Weekend Results: Lexus LC Teams finish 1-2 in Super GT Fuji Race


There were two races for Lexus this weekend, with Super GT Round 5 at Fuji Speedway and the 3GT Racing teams running the IMSA Road America in Wisconsin.

Super GT Round 5


The #36 au TOM’S LC 500 driven by Kazuki Nakajima & Yuhi Sekiguchi scored their first win of the season at Fuji Speedway, with the #1 KeePer TOM’S LC team coming in second. Here is an extended highlight video with English commentary:

(This is something that should have been done years ago, as English commentary brings the race to a much wider audience. Hope to see these videos for every race in the future.)

Now five races into the season, Lexus KeePer TOM’S is first overall in the GT500 class, with the au TOM’S team in second. The next race will be at Sportsland SUGO in mid-September.

IMSA WeatherTech Championship


Lexus RC F GT3 Race

The 3GT Racing #14 Lexus RC F GT3 finished sixth in the GTD class at Sunday’s Road America race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The #15 RC F GT3 was unable to participate due to a heavy crash during warmup — from Sportscar365:

According to IMSA Radio, Hawksworth experience a braking problem and subsequently went nose first into the tire barrier in Turn 8. He exited the car under his own power and was checked and cleared from the infield medical center.

The car sustained damage that was too significant to repair in time for this afternoon’s race and the team has shifted its focus to the next round at Virginia International Raceway for the No. 15.

JapanRacingUSA
Comments
This is amazing. Lexus showing its presence in motorsports is huge for them, especially in Europe.

If you guys haven't heard, Japan (Super GT) and Germany (DTM) are making strides to merge into a series that has been initially dubbed as "Class One". Both bosses have been trying to extend their hands in terms of friendship and widen their presence around the world. Now for Lexus, this is good news because they now have the opportunity to have a huge presence in Germany, that they didn't have before (was only WRC and WEC with Toyota generally). This will boost Lexus' image like no other and we won't have to worry as much in terms of competition and image much longer for Europe. German car manufacturers are hoping the same, as they're also trying to have a huge presence in Japan too. Both Europeans and Japanese have huge amounts of respect for each other, so this process of a merged, single, high profile GT racing series is really good news for everyone. I really cannot wait for this to happen, some reports say the merger may occur somewhere in the next 2 years. This is a big step for everyone, and this represents how relevant GT racing still is.

Now for the "nitty gritty", there has been some demonstrations both in Japan and in Germany to give fans a taste, and they have been raving from both sides. There has been talk of regulations, where DTM has made strides to make the move from the V8 engines that has made them so popular, to a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, very similar to Super GT regulations for 2019. This was at a pause because Mercedes-Benz still wanted the V8's to happen, but now that this is their last season in DTM, it has made the merger much easier. It was apparent that the merger was going to happen a while back, and also the switch in power units, but Mercedes-Benz were adamant on the V8 engines, so it stayed.

Now that things are going to clear up a little, with 2019 being a transition year, probably being the last year for both series on its own, the merger will probably happen in 2020. I hope this comes true, because this move will make Lexus hugely successful in Europe (and other manufacturers of course).
This is amazing. Lexus showing its presence in motorsports is huge for them, especially in Europe.

If you guys haven't heard, Japan (Super GT) and Germany (DTM) are making strides to merge into a series that has been initially dubbed as "Class One". Both bosses have been trying to extend their hands in terms of friendship and widen their presence around the world. Now for Lexus, this is good news because they now have the opportunity to have a huge presence in Germany, that they didn't have before (was only WRC and WEC with Toyota generally). This will boost Lexus' image like no other and we won't have to worry as much in terms of competition and image much longer for Europe. German car manufacturers are hoping the same, as they're also trying to have a huge presence in Japan too. Both Europeans and Japanese have huge amounts of respect for each other, so this process of a merged, single, high profile GT racing series is really good news for everyone. I really cannot wait for this to happen, some reports say the merger may occur somewhere in the next 2 years. This is a big step for everyone, and this represents how relevant GT racing still is.

Now for the "nitty gritty", there has been some demonstrations both in Japan and in Germany to give fans a taste, and they have been raving from both sides. There has been talk of regulations, where DTM has made strides to make the move from the V8 engines that has made them so popular, to a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, very similar to Super GT regulations for 2019. This was at a pause because Mercedes-Benz still wanted the V8's to happen, but now that this is their last season in DTM, it has made the merger much easier. It was apparent that the