British Representation in Endurance Racing Strong with Ben Barnicoat Leading the Charge

Last weekend’s Spa World Endurance Championship round saw seven British drivers in the top Hypercar class, spread across five manufacturers. Notable performances included Tom Blomqvist’s pole position in the LMP2 class, Mike Conway’s leading of a Toyota 1-2 from pole, and James Calado’s recovery of a podium finish for Ferrari on the final lap.

Ben Barnicoat’s Stellar Form

Ben Barnicoat is eager to prove his worth against regulars in Le Mans next month with his AF Corse-run ORECA-Gibson 07 LMP2 entry. The 26-year-old driver has scored GTD Pro class podiums in all three IMSA SportsCar Championship race starts this season for Lexus factory squad Vasser Sullivan Racing alongside fellow British driver Jack Hawksworth. The duo’s victory at Long Beach moved them to the points lead, following up on their respective third and second place finishes at the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours.

GT Racing and More

Barnicoat has an impressive 100% podium record in 2023 and has extended it by taking third in the European Le Mans Series opener with AF Corse, despite competing in the pro-am sub-division alongside Matthieu Vaxiviere and Francois Perrodo on his first LMP2 outing in three years.

AF Corse and Vasser Sullivan Racing

Barnicoat and Hawksworth are a well-established pair, now in their second year together at the squad co-owned by Jimmy Vasser and James Sullivan. The GTD Pro class has only five full-season competitors, each from a different manufacturer with Porsche, Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Corvette’s factory team also represented. Barnicoat believes a key factor in their strong start is the mutual respect he has with Hawksworth, six years his senior.

Barnicoat’s success is thanks to the support from both AF Corse and Lexus, which he describes as the “best situation I’ve ever been in in my career”. He also praises the team’s professionalism, calling them the “best group of individuals” he has ever worked with.

Barnicoat’s next outing will be in Le Mans, where he will be driving for AF Corse. He is optimistic about his chances and believes that the team can achieve a podium result.