Friday 28th February 2014

Lexus RC F GT3 concept

Lexus wants to go racing with the RC F coupe; 540hp GT3 Concept looks the part

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Oh to be rich enough to fund a privateer GT3 entry and join the grid in one the many international championships. But what to select as your weapon of choice? Established players like the Mercedes SLS GT3, Audi R8 LMS and McLaren 12C GT3 are proven race winners. But the world of GT racing has gotten a whole lot more interesting from the perspective of competitors and spectators alike with the arrival of new players like the Bentley Continental GT3. Race versions of some of our favourite big-engined coupes and supercars, engorged with wide arches, wild aero and (occasionally) side exhausts battling out on track together - what's not to like?

GT3 grid looks even cooler for 2015

Lexus clearly wants a piece of the action and having revealed its Japanese Super GT version of its RC F coupe it's now confirmed a GT3 'concept', the car making its debut at Geneva next week. Now, the Super GT version looked the part (no, we still don't know what the hell was going on with that fancy dress pit crew in the press shots) but the new four-cylinder turbo engine rules for GT500/DTM aren't quite as evocative as what went before. No matter, the GT3 deals with that by sticking with a sodding great V8 - a modified version of the 5.0-litre unit in the roadgoing RC Fsharing the Geneva stand and making its European debut at the show.

In the GT3 it makes 540hp, around 90hp up on the road car, which paired with the 1,250kg kerbweight and aero should make it a formidable track weapon. If those are side exhausts below the doors we're sold on the idea! Built by Lexus International with assistance from Japanese subsidiary Techno Craft, the official line is that the RC F GT3 Concept 'signals Lexus' intent to support GT3 sports car racing in 2015.' And although the official blurb keeps calling it a concept it also says testing will begin later this year. We look forward to seeing it out there...

[Tib]

I'll pass on the My Little Pony sparkly bits. Thanks.

[Planter]

Tib said:

I'll pass on the My Little Pony sparkly bits. Thanks.

Yep, agree, get it in matt black and itll look the bks

[ARAF]

Is that a GT86 with the IS-F engine?

I think Rogue Motorsport have been building one for the past year....

[GroundEffect]

The 'U-bend' wing struts are in vogue at the moment.

[hondansx]

Looks great... certainly Lexus need to do something, they're a bit quiet on the marketing front.

[soad]

Looks great, raw and muscular.

[lestiq]

wish GT3 class was in Le Mans. so much variety for the eyes and ears.

[Reavenger]

You mean it doesn't come with a CVT gearbox?..... /endsarcasm

[dufunk]

Looks great, toyota really getting there arse in gear!

[k-ink]

Appalling looking munter.

[zorba_the_greek]

looks bad a$$

[glazbagun]

Looks amazing. Would be even better in matte black or wish exhaust fumes, flies and battle damage all over it.

I keep meaning to ask- is there an online stream for watching GT3 or Japanese GT races live?

[Rich_W]

Interesting.

Looks like a Radio Control car in the pics though.

[RogueMotorsport]

ARAF said:

Is that a GT86 with the IS-F engine?

I think Rogue Motorsport have been building one for the past year....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152061910850847&set=vb.539765846&type=2&theater

[ARAF]

RogueMotorsport said:

ARAF said:

Is that a GT86 with the IS-F engine?

I think Rogue Motorsport have been building one for the past year....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152061910850847&set=vb.539765846&type=2&theater

Still following it on Facebook. Sounded lovely on the flyby video.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=8454336988061...

[wergus]

If this is 1250kg then it really makes me wonder what they put in the road car that makes it 600kg heavier?!