Lexus and Scott Pruett go racing with RC F GT3
Tue, Nov 3 2015
Based on its current livery in eye-popping metallic blue, the coupe will also be one of the easiest cars to spot on the track. The sharply styled RC F might take too many checkered flags in its first season, though, because the team will keep the coupe to a limited schedule next year. Rather than scoring wins, the focus will be on developing the platform and gaining experience. However by the 2017 or 2018 season, there will be a multi-car effort with a full racing calendar.
When taking on veteran teams fielding Porsches or Ferraris in the same class, a seasoned driver like Pruett will be an asset around a racecourse. He also already has close ties to the Japanese luxury brand after competing in Lexus-power prototypes in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Championship Series and helping to develop the LFA. "I could not be more ecstatic to be representing Lexus as a performance brand ambassador and on the track in the F Performance RC F GT3," he said in the announcement. We look forward to seeing what he can do with it next year.
Related Video:
Lexus Partners with F Performance Racing for 2016 and Beyond
Scott Pruett and Paul Gentilozzi form new team
Multi-year team agreement
Upcoming season focuses on vehicle development
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 2, 2015) - Lexus today announced its motorsports partnership with
Paul Gentilozzi and newly formed F Performance Racing to field the RC F GT3 in a soon to be announced sports car series. This new racing venture is part of the Lexus' global motorsports effort that will see the Japanese luxury brand competing on 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 at the end of 2014.
"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. We are very excited about what this partnership and race effort can mean for the brand in the years to come," said Jeff Bracken, group vice president and general manager, Lexus division.
Veteran driver and road racing legend Scott Pruett will pilot the RC F GT3, bringing a wealth of experience to bear during the vehicle development phase. F Performance Racing will campaign a limited schedule in 2016. In its inaugural year, the team's primary focus will involve developing the race organization while gathering data and track experience to help further propel vehicle development. For the 2017/18 season, the plan calls for F Performance Racing and Pruett to participate in a full sports car racing schedule with a multi-vehicle effort.
Background
Pruett and Lexus have a history of success both on and off-the-track. The Roseville, California native campaigned Lexus-powered prototypes from 2004-2007 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, Pruett was integral part of the development and global promotion of both the Lexus LFA supercar and the Lexus IS F performance sedan.
"When Lexus left motorsports, I pledged to them that I would be there to help them return when that time came," said Pruett. "That time is now and I could not be more ecstatic to be representing Lexus as a performance brand ambassador and on the track in the F Performance RC F GT3."
Gentilozzi competed in his first professional motorsports event 45 years ago. That NHRA drag racing event started a career that turned left and right into a significant road racing career resulting in five Trans Am driver championships with three different brands and virtually every record in the Trans Am history book. Gentilozzi also earned two Daytona 24 Hour class victories and an overall victory in the storied-event in 1994. On his path to more than 40 first place trophies, Gentilozzi's teams accomplished three additional driver championships for Scott Pruett, Klaus Graf and Tomy Drissi and ten manufacturer championships in IMSA and Trans Am combined. Tony 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 true "family" powerhouse was formed through victories in Champ Car, IMSA, Grand Am and Trans Am competition.
And Now, it Begins....
The racing family is ready to embrace a new challenge. In early 2015, at the North American International Auto show, Lexus announced the brand would return to racing with its high performance
RC F. The possibility of returning to the hotly contested GT ranks in 2016 with Lexus' high performance niche brand was a race team's dream. Given the brand's commitment to competition, Lexus racecars are poised to develop a motorsports heritage through sports car racing around the world. Simply put, this is a "must do" challenge for F Performance Racing and Scott Pruett.
"An opportunity to reunite with North America's greatest sports car driver and a great friend, Scott Pruett and Lexus, a globally prestigious brand validating their performance potential, is a racer's dream," said Paul Gentilozzi. The racing family patriarch continues, "One that would put an exclamation point on anyone's motorsports career."
Accepting the challenge of being part of a developing Lexus Motorsports heritage, both
F Performance Racing and Pruett look to 2016 and beyond with great anticipation of the first on-track success for the RC F GT3.
