Ben George Barnicoat (born 20 December 1996) is a British racing driver. He is a Lexus Racing USA factory racing driver, making his IMSA Sportscar Championship debut in 2022. He claimed the GTD Pro championship title when he returned for a second season with Lexus and Vasser Sullivan Racing, scoring nine podium finishes on his way to securing a maiden IMSA title for him and Lexus.[1]
| Ben Barnicoat | |
|---|---|
 Ben Barnicoat in the #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3, Mosport, 2023 | |
| Nationality |  British |
| Born | 20 December 1996 Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England |
| 2023 IMSA Sportscar Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2022 |
| Current team | Vasser Sullivan |
| Racing licence |  FIA Platinum |
| Car number | 14 |
| Starts | 11 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Podiums | 9 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 1st in 2023 2023 |
| Previous series | |
| Championship titles | |
| Awards | |
| 2014 | Autosport Club Driver of the Year |
As a graduate of the Racing Steps Foundation, he has established himself as a mercurial winner across a range of different series.
Starting out in karting, Barnicoat stormed through the ranks, becoming multiple British and European karting champion, before graduating to single-seaters, where he enjoyed further success. After a transition into GT racing, Ben held the position of Factory Driver at McLaren, proving himself on the world stage, competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Bathurst 12 Hours, and outright championship titles at the Gulf 12 Hours and Asian Le Mans Series.
He took on the role with Lexus Racing in 2022, immediately delivering impressive performances, racing across the US. During the 2023 season, he scored nine podium finishes on the way to securing a maiden IMSA GTD Pro title for him and Lexus. 2024 saw him return to defend the title, taking memorable wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and on the streets of Long Beach, before a podium result in Detroit. He also added LMP2 Pro Am victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans to his racing CV, competing with AF Corse.
2025 will see Ben return to the FIA World Endurance Championship for the full season, racing in the LM GT3 class with Akkodis ASP Team, as he continues his journey with Lexus.
Career
editKarting
editBorn in Chesterfield, Barnicoat began his racing career in karting at the age of nine. In 2007 he clinched the WTP Cadet Open and Motors TV Cadet Karting Championship titles as well as becoming WTP "Little Green Man" Vice Champion.[2] In 2008 he graduated to KF3 category in which he participated in the MSA Formula Kart Starts championship and Kartmasters GP. He did remarkably well in both, securing 4th in Formula Kart Stars and 7th at Kartmasters. Barnicoat returned the year after and won Kartmasters GP, Formula Kart Stars and finished Vice-Champion in the Super One Junior Championship. By 2012, Barnicoat had claimed the CIK-FIA KF2 European Championship too. In 2015 Barnicoat claimed the Kart Masters GP Trophy in both the Senior Rotax and Iame X30 class, becoming the first driver to take two Kart Masters Championships in one day. Barnicoat has since continued to compete in the Kart Masters event and is now the most successful driver with 9 titles to his name. Claiming Snr X30 in 2017/18/19 and snr rotax too in 2019.[3]
Formula Renault
editIn 2013 Barnicoat made his début in single-seaters, taking part in the Protyre Formula Renault Autumn Cup for Fortec Motorsports, and won the cup with two wins.[4]
Barnicoat continued his collaboration with Fortec into 2014, competing in the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC and Formula Renault 2.0 Alps series.[5]
European Formula 3
editOn 15 November 2015, it was announced that Barnicoat would race with Prema Powerteam for the 2016 season. However, it was later announced that Barnicoat would switch to race with HitechGP.[6]
Sportscar career
edit
Barnicoat made the transition from single-seaters across into GT racing in 2017. The following six seasons have seen him compete - and win - on some of the biggest stages in motorsport. Appointed Factory Driver with McLaren a year later, Barnicoat took on the pivotal role in the development of the brand’s latest range of GT racing cars. Barnicoat has also proven himself on the world stage with podium results at the Bathurst 12 Hour, Asian Le Mans Series, Intercontinental GT Challenge, GT World Challenge Europe, Pirelli World Challenge & the British GT Championship in both GT3 and GT4 classes, as well as back-to-back outright victories at the Gulf 12 Hours.
In 2019, Barnicoat also made his LMP2 debut with Thunderhead Carlin Motorsport, competing in the European Le Mans Series, and finishing as runner up in the Asian Le Mans Series with two victories during the season.
