Friday 13th January 2017

Lexus RC F GT3 debut confirmed

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

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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!

[sidesauce]

Oof.

Nurse...?

[dibblecorse]

Weapon ... thats how to do a GT car .. move over AMG ......

[Stig]

Bravo - but article fails to mention that it also won its inaugural professional race, with Dominic & Mario Farnbacher taking first overall in VLN Round 9 race at the Nürburgring, beating the ROWE Racing BMW M6 GT3 by 33 seconds.

[stuno1]

It would be great if they buolt a GT-3 road going car! Fingers crossed.

[M1C]

I really like what Lexus are doing at the moment. I like their whole range (CT aside, maybe).

This thing is just bonkers.

[LasseV]

Man, that is something... almost beautiful.

[British Beef]

Bentleys road going GT3 was frankly bullsh!t.

They took a 2.2ton car and reduced weight by something pathetic like 60kg (largely by removing rear seats), same effect as tossing a deck chair of the Titanic, negligible weight loss!

They gave it a few more ponies, like the standard car didnt already have enough.

Then brand it as a GT3 and up the price by £80k, make it limited edition, et voila.

I bet not one privately owned Bentley GT3 has ever been on a track day!

Edited by British Beef on Friday 13th January 16:40

[ecsrobin]

British Beef said:

I bet not one privately owned Bentley has ever been on a track day!

Do you mean GT3 or any Bentley?

As there's quite a long thread from a PH member on his track car.



And there's a GT3 that does the Peter saywell trackdays at goodwood

[British Beef]

ecsrobin said:

Do you mean GT3 or any Bentley?

As there's quite a long thread from a PH member on his track car.



And there's a GT3 that does the Peter saywell trackdays at goodwood

I was referring to the GT3 continental all £240k of it.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=...

[ecsrobin]

British Beef said:

ecsrobin said:

Do you mean GT3 or any Bentley?

As there's quite a long thread from a PH member on his track car.



And there's a GT3 that does the Peter saywell trackdays at goodwood

I was referring to the GT3 continental all £240k of it.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=...

From Peter saywell trackday

[British Beef]

ecsrobin said:

From Peter saywell trackday

I eat my words!!

[Amirhussain]

Ouffh I like that

[Q Car]

That's a scary loking piece of kit. Just needs Darth Vader style helmets for the drivers now to finish off the look of the thing...

[grumpynuts]

I'll wager the GT3 racer will be an LC500, not the RCF.