Thompson Displays Tenacity in Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

Mar 17, 2024

Thompson Displays Tenacity in Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, FL

Parker Thompson, alongside teammates Frankie Montecalvo and Aaron Telitz, demonstrated unwavering determination in Round 2 of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Piloting the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus Racing USA RC F GT3 in the GTD class, the group faced an endurance race marked by ups and downs, ultimately reaching the finish thirteenth in class.

Thompson, who qualified third but started second due to a competitor’s penalty, showcased skill and pace, taking the class lead on the opening lap and maintaining it throughout his first stint before handing the car off to Montecalvo. Despite mid-race setbacks, including a drive-through penalty and car damage, the team remained resolute, battling to stay in contention at the front end of the GTD field.
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Reflecting on the race, Thompson remarked, “The 12 car just needs a little luck. When I look back at this weekend, we did everything right. Unfortunately, the race didn’t fall our way.” He emphasized the team’s perseverance, stating, “We don’t give up, and that was true throughout the race. We kept digging all the way to the end, and I’m proud of us for not giving up.”

Thompson led the No. 12 squad, marking the fastest Lexus RC F GT3 lap and single-handedly piloting the wounded car through the final 3.5 hours. A challenging conclusion saw a collision with a back marker take them out of contention for a top-five finish. Thompson expressed confidence in the team moving forward, “We’re about to start the sprint season, and I’ve never been more confident in this group. They believe in me, and I believe in them. Our program continues to shine and was especially evident in the performance of the #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus Racing USA GTD Pro entry this weekend. Congratulations to them on their win.”

Thompson and full-time season co-driver Montecalvo will continue their campaign in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with the Grand Prix of Long Beach, held from April 19th to 21st. The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring showcased Thompson’s resilience and the team’s unwavering spirit, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.

UPCOMING IMSA WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach – April 20
Motul Course de Monterey – May 12
Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix – June 1
Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen – June 23
Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park – July 14
IMSA Sportscar Weekend at Road America – August 4
Michelin GT Challenge at VIR – August 25
Tirerack.com Battle on the Bricks at IMS – September 22
Motul Petit Le Mans – October 12

For more details and broadcast information, visit imsa.com.

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Thompson and Vasser Sullivan No. 12 Take 5th at Sebring

Mar 22, 2023

Thompson and Vasser Sullivan No. 12 Take 5th at Sebring

Sebring, FL

Parker Thompson, Aaron Telitz, and Frankie Montecalvo drove the No. 12 SealMaster Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 from 19th place to finish fifth in GTD class at the 2023 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

The black, yellow, and green No. 12 showed excellent pace throughout practice sessions leading up to Saturday’s endurance contest. That strength carried into Qualifying, where team leader Aaron Telitz earned a 3rd-in-class starting position. When racing action began, the team held their position near the front of the field until an early refueling infraction and drive-through penalty dropped them to nineteenth place.

Sebring International Raceway lived up to its torturous and unforgiving reputation. With fifty-three entries in five different classes, negotiating traffic on the 6.0km, 17-turn road course presented challenges for all drivers. With numerous scrapes and dents, the No. 12 machine displayed the effects of hard battle but managed to avoid critical incidents as its three drivers worked their way through the 20-car GTD field.

The team leaned on Thompson and his current focus on IMSA endurance events. He completed 99 laps and earned the entry’s fastest lap time. Near the 10-hour mark, Thompson turned the car over to Telitz, who deftly navigated major incidents in the final laps to bring the car home fifth in GTD.

Parker Thompson:

“The No. 12 Vasser Sullivan crew showed real strength at Sebring and is in a great position to fight for the top spot as the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season progresses. My main objective for the weekend was to keep the car on track and in one piece, giving Aaron and Frankie the best possible chance at a win. On the Sebring road course, that is no small feat. There is no doubt that it takes a little bit of luck to make it to the finish, but from our penalty to mechanical repairs, the team did an incredible job of adjusting and adapting. I’m so proud to have played a role in the effort and look forward to rejoining the team in New York in June for Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.”

Images credit Sideline Sports Photography

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.

