The Lexus SC430 is a car looking for a niche in the UK. A healthy dose of
power gives it impressive credentials but it's mid-Atlantic styling leaves many
Brits non-plussed. Lexus are working hard on its image however and this summer a
very special Lexus SC430 will taking to the track in the US. It won't be racing,
it's to be used as the pace car in the Formula One-style American Champ Car
series.
Lexus's US Motorsports Technical Centre has turned the slippery coupe into a
more striking car with a bright, metallic silver exterior, edgy purple and
yellow race stripes, silver wheels and purple leather interior.
The SC430 is already loaded with a powerful 4.3-litre, 32-valve, V8 but the
engineers stuck their heads under the bonnet and injected another 28 horsepower
to give a total of 312 and added 25lb.ft. of torque to give the convertible an
even quicker start off the line.
Other modifications in the body-building regime include a full safety roll
cage, four-point racing seatbelt harness, race-tuned suspension, Eibach racing
coil springs and Bilstein shock absorbers. 18-inch front and 19-inch rear SSR
wheels are fitted with Bridgestone Potenza 265/35ZR/18 tyres in the front and
275/35ZR/19 in the rear. These ensure the SC430 pace car achieves the increased
cornering capability and control needed to stay at the head of a field of racing
cars.
This is the fourth foray into the Champ Car pace car line-up for Lexus. The
original SC400 sport coupe led the way in 1992 and the high-performance GS400
rounded the track first in 1997. The IS300 made its way to the racing scene in
October 2001 at the California Speedway.
The pace car is a one off, but UK race fans will get a chance to see it when
the Champ Car series returns to the Rockingham Motor Speedway, near Corby on
14th September.
Links: [links]Pace Car|pacecar[/links]
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