In a surprising turn of events, two-time FIA World Endurance Champion Jose Maria Lopez has been chosen to replace the injured Ben Barnicoat in the forthcoming Twelve Hours of Sebring. Lopez will be seen behind the wheel of the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3, a significant shift of gears set to unfold this weekend.
Barnicoat, unfortunately, succumbed to injuries he sustained during a mountain biking mishap. As of now, there’s no concrete timeline as to when he’ll be fit enough to return to the racing circuits.
Interestingly, both Lopez and Barnicoat share a common thread, that of being teammates in the esteemed Akkodis ASP’s FIA WEC Lexus program. While Lopez helms the No.87 entry, Barnicoat expertly juggles his IMSA responsibilities with the WEC, piloting the No.78 sister car.
Lopez, no stranger to victory, clinched the WEC 1000 Miles of Sebring in 2023 under the banner of Toyota Gazoo Racing. His prowess was further highlighted when he secured a respectable sixth place in his maiden Sebring 12 Hours race, driving the Cadillac DPi-V.R for Action Express Racing.
This unexpected development is indeed a testament to the unpredictable nature of motorsports. As we keenly await the Twelve Hours of Sebring, all eyes will be on Jose Maria Lopez as he steps into the shoes of an injured teammate, ready to face whatever the race track has in store.