2022 saw Barnicoat appointed as Factory Driver with Lexus Racing USA and Vasser Sullivan Racing, contesting the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the Lexus RC F GT3. In his debut season, Barnicoat scored notable victories, including a podium at the season opening Dayton 24 Hours, and a season finale victory at Petit Le Mans,[7] en route to finishing 2nd in the championship. Alongside this impressive debut full season of US racing, Barnicoat also secured the Asian Le Mans Series GT3 title, he successfully defended his title at the Gulf 12 Hours with 2 Seas Motorsport, and campaigned at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a second year.
2023 saw Ben return to the IMSA championship, delivering an impressive run of form. Nine podiums, including two victories, from the season’s 11 rounds delivered a first GTD Pro championship title for Lexus Racing, Vasser Sullivan, and Ben only in his second year competing in the championship. He completed the year by taking part in the Official Rookie Test for the World Endurance Championship, testing the Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar.[8]
He returned in 2024 to defend his IMSA title, taking victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring[9] and on the streets of Long Beach,[10] with an additional podium finish in Detroit. Alongside his GT3 efforts, Ben also secured LMP2 Pro Am victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and made his Super Formula debut in Japan with Itochu Enex Team IMPUL at Autopolis.[11]
FIA Formula 3 Championship
editOn 30 July 2020, Carlin Buzz Racing announced that Enaam Ahmed and his sponsors had separated from the team, and that Barnicoat would be replacing him at the team.[12] In four races, he scored one point - a 10th place finish in the first race of Silverstone.
Other racing activities
editOn 20 November 2021, Barnicoat raced a BriSCA F1 Stock Car at Skegness Stadium. He won the Consolation event, which allowed qualification for the meeting Final event, in which he finished in second place.
Karting record
editKarting career summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Kartmasters British GP - WTP Cadet | 4th | |
| 2007 | Kartmasters British GP - WTP Cadet | 10th | |
| British Kart Championship - WTP Cadet | 2nd | ||
| 2008 | Super One Series - Comer Cadet | 3rd | |
| BRDC Stars of Tomorrow - Cadet | 5th | ||
| Kartmasters British GP - WTP Cadet | 5th | ||
| 2009 | ABkC 'O' Plate - KF3 | 16th | |
| Kartmasters British GP - KF3 | 7th | ||
| Super One Series - KF3 | 16th | ||
| Formula Kart Stars - KF3 | 4th | ||
| 2010 | Super One Series - KF3 | 2nd | |
| Formula Kart Stars - KF3 | 1st | ||
| Kartmasters British GP - KF3 | 1st | ||
| 2011 | FIA Karting Academy Trophy | 2nd | |
| Kartmasters British GP - KF3 | 1st | ||
| Super One Series - KF3 | 3rd | ||
| 2012 | 17° South Garda Winter Cup - KF2 | 12th | |
| WSK Euro Series - KF2 | ART Grand Prix | 4th | |
| CIK-FIA European Championship KF2 | 1st | ||
| CIK-FIA U18 World Championship | 9th | ||
| Super One Series - KF2 | 1st | ||
| FIA Karting World Cup - KF2 | 6th | ||
| 2013 | Kartmasters British GP - Rotax Senior | 28th | |
| WSK Super Master Series - KF | 2nd | ||
| 18° South Garda Winter Cup - KF2 | 11th | ||
| WSK Euro Series - KF | ART Grand Prix Srl | 3rd | |
| CIK-FIA European Championship - KF | 13th | ||
| 2015 | South Garda Winter Cup - KF | Birel ART | 5th |
| CIK-FIA European Championship - KF | Birel ART Srl | 24th | |
| Kartmasters British GP - Rotax Senior | 1st | ||
| Kartmasters British GP - X30 Senior | 1st | ||
| 2017 | SKUSA SuperNationals XXI - X30 Senior | Fullerton USA | 2nd |
| Kartmasters British GP - X30 Senior | Fullerton | 1st | |
| 2018 | Kartmasters British GP - X30 Senior | Mick Barrett Racing | 1st |
| 2019 | Kartmasters British GP - Rotax Senior | Mick Barrett Racing | 1st |
| Kartmasters British GP - X30 Senior | 1st | ||
| IAME International Final - X30 Senior | 2nd |
Racing record
editRacing career summary
edit† As Barnicoat was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points. * Season still in progress.
