DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Following a breakout season that saw them win three races and their car finish third in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GT Daytona (GTD) class, Jack Hawksworth and Aaron Telitz are set to return behind the wheel of the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3 in 2021.
It will again be a two-car, full-season effort for Vasser Sullivan, with drivers of the sister No. 12 Lexus – as well as those for both cars in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events – to be named later.
Team co-owners Jimmy Vasser and James “Sulli” Sullivan said the team is laser focused on securing the GTD crown in the upcoming season, following last week’s announcement of a mutual split with partner AIM Autosport.
“We have not been shy about our attack on the IMSA GTD championship for 2021,” a statement attributed to the team read. “Securing both Hawksworth and Telitz in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus entry is the first of a few dominoes to fall as we prepare our assault on this championship. We couldn’t be more energized for what’s to come. Additionally, a big thank you to (AIM Autosport executives) Andrew (Bordin), Ian and Keith (Willis) for their work and partnership over the last two seasons.”
Hawksworth and Telitz will be in the No. 14 Lexus for the entire season, following a 2020 campaign that saw Telitz drive the No. 12 for two events and the rest in the No. 14. It allowed Telitz to finish third in the GTD driver standings, two points ahead of Hawksworth. The duo did drive together in all of the IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup races to claim that title in 2020.
Hawksworth has been with the Lexus GTD program since its 2017 inception and will be with Vasser Sullivan for a third year in 2021. He has six career IMSA wins, five of them coming in a Lexus in the past two seasons.
“I am delighted to be continuing into 2021 with Vasser Sullivan Racing and Lexus,” said the 29-year-old from Bradford, England. “To be paired again with Aaron is a perfect scenario. After three wins together in 2020 and the Sprint (Cup) championship title, we can only have one goal and that is to secure the 2021 IMSA GTD championship title.
“There have been some changes over the off-season, and the relocation of the team to Charlotte gives a new opportunity for growth and continued improvement heading into 2021,” Hawksworth added. “’Kaizen’ (a Japanese word for continuous improvement) is a philosophy that everybody at Lexus embraces and this is the mindset we’ll be carrying forward into 2021 in pursuit of the top step of the podium.”
Telitz joined the team in 2019 as a driver for IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events. The 28-year-old from Wisconsin reached full-time status this season, splitting driving duties between both cars.
“It’s an honor to return to the Vasser Sullivan Lexus team in 2021 and make a full attack at the championship,” Telitz said. “I’m ready to build on my first full season of IMSA GTD competition with Jack and take our Lexus RC F GT3 back into the championship fight. The team that is being assembled will be a serious force.”
The Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway kicks off the 2021 WeatherTech Championship season from Jan. 22-24, ahead of the Rolex 24 At Daytona from Jan. 28-31. The 12-event schedule concludes with the Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta from Oct. 6-9.