The venture is part of a global effort which will see the Japanese luxury brand compete on the tracks in the United States beginning in 2016
Lexus has forged a motorsports partnership with Paul Gentilozzi and the newly formed F Performance Racing to field the RC F GT3 in a soon to be announced sports car series. The venture is part of a global effort which will see the Japanese luxury brand compete on the tracks in the United States beginning in 2016.
The new race vehicle is based upon the production Lexus RC F high performance coupe that went on sale during the end of 2014. Veteran driver and road-racing legend, Scott Pruett, will pilot the RC F GT3, bringing a wealth of experience to the vehicle development phase.
F Performance Racing will campaign a limited schedule in 2016. In its inaugural year, the team will focus on developing the race organisation, gathering data and gaining track experience. For the 2017/18 season, the team and Pruett will participate in a full sports car racing schedule with a multi-vehicle effort.
“A core mission of F Performance Racing was to strengthen the Lexus F brand by applying lessons gleaned from racing, while nurturing an engineering culture that transfers that knowledge to dynamic, high performance passenger car development,” said Jeff Bracken, Group Vice President and General Manager of the Lexus division.
Pruett and Lexus have a history of success both on and off the track. The Roseville, California native campaigned Lexus-powered prototypes from 2004 to 2007 in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Championship Series, earning three driver championships and winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona overall in 2007.
In fact, Pruett has won the 24 Hours of Daytona a total of five times, earned 12 class victories, and a record 60 wins in American sports car competition. Beyond his on-track feats, he was an integral part of the development and global promotion of both the Lexus LFA supercar and the Lexus IS F performance sedan.
Gentilozzi joined the family business in 1994 and quickly became an accomplished championship engine builder, taking teams to more than 50 wins and 100 podium finishes. In the fall of 1998, John Gentilozzi joined the action, engineering multiple championships and team records.
A family powerhouse was formed through victories in the Champ Car, IMSA, Grand Am, and Trans Am competitions. Meanwhile, in early 2015, at the North American International Auto show, Lexus announced the brand would return to racing with its high performance RC F.
Given the brand’s commitment to competition, Lexus race cars are poised to develop a motorsports heritage through sports car racing worldwide. Accepting the challenge of being part of a developing motorsports heritage, both F Performance Racing and Pruett look to 2016 and beyond with great anticipation.
