Ben George Barnicoat (born 20 December 1996) is a British racing driver who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Vasser Sullivan and serves as a factory driver for Lexus.
Born and raised in Chesterfield, Barnicoat began competitive kart racing aged nine. After a successful karting career—in which he was crowned European champion in 2012—Barnicoat graduated to junior formulae. A member of the Racing Steps Foundation, he won titles at Formula Renault and Formula 4 level for Fortec, and reached the FIA Formula 3 European Championship with HitechGP in 2016.
Barnicoat transitioned to sportscar racing in 2017, taking a Blancpain GT Series podium and two Gulf 12 Hours wins as a McLaren works driver until 2021. Upon joining Lexus in 2022, Barnicoat won the IMSA SportsCar Championship and 12 Hours of Sebring in GTD Pro alongside Jack Hawksworth. Barnicoat has also raced in LMP2 for Carlin and AF Corse, most notably winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP2 Pro-Am for the latter in .
Career Karting Born in Chesterfield, Barnicoat began his racing career in karting at the age of nine. He competed at local kart tracks in the United Kingdom during his early career, including Wombwell Kart Track in Barnsley, and has cited fellow British driver and eventual IMSA teammate Jack Hawksworth as one of the older competitors he watched and learned from.
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. 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 fourth in Formula Kart Stars and seventh 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 nine titles to his name. He claimed the Senior X30 in 2017/18/19 and the Senior Rotax in 2019.
Formula Renault In 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.
Barnicoat continued his collaboration with Fortec into 2014, competing in the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC and Formula Renault 2.0 Alps series.
European Formula 3 On 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.
Sportscar career
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 with Jack Hawksworth. 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, en route to finishing second 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 Barnicoat 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.
Barnicoat returned in 2024 to defend his IMSA title, taking victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring and on the streets of Long Beach, with an additional podium finish in Detroit. Alongside his GT3 efforts, Barnicoat 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.
FIA Formula 3 Championship On 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. In four races, he scored one point - a tenth-place finish in the first race of Silverstone.
Karting record Karting career summary SeasonSeriesTeamPosition 2006 Kartmasters British GP - WTP Cadet 4th 2007 Kartmasters British GP - WTP Cadet 10th British Kart Championship - WTP Cadet 2nd2008 Super One Series - Comer Cadet 3rd BRDC Stars of Tomorrow - Cadet 5th Kartmasters British GP - WTP Cadet 5th British Kart Championship - WTP Cadet 1st 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
Racing career summary Season Series Team Races Wins Poles FLaps Podiums Points Position 2013 Protyre Formula Renault Autumn Cup Fortec Motorsports 3 2 3 2 3 96 1st 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC Fortec Motorsports 15 2 1 1 5 258 1st Formula Renault 2.0 Alps 6 0 0 0 0 32 14th Protyre Formula Renault Championship 3 0 0 0 0 60 13rd Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC† 2015 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Fortec Motorsports 17 3 2 1 6 174 4th Formula Renault 2.0 Alps 6 1 0 1 2 0 NC† BRDC Formula 4 Autumn Trophy 8 3 2 5 6 211 1st 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship Hitech GP 30 2 0 0 3 134 9th Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC 2017 Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup Strakka Racing 10 0 0 2 0 2 29th Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup 5 0 0 1 0 2 43rd Intercontinental GT Challenge Tekno Autosports/McLaren GT 2 0 0 0 0 15 9th Pirelli World Challenge - GT K-PAX Racing 10 0 0 0 3 140 19th SprintX GT Championship Series 7 0 0 0 3 140 7th 2018 British GT Championship - GT4 Track-Club 5 1 0 0 1 43 13th Balfe Motorsport/PMW Expo Racing 1 0 0 0 0 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Garage 59 5 0 0 0 1 19 24th Intercontinental GT Challenge 2 0 0 0 0 6 22nd 2019 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Thunderhead Carlin Racing 5 0 0 0 0 3 25th International GT Open Teo Martín Motorsport 2 0 0 0 0 0 43rd International GT Open - Pro-Am 2 0 0 0 0 2 21st 2019–20 Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 Thunderhead Carlin Racing 4 2 2 1 4 82 2nd 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship Carlin Buzz Racing 4 0 0 0 0 1 22nd Euroformula Open Championship Carlin Motorsport 2 1 1 0 2 41 13rd GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Ema Group/Team 59Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC Le Mans Cup - LMP3 Cool Racing 1 0 0 0 0 10 23rd 2021 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Jota Sport 7 0 2 1 0 19 17th GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 4 0 0 0 0 13 18th Gulf 12 Hours 2 Seas Motorsport 1 1 1 1st Asian Le Mans Series - GT Inception Racing with Optimum Motorsport 4 0 0 1 2 45 4th IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD 1 0 0 0 0 209 63rd 2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Vasser Sullivan Racing 10 2 2 0 6 3277 2nd IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD 1 1 1 0 1 385 45th Gulf 12 Hours 2 Seas Motorsport 1 1 1st FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am Team Project 1 6 0 0 0 2 55 9th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF Asian Le Mans Series - GT Inception Racing 4 1 1 3 3 701st 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Vasser Sullivan Racing 11 2 4 1 9 3760 1st European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Pro-Am AF Corse 4 1 0 0 4 73 5th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF British GT Championship - GT3 Inception Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC† Nürburgring Endurance Series - VT2-FWD Walkenhorst Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC† 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Vasser Sullivan 10 1 1 0 2 2859 5th IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD 1 1 1 0 1 385 46th Super Formula Itochu Enex Team Impul 1 0 0 1 0 0 23rd GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Optimum Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 Pro-Am AF Corse 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st2024–25 Asian Le Mans Series - GT 2 Seas Motorsport 6 1 0 0 1 43 6th 2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Vasser Sullivan Racing 7 0 0 1 0 1790 13rd FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 Akkodis ASP Team 4 0 1 0 0 21 17thGT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup2 Seas Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC 2026 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Vasser Sullivan Racing 10 2 3 1 2 2779 7thBritish GT Championship - GT3Optimum Motorsport 8 2 0 0 4 132.5 2ndInternational GT OpenBathurst 12 Hour 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 Pro-Am AF Corse 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2ndEuropean Le Mans Series - LMP2Algarve Pro Racing 1 1 0 1 1 25* 13th* † As Barnicoat was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points. * Season still in progress.
Complete Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup results (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 MNZ1 MNZ2 SIL1 SIL2 HOC1 HOC2 HOC3 SPA1 SPA2 ASS1 ASS2 MST1 MST2 MST3 NÜR1 NÜR2 NÜR3 1st 258
Complete Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Series results (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 IMO1 IMO2 PAU1 PAU2 RBR1 RBR2 SPA1 SPA2 MNZ1 MNZ2 MUG1 MUG2 JER1 JER2 14th 32 2015 Fortec Motorsports IMO1 IMO2 PAU1 PAU2 RBR1 RBR2 RBR3 SPA1 SPA2 MNZ1 MNZ2 MNZ3 MIS1 MIS2 JER1 JER2 NC† 0
† As Barnicoat was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points
Complete Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)