Lexus RC F GT3 debut confirmed

Now we don't wish to pester about the road car Lexus, but...

The GT3 resurgence continues! It's a halcyon time for sportscar racing at the moment, with Ford back at Le Mans in a GT, Lamborghini fielding its first factory GT3 car and the big, bad Bentleys doing really well. The GT3 and GT4 racing ranks look healthier than ever.

Now they're being bolstered further, with the Lexus RC F GT3 making its debut in the 2017 season after many months of teasing. Its first race will be at Daytona on January 29, competing in the GTD class of IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship with 3GT Racing. This year will also see the GT3 compete in Japanese Super GT; over there it's GT300 spec and will be campaigned by LMcorsa.

Don't get too close now

While there's no confirmation of European racing just yet, Toyota Gazoo Racing appears open to the idea: "The first step is to place four cars in races in the USA and Japan, but in the future we will nurture our RC F GT3 into a model that is loved by customers worldwide." That's the view of Koei Saga, Chief Officer and Technical Director. Come on Blancpain...

Because, let's be honest, who wouldn't want to see this race? It looks wild, terrifying and just a bit mad all at the same time, every single surface carved for competition. The vents over and behind the front wheels are giant, the rear diffuser savage and the spoiler appears to be from a spacecraft. In black and without a livery it looks evil. And brilliant.

While we wouldn't expect a roadgoing GT3 to be quite this dramatic, surely a production model would tie in very well with some race success. As we've said before, if Bentley can make a GT3 then anyone can. Come on Lexus!