Thompson Reunites with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing USA for Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen
After one hundred days, Parker Thompson is primed to return to IMSA racing in the 2023 Michelin Endurance Cup. He will join the No. 12 GTD entry of Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing USA in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen this Sunday, June 26th. He last raced the group’s black, yellow, and green Lexus RC F GT3 in March during the Twelve Hours of Sebring. Alongside teammates Aaron Telitz and Frankie Montecalvo, Thompson aims to build upon top-five finishes at endurance races earlier this year at Sebring and Daytona.
Since his Sebring stints, Thompson has kept active, piloting a different Toyota family race car. Driving the No. 999 Hanley Motorsports GR Supra GT4 EVO, he has demonstrated impressive pace throughout the first half of the Pirelli GT4 America season. Thompson and teammate Daniel Hanley claimed a Silver class victory at COTA last month, and Thompson led the field with two pole position times during qualifying at VIRginia International Raceway last weekend.
The potent GTD class Lexus RC F GT3 and the diverse multi-class field of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship represent a distinct challenge. The extended stints of the Michelin Endurance Cup require careful management of racing traffic and consistency. Thompson’s past record at the famed 5.5 km, 11-turn Watkins Glen International includes sprint races in USF2000 (2017) and Carrera Cup North America (2021 & 2022), achieving a best finish of third. Now, with the accomplished team at Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing USA, Thompson is optimistic his recent experiences can contribute to a team victory.
“I’m thrilled to be back in the No. 12 Sealmaster Lexus Racing USA RC F GT3 of Vasser Sullivan this weekend. Aaron, Frankie, and the entire team have had a strong year so far, and I’m eager to help them continue that trend at Watkins Glen. Since my first outing with the team at Daytona in January, I’ve received incredible support from Jimmy, Sulli, my teammates, and the entire Toyota family. This has certainly elevated my skill behind the wheel and deepened my understanding of our sport. I’m committed to doing whatever I can to support the team as we aim for a win this Sunday!” – Parker Thompson.
A full schedule of IMSA races begins on track this Friday, culminating in the 2023 Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen on Sunday at 10:35 AM EDT. For more details, visit imsa.com, or follow @parkertracing on social media and parkerthompsonracing.com/live.
About Vasser Sullivan Racing:
Vasser Sullivan Racing is owned by 1996 INDYCAR Champion, Jimmy Vasser and Dallas businessman, James “Sulli” Sullivan. Vasser Sullivan has been aligned with Lexus since 2019. During their four-year partnership, Vasser Sullivan and Lexus have amassed an impressive record securing 10 wins, 14 pole positions, and finishing on the podium a prominent 61% of the time. Vasser Sullivan were recently crowned 2022 Petit Le Mans Champions, giving Lexus its first IMSA endurance championship win. In 2022, the team finished second in the GTD PRO manufacturer, team and driver championships, finished second at the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona, and are the 2020 IMSA GTD Sprint Cup Champions. Vasser and Sullivan first partnered together to compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES from 2011-2016 with Team KVSH. They teamed-up again for another four INDYCAR seasons as Dale Coyne Vasser Sullivan Racing. The Vasser Sullivan INDYCAR partnership has recorded six wins including winning the 2013 Indianapolis 500.
About Lexus:
The Lexus RC F GT3 enters its seventh season in the GTD class, and second year in the GTD PRO category, competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. During its previous four seasons, Lexus and Vasser Sullivan have combined to earn 10 wins, 28 podium finishes and 14 pole positions with the RC F GT3. Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, two F performance models and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.
Event Information
2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen
Friday, June 23, 2023
4:30 PM – Practice 1
Saturday, June 24, 2023
8:00 AM – Practice 2
1:20 PM – Qualifying
Sunday, June 25, 2023
10:35 AM – Race Start