driver, Ben Barnicoat, in the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3.
The “Last Dance” for the RC F GT3?
The writing is on the wall for the trusty RC F GT3. Just recently, Toyota Gazoo Racing pulled the covers off the new GR GT3 in Tokyo, a sleek, mean-looking machine destined to take over the flagship role in 2027.
That makes 2026 a potential swan song for the current Lexus platform. But don’t expect a quiet retirement tour. Hawksworth and Barnicoat are coming back with unfinished business, specifically looking to capture the one jewel missing from their crown: the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
For Hawksworth, the logic behind the reunion is simple. “It’s been a good combination in the past, so it kind of makes sense,” he said while shaking down a fresh chassis at Daytona. “We’re already preparing for 2026… It’s the beginning of the marathon.”
Bouncing Back from a Tough Year
To understand why this reunion is so significant, you have to look at where they’ve been. From 2022 to 2024, the Hawksworth-Barnicoat duo was a force of nature, never finishing lower than fifth in the standings and capturing the title in ’23. But 2025? That was a different story. The team split them up, sending Hawksworth to the No. 12 GTD entry and leaving Barnicoat in the No. 14 GTD PRO ride.
While Hawksworth managed a solid fourth in points, Barnicoat endured a nightmare season with Lexus. A mountain-biking accident in March sidelined him for three races, and the team struggled to find its rhythm with a rotation of co-drivers. It was the first time since joining the team that the No. 14 car failed to land a single podium.
Barnicoat isn’t shying away from how hard it was. “2025 will easily go down as the worst and toughest year of my career,” he admitted. “Hopefully I don’t have to experience anything like that again.”But the challenging year has only fueled the fire.
Barnicoat calls his previous run with Hawksworth the “peak and highlight” of his career, citing wins at Petit Le Mans and Sebring. Now, joined by INDYCAR standout Kyle Kirkwood for the endurance rounds, the goal is clear: get the No. 14 back to the front.
Experience vs. New Tech
There’s an old saying in racing: better the devil you know. While the new GR GT3 is flashy and exciting, introducing a brand-new car often comes with “gremlins” and teething issues. The current Lexus, on the other hand, is a known quantity.
“We’ve learned a lot over 10 seasons with this car,” Barnicoat noted. He believes that the deep well of data gives them their best shot yet at conquering Daytona. “We haven’t put all the pieces together yet to finally take home the big win and get the Rolex watch.”
The team feels genuinely more prepared than last season. Hawksworth mentioned that Vasser Sullivan has taken “good steps” with personnel and freshened things up where it counts. They are shaking off the rust and the bad luck of 2025 with Lexus and are focusing entirely on the 2026 campaign.
The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship kicks off January 16-18 with the Roar Before the Rolex 24, followed by the main event the next weekend. If you’re a fan of underdog stories, grizzled veterans, or just fast cars, keep your eyes on the No. 14. This might be the old Lexus’s final lap, but these drivers intend to make it a fast one.
