Lexus Wraps up Successful 2019 IMSA Season

Smashing Success

The Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta wasn't just the last race of the inaugural IMSA GTD Sprint Cup Manufacturer’s Championship. It was also Lexus and AIM VASSER SULLIVAN (AVS)'s first season racing a pair of  RC F GT3 entries. Needless to say, this effort was a smashing success. The AVS/Lexus team combined to earn two wins, five podiums, nine top-fives and 16 top-10 results during the 2019 IMSA season.

Photos: Lexus 

Strong Finish

Altogether, the Lexus team took home second place in IMSA's GTD Sprint Cup Manufacturer’s Championship. The AVS No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 earned a ninth-place finish at Road Atlanta with co-drivers Jack Hawksworth, Richard Heistand, and Parker Chase. Townsend Bell, Frankie Montecalvo, and Aaron Telitz finished 11^th in the AVS No. 12 Lexus.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the 2019 IMSA run right here in ClubLexus.com.

Minor Incidents

This, despite the fact that both cars were involved in incidents on the track during the 10-hour endurance event that forced them to the pits for extensive repairs. Both Lexus entries eventually got back on track, however, crossing the finish line at the conclusion of the race.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the 2019 IMSA run right here in ClubLexus.com.

Solid Effort

Those finishes were good enough to not only secure Lexus a second place finish in the IMSA GTD Sprint Cup Manufacturer’s Championship, but also fifth in the overall IMSA GTD manufacturer’s standings. Pretty impressive for a brand new team, we'd say.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the 2019 IMSA run right here in ClubLexus.com.

Racking up Awards

In addition, Hawksworth and Heistand placed third in the GTD Sprint Cup standings and sixth in the overall GTD driver’s championship. Bell and Montecalvo finished seventh in the GTD Sprint Cup standings and eighth in the overall GTD driver point standings. Heistand also took home the Bob Akin Award, given to the highest-placed eligible amateur GTD driver.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the 2019 IMSA run right here in ClubLexus.com.

Building Program

"It’s been a really promising year for the first year of the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN program," Hawksworth said. "We got two wins with the Lexus RC F GT3 at Mid-Ohio and Detroit, and those were the highlights for me personally and for the 14 team this season. Alongside that, the No. 12 Lexus got three podiums this season. Overall, for the first year of the program, it’s been really positive to collect that much hardware. Now, we’re going into the off-season looking to improve, pick ourselves back up and see what we can do better so that we can come back next year and try to mount a championship challenge."

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the 2019 IMSA run right here in ClubLexus.com.

Le Mans Bound

"We didn’t end the season entirely the way we wanted, but to win the Bob Akin award is pretty special," added Heistand. "It’s an entrance into Le Mans. It’s something that we had kind of in the bag for a while and then down the stretch we weren’t scoring the points we needed to score, and it ended up being really close. To qualify and get the points I needed to win the award at the last race, the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN boys needed to fix the car and we were literally down to the last five minutes to get the car back on the track and they did an incredible job. I wouldn’t have won it without them, so hats off to them. I’m excited to hopefully go to Le Mans."

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the 2019 IMSA run right here in ClubLexus.com.

Room to Grow

"What a roller-coaster ride this season has been," said Bell. "A brand new team coming together, and we started off on the podium at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. We finished every race this season and that is a real accomplishment. The AIM VASSER SULLIVAN guys worked incredibly hard for us all year. A lot of challenges, but we all stuck with it and to finish the season rolling across the finish line at the end of 10 hours is a big accomplishment for this young team. We have a lot of growth left as we move into next season."

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the 2019 IMSA run right here in ClubLexus.com.

Bright Future

With this season in the books, Lexus and AVS return to action in 2020 at the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 25. And they have to be encouraged after fielding a brand new team facing new IMSA "balance of performance" rules. After all, not too many teams reach success after such a major overhaul. So for Lexus racing fans, the future looks rather bright.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the 2019 IMSA run right here in ClubLexus.com.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.