Lexus LC Finishes First in Class at 24 Hours of Nürburgring Race


The new Lexus LC race car battled through an early collision and some unexpected technical issues to finish first in the SP-PRO class and 96th overall at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring this weekend.

The LC was very strong in qualifying, with a best lap time of eight minutes and 34.591 seconds good enough to start the race in 32nd position.

However, it was moments into the 24 hour race when the LC suffered impact damage. The extended pitstop needed to fix the issue, along with further technical issues throughout the first half, pushed the LC to the back of the pack. A strong trouble-free run from early Sunday morning to the finish of the race saw the LC make up some ground and improve to first in class.

Driven by Takeshi Tsuchiya, Takamitsu Matsui, Naoya Gamo, and Yuichi Nakayama, the LC accomplished the team’s mission of finishing the race, placed 96th overall.

Lexus LC: First GenerationRacing
Comments




LexusTechSA
Link to qualifying results for Super GT

https://supergt.net/results/index/2018/Round3/3/gt500

https://supergt.net/results/index/2018/Round3/3/gt300

So Lexus failed in the GT500 so far as well as Nuburgring

I think there's something wrong this season
Another thing I forgot to mention. The Blancpain GT Series entrance is one of the biggest moves Lexus has made. It has made them a huge player among the "big boy" cars that come from Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Bentley. Currently, they need to do plenty of work in terms of the championships but they're still doing a commendable job. Still, they need to win it all. Go Lexus!
I've never followed the Lexus racing program in recent years since I am a WRC guy. Could someone summarize how well the RC fares in GT racing?

GT500 is just stupid. I couldn't care less about silouette cars especially when there's no obligatory road homologation.
ssun30
I've never followed the Lexus racing program in recent years since I am a WRC guy. Could someone summarize how well the RC fares in GT racing.
The RC F GT3 program looks to be picking up steam:
  • After a season and a half with little success, 3GT Racing won their first IMSA race this month.
  • The European program had more success, and was competitive in VLN in 2016 and the GT Open in 2017. Emil Frey Racing is now in the Blancpain GT series, a considerably more prestigious championship, and have managed a third place finish in four races this year.
  • The RC F GT3 in Japan has really struggled, but a newly formed team with SuperGT legend Morio Nitta just finished first in this weekend's race.
This could just be a string of good luck, but hopefully the teams on all three continents will continue to be competitive. I know the first place finish by 3GT has energized my interest.

L