Lexus will build a new GT race car capable of racing at the Le Mans 24 hours in 2016, according to a Racecar Engineering interview with RC F chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi:
The firm surprised many by revealing an all new GT3 car at the Geneva motor show, but the car is the starting point for a much larger project.
Speaking at the launch of the new Lexus RCF the Chief Engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi explained why a GT3 version was launched at this time. “We do not know what the new rules will be, but we could not wait until they appeared as the production car is launched now, we had to design the car to the rules we knew and that is GT3. This car was designed for global competition, GT300, the USA and of course here in Europe.”
There should be big changes to GT racing in 2016, with the FIA hoping to replace the current system with two new classes: GT & GT+.
Under the proposed plans, manufacturers will produce a single car that can be built to two different specifications for the two different classes — Yaguchi-san addresses this situation in the interview:
Asked about the future of GT racing Yaguchi admitted that the car would likely be seen at Le Mans. “We have to be racing in whatever the global GT class is, so in 2016 we will produce a kit which will allow this car to race in GT and GT+.”
[Source: Racecar Engineering]
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