Lexus launched in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since that time, Lexus has expanded its line-up to meet the needs of global luxury customers. Lexus is now going beyond its reputation for high quality vehicles with the integration of innovative technology, emotional exterior and interior designs, and engaging driving dynamics and performance. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers eight F SPORT models and one F performance model. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 236 dealers who are committed to exemplary customer service.
www.facebook.com/lexus
www.twitter.com/lexus
www.youtube.com/LexusVehicles
https://plus.google.com/+Lexus/posts
www.instagram.com/lexususa
https://www.pinterest.com/lexususa
Scott Pruett and Paul Gentilozzi form new team
Multi-year team agreement
Upcoming season focuses on vehicle development
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 2, 2015) - Lexus today announced its motorsports partnership with
Paul Gentilozzi and newly formed F Performance Racing to field the RC F GT3 in a soon to be announced sports car series. This new racing venture is part of the Lexus' global motorsports effort that will see the Japanese luxury brand competing on 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 at the end of 2014.
"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. We are very excited about what this partnership and race effort can mean for the brand in the years to come," said Jeff Bracken, group vice president and general manager, Lexus division.
Veteran driver and road racing legend Scott Pruett will pilot the RC F GT3, bringing a wealth of experience to bear during the vehicle development phase. F Performance Racing will campaign a limited schedule in 2016. In its inaugural year, the team's primary focus will involve developing the race organization while gathering data and track experience to help further propel vehicle development. For the 2017/18 season, the plan calls for F Performance Racing and Pruett to participate in a full sports car racing schedule with a multi-vehicle effort.
Background
Pruett and Lexus have a history of success both on and off-the-track. The Roseville, California native campaigned Lexus-powered prototypes from 2004-2007 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, Pruett was integral part of the development and global promotion of both the Lexus LFA supercar and the Lexus IS F performance sedan.
"When Lexus left motorsports, I pledged to them that I would be there to help them return when that time came," said Pruett. "That time is now and I could not be more ecstatic to be representing Lexus as a performance brand ambassador and on the track in the F Performance RC F GT3."
Gentilozzi competed in his first professional motorsports event 45 years ago. That NHRA drag racing event started a career that turned left and right into a significant road racing career resulting in five Trans Am driver championships with three different brands and virtually every record in the Trans Am history book. Gentilozzi also earned two Daytona 24 Hour class victories and an overall victory in the storied-event in 1994. On his path to more than 40 first place trophies, Gentilozzi's teams accomplished three additional driver championships for Scott Pruett, Klaus Graf and Tomy Drissi and ten manufacturer championships in IMSA and Trans Am combined. Tony 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 true "family" powerhouse was formed through victories in Champ Car, IMSA, Grand Am and Trans Am competition.
And Now, it Begins....
The racing family is ready to embrace a new challenge. In early 2015, at the North American International Auto show, Lexus announced the brand would return to racing with its high performance
RC F. The possibility of returning to the hotly contested GT ranks in 2016 with Lexus' high performance niche brand was a race team's dream. Given the brand's commitment to competition, Lexus racecars are poised to develop a motorsports heritage through sports car racing around the world. Simply put, this is a "must do" challenge for F Performance Racing and Scott Pruett.
"An opportunity to reunite with North America's greatest sports car driver and a great friend, Scott Pruett and Lexus, a globally prestigious brand validating their performance potential, is a racer's dream," said Paul Gentilozzi. The racing family patriarch continues, "One that would put an exclamation point on anyone's motorsports career."
Accepting the challenge of being part of a developing Lexus Motorsports heritage, both
F Performance Racing and Pruett look to 2016 and beyond with great anticipation of the first on-track success for the RC F GT3.
| 2016 Lexus RCF GT3 basic specifications | |
| Overall Length | 189.2 inches (4805 mm) |
| Overall Height | 50 inches (1270 mm) |
| Width | 78.75 inches (2000 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 107.5 inches (2730 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2866 lbs. (1300 kgs.) |
| Power | Production 5.0–liter derived V8 (500+hp) |
| Transmission | 6-speed Sequential w/paddle shifters |
| Origin | Toyota Technocraft, Japan |
Lexus launched in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since that time, Lexus has expanded its line-up to meet the needs of global luxury customers. Lexus is now going beyond its reputation for high quality vehicles with the integration of innovative technology, emotional exterior and interior designs, and engaging driving dynamics and performance. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers eight F SPORT models and one F performance model. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 236 dealers who are committed to exemplary customer service.
www.facebook.com/lexus
www.twitter.com/lexus
www.youtube.com/LexusVehicles
https://plus.google.com/+Lexus/posts
www.instagram.com/lexususa
https://www.pinterest.com/lexususa
By Chris Bruce
See also: Lexus LF-FC concept is a preview of the next LS [w/video], Lexus spotted testing LF-LC coupe for production, 2016 Lexus IS 200t Quick Spin.