Complete Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Fortec Motorsports | MNZ 1 9 |
MNZ 2 4 |
SIL 1 6 |
SIL 2 18 |
HOC 1 2 |
HOC 2 1 |
HOC 3 6 |
SPA 1 2 |
SPA 2 5 |
ASS 1 2 |
ASS 2 Ret |
MST 1 1 |
MST 2 7 |
MST 3 C |
NÜR 1 4 |
NÜR 2 4 |
NÜR 3 C |
1st | 258 |
Complete Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Series results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Fortec Motorsports | IMO 1 |
IMO 2 |
PAU 1 5 |
PAU 2 Ret |
RBR 1 |
RBR 2 |
SPA 1 Ret |
SPA 2 4 |
MNZ 1 5 |
MNZ 2 21 |
MUG 1 |
MUG 2 |
JER 1 |
JER 2 |
14th | 32 | ||
| 2015 | Fortec Motorsports | IMO 1 4 |
IMO 2 5 |
PAU 1 9 |
PAU 2 Ret |
RBR 1 |
RBR 2 |
RBR 3 |
SPA 1 |
SPA 2 |
MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
MNZ 3 |
MIS 1 |
MIS 2 |
JER 1 3 |
JER 2 1 |
NC† | 0 |
† As Barnicoat was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points
Complete Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Fortec Motorsports | ALC 1 |
ALC 2 |
SPA 1 |
SPA 2 |
SIL 1 |
SIL 2 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
HUN 1 |
HUN 2 |
LEC 1 |
LEC 2 |
JER 1 Ret |
JER 2 DNS |
NC† | 0 | |||
| 2015 | Fortec Motorsports | ALC 1 2 |
ALC 2 5 |
ALC 3 Ret |
SPA 1 25† |
SPA 2 4 |
HUN 1 2 |
HUN 2 8 |
SIL 1 Ret |
SIL 2 23† |
SIL 3 13 |
NÜR 1 4 |
NÜR 2 1 |
LMS 1 1 |
LMS 2 5 |
JER 1 22 |
JER 2 3 |
JER 3 1 |
4th | 174 |
Complete FIA Formula 3 European Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | HitechGP | Mercedes | LEC 1 4 |
LEC 2 Ret |
LEC 3 11 |
HUN 1 9 |
HUN 2 10 |
HUN 3 1 |
PAU 1 1 |
PAU 2 5 |
PAU 3 11 |
RBR 1 10 |
RBR 2 15 |
RBR 3 5 |
NOR 1 5 |
NOR 2 Ret |
NOR 3 DSQ |
ZAN 1 18 |
ZAN 2 8 |
ZAN 3 9 |
SPA 1 3 |
SPA 2 11 |
SPA 3 20 |
NÜR 1 9 |
NÜR 2 Ret |
NÜR 3 10 |
IMO 1 8 |
IMO 2 Ret |
IMO 3 13 |
HOC 1 18 |
HOC 2 9 |
HOC 3 7 |
9th | 134 |
Complete GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup results
edit| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Strakka Racing | McLaren 650S GT3 | Pro | MIS QR 22 |
MIS CR 18 |
BRH QR 6 |
BRH CR 10 |
ZOL QR 10 |
ZOL CR 28 |
HUN QR 20 |
HUN CR 24 |
NÜR QR Ret |
NÜR CR 25 |
29th | 2 |
| 2021 | Jota Sport | McLaren 720S GT3 | Pro | MAG 1 13 |
MAG 2 4 |
ZAN 1 |
ZAN 2 |
MIS 1 22 |
MIS 2 8 |
BRH 1 Ret |
BRH 2 DNS |
VAL 1 22† |
VAL 2 4 |
17th | 19 |
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
Complete British GT Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Track-Club | McLaren 570S GT4 | GT4 | OUL 1 14 |
OUL 2 18 |
ROC 1 28 |
SNE 1 16 |
SNE 2 Ret |
SIL 1 |
SPA 1 DNS |
BRH 1 |
13th | 43 | |
| Balfe Motorsport/PMW Expo Racing | DON 1 Ret | |||||||||||||
| 2023 | Inception Racing | McLaren 720S GT3 Evo | GT3 | OUL 1 |
OUL 2 |
SIL 1 10 |
DON 1 |
SNE 1 |
SNE 2 |
ALG 1 |
BRH 1 |
DON 1 |
NC† | 0† |
† As Barnicoat was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
Complete European Le Mans Series results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Thunderhead Carlin Racing | LMP2 | Dallara P217 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | LEC 11 |
MNZ 11 |
CAT 9 |
SIL Ret |
SPA |
ALG Ret |
25th | 3 |
| 2023 | AF Corse | LMP2 Pro-Am | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | CAT 2 |
LEC 3 |
ARA | SPA | ALG 3 |
ALG 1 |
5th | 73 |
| Source:[13] | ||||||||||||
Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Carlin Buzz Racing | RBR FEA |
RBR SPR |
RBR FEA |
RBR SPR |
HUN FEA |
HUN SPR |
SIL FEA 20 |
SIL SPR 12 |
SIL FEA 10 |
SIL SPR Ret |
CAT FEA |
CAT SPR |
SPA FEA |
SPA SPR |
MNZ FEA |
MNZ SPR |
MUG FEA |
MUG SPR |
22nd | 1 |
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
edit| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Inception Racing
|
 Brendan Iribe Ollie Millroy
|
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | GTE Am |