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High Hopes as Thompson and Vasser Sullivan Racing Head to Sebring

Mar 11, 2023

High Hopes as Thompson and Vasser Sullivan Racing Head to Sebring

SEBRING, FLORIDA

Parker Thompson’s 2023 race season enters its second stage next week as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship heads to Sebring International Raceway (March 16-18). Following his appearance at the Rolex 24 at Daytona early this year, Thompson continues his role as endurance specialist, joining Vasser Sullivan Racing and teammates Aaron Telitz and Frankie Montecalvo. The driver trio will take on the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, piloting the black and yellow No. 12 SealMaster Lexus Racing USA entry in GTD class.

Set on a World War II-era airfield, The 6.0-km Sebring road course is arguably the most punishing circuit on the IMSA schedule. Known for churning bumps and heavy braking zones, Thompson and Vasser Sullivan will lean on a Lexus RC F GT3 racecar that has been thoroughly developed through four seasons of IMSA endurance competition.

In January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, Thompson and the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan crew executed a clean race and challenged the front of the 23-car GTD field, ultimately finishing in fifth place. After a promising series test at Sebring last month, the team will look to move up the rankings when the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring launches on March 18th at 10:10 AM EST.

“Coming off a great first outing, I expect that the No. 12 SealMaster Lexus Racing USA machine at Vasser Sullivan will be Challenging for a win at Sebring! With a new car, a new series, and even a new track at Daytona, the team around me has been incredible in helping me get up to speed. Now I’ve had more time in the car, and we are heading to a track I know well! I can’t wait for another crack at North America’s bumpiest track. You always have to respect the rugged surface at Sebring, but I was shocked at how good our Lexus was during testing. Compared to other cars I’ve driven at Sebring, it was much easier to keep the car composed through turns 1 and 17. I’ll work hard with our Vasser Sullivan team to ensure I can still say the same thing on race day. Let’s go win a silver platter!” – Parker Thompson

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
Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

Thursday, March 16, 2023
10:10 AM EST – Practice 1
3:50 PM EST – Practice 2
7:45 PM EST – Practice 3

Friday, March 17, 2023
8:55 AM EST – Practice 4
9:15 AM EST – Qualifying

Saturday, March 18, 2023
8:00 AM EST – Warm Up
10:10 AM EST – Race Start

For flag-to-flag coverage of the event visit IMSA.TV. Follow Parker throughout the weekend at https://parkerthompsonracing.com/live

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Thompson on the Podium Twice in Carrera Cup Opener at Sebring

Mar 19, 2022

Thompson on the Podium Twice in Carrera Cup Opener at Sebring

SEBRING, FL

Forty-three Porsche 992 race cars lined up at Sebring Circuit this week to launch a new season of Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands. Parker Thompson earned second and third-place pro-class finishes, driving the white, red, and yellow JDX Racing #9 car of Shell Tap-Up / Surgere / Byers Porsche / Renier Construction / Jersey Mike’s in two races around the Florida circuit. The result marks a solid start to 2022 as 24-year-old Thompson and the Colorado-based JDX Racing look to build on their 3rd-place finish in last year’s championship.

Through all sessions at Sebring Circuit, Thompson was a top performer. Wet conditions in Wednesday mornings practice sessions presented challenges to all entrants as they looked to refine car setups for qualifying. While Thompson managed excellent times through practice, he was not among the leading drivers when qualifying began on a dry Sebring track. With the session winding down, the team called Thompson into the pits for an aggressive setup change in a last-ditch effort to find more speed. The measures worked. While navigating traffic in the session’s final minutes, Thompson clinched third-place starting positions for races on Thursday.

Thompson and JDX continued to take a bold stance when racing launched on Thursday morning. In contrast to the majority of the field, the team started the #9 on brand new rubber for Race 1, looking for an advantage early in the race that would allow Thompson to pass rivals with Kelly Moss Racing to take the lead. The strategy nearly paid off. Thompson cleared American driver Riley Dickinson on the opening lap to take second-position and then battled with race leader Kay Van Berlo for multiple corners before expending his tire advantage. After twenty laps, he would cross the finish line in second place.