327 | 41st | 12th |
| 2022 |  Team Project 1
|
Brendan Iribe Ollie Millroy
|
Porsche 911 RSR-19 | GTE Am |
241 | DNF | DNF |
| 2023 |  AF Corse
|
 Norman Nato François Perrodo
|
Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 183 | DNF | DNF |
| LMP2 Pro-Am | |||||||
| 2024 | AF Corse
|
François Perrodo Nicolás Varrone
|
Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 297 | 18th | 4th |
| LMP2 Pro-Am | 1st | ||||||
| Source:[13] | |||||||
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Inception Racing with Optimum Motorsport |
GTD | McLaren 720S GT3 | McLaren M840T 4.0L Turbo V8 | DAY | SEB | MDO | DET | WGL | WGL | LIM |
ELK | LGA | LBH | VIR | PET 12 |
63rd | 209 |
| 2022 | VasserSullivan | GTD Pro | Lexus RC F GT3 | Toyota 2UR 5.0 L V8 | DAY 4 |
SEB 7 |
LBH 2 |
LGA 2 |
WGL 4 |
MOS 6 |
LIM 3 |
ELK 1 |
VIR 3 |
PET 1 |
2nd | 3277 | ||
| GTD | MDO | DET 1 |
45th | 385 | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Vasser Sullivan Racing | GTD Pro | Lexus RC F GT3 | Toyota 2UR 5.0 L V8 | DAY 3 |
SEB 2 |
LBH 1 |
LGA 2 |
WGL 1 |
MOS 4 |
LIM 2 |
ELK 2 |
VIR 2 |
IMS 3 |
PET 8 |
1st | 3760 | |
| 2024 | Vasser Sullivan | GTD Pro | Lexus RC F GT3 | Toyota 2UR 5.0 L V8 | DAY 11 |
SEB 1 |
LGA 4 |
DET 2 |
WGL 4 |
MOS 9 |
ELK 9 |
VIR 6 |
IMS 4 |
PET 13 |
5th | 2859 | ||
| GTD | LBH 1 |
46th | 385 | |||||||||||||||
| Source:[13] | ||||||||||||||||||
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Team Project 1 | LMGTE Am | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 | SEB 3 |
SPA Ret |
LMS Ret |
MNZ 10 |
FUJ 8 |
BHR 2 |
9th | 55 |
| Source:[13] | ||||||||||||
Complete Super Formula results
edit| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Itochu Enex Team Impul | SUZ | AUT 13 |
SUG | FUJ | MOT | FUJ | FUJ | SUZ | SUZ | 23rd | 0 |
References
edit- ^ "Ben Barnicoat secures IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship GTD Pro title". benbarnicoat.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "Profile". benbarnicoat.com. Ben Barnicoat. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ "CIK-FIA European KF2 Championship 2012 standings". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ "Protyre Formula Renault Championship — Autumn Cup 2013 standings". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ Goddard, Stephen (6 December 2013). "Barnicoat steps up to Formula Renault 2.0 NEC with Fortec". Paddock Scout. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ Simmons, Marcus (14 January 2016). "Ben Barnicoat seals Hitech European Formula 3 Championship deal". Autosport. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ^ "Ben Barnicoat win Petit Le Mans in rookie IMSA season". benbarnicoat.com. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "British racers join Toyota Gazoo Racing for Hypercar rookie test". Toyota UK Media Site. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Golden result for Ben Barnicoat at Sebring 12 Hours". benbarnicoat.com. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "Back-to-back victories on the Long Beach streets for Ben Barnicoat". benbarnicoat.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Fastest lap underlines a strong Super Formula debut performance". benbarnicoat.com. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Ben Barnicoat joins Carlin Buzz Racing for Round 4 at Silverstone". Formula 3. FIA Formula 3 Championship Limited. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Ben Barnicoat Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
External links
edit- Official website
- Profile on Racing Steps Foundation site
- Ben Barnicoat career summary at DriverDB.com