With his tire allotment for the weekend used up, Thompson started Race 2 on a used set of tires, knowing that most of his competitors were on fresh rubber. Despite that disadvantage, a strong start allowed him to gain a spot on the opening lap, moving from third into second. A forceful maneuver from Dickinson saw him give that position back just a lap later. Although Thompson appeared to be under pressure in the third position early on, he earned a comfortable gap for himself as the race progressed. When the checkered flag fell, he stood on the final podium position.

Second and third-place finishes put Thompson third in the overall standings and in a good position as the series heads to Long Beach Street Circuit on April 8th. With tight quarters racing expected there and at all fourteen remaining rounds, Thompson is focused only on one race at a time, aiming to use the team’s experience from 2021 to reach a higher goal in the new season.

Parker Thompson
“This is just the beginning! Last year when the season launched at Sebring Circuit, we may have felt a little out of sorts. This season’s performance is a sure sign of our progress as a team. Two podiums here is a solid result. Still, from our team leader Jeremy Dale to our incredible partners at Surgere, Shell Tap-Up, Byers Porsche, Renier Construction, and Jersey Mike’s, our end goal is something greater than podiums. After a full season here in Carrera Cup, we’re figuring out what that will take. We made some great notes here at Sebring. Now our focus shifts to Long Beach, where we believe we can do even better.”

Images credit Bob Chapman / Autosport Image

IMSA 2022 CARRERA CUP NORTH AMERICA – Rounds 1 – 2, Sebring Circuit

Qualifying- Official (PDF)
Round 1 – Provisional (PDF)
Round 2 – Provisional (PDF)
Overall Standings – Provisional (PDF)

Complete results are available at results.imsa.com

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Parker Thompson Earns Top-Five Finishes as Carrera Cup North America Debuts in Sebring

Mar 19, 2021

Parker Thompson Earns Top-Five Finishes as Carrera Cup North America Debuts in Sebring

SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – SEBRING, FL
The inaugural season of Carrera Cup North America kicked off this weekend in Sebring, Florida. With the debut of the series and a brand new Porsche 992 Cup car, Parker Thompson returned to sportscars, driving the #9 Pro class entry of JDX Racing. Amidst the unknowns of the new series and race car Thompson would earn 4th and 5th-place overall finishes – a solid start to what is expected to be an intensely competitive season series.

After a 2020 campaign on the Road to Indy with Indy Pro 2000, the weekend in Sebring marked Thompson’s first opportunity in sportscar racing since 2019, when he first joined JDX Racing in the GT3 Cup Challenge USA. With the highest hopes for the 2021 Carrera Cup North America season, Thompson and JDX Racing had tempered expectations for the opening weekend at Sebring International Raceway. Adjustments were required all around as both team and driver came to terms with the new 992 race car and Michelin slick tire. In practice and qualifying sessions, Thompson found himself slightly off the pace of the field leaders. He would start Race 1 from 7th position and Race 2 from 8th.

During race action Thompson discovered a new pace, climbing from fourth-row starting positions to challenge for the podium. In Race 2, the action was most intense. Off the start Thompson quickly moved up, engaging in an extended three-way battle for 3rd position, chasing Leh Keen and Riley Dickinson. Making multiple passing attempts, Thompson put intense pressure on Keen. The close battle ended when lap traffic came between the two, creating a gap that could not be closed before the checkered flag flew.

With the first of eight race weekends (two of 16 rounds) on the books, Thompson holds fifth-place in the overall championship standings. Rounds three and four are scheduled for the weekend of May 21 at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. With almost two months to prepare, Thompson is looking to solidify his championship push as the series makes the first of two visits to his home country of Canada.

Parker Thompson
“It was an absolute team effort from a great group of people to make our first round of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America such a success. There was some adversity that both the JDX team and I had to overcome but to come away with two top 5’s with our No. 9 Byers Porsche entry is a testament to everyone coming together and performing. From our ownership, engineering, and mechanics by all accounts we made a great start to 2021. This would never have been possible without the involvement of some incredible sponsors. Special thanks to Porsche Cars Canada Ltd., Surgere, and the team at JDX Racing – Byers Porsche and Renier Construction. Now it’s time to carry this momentum into the rest of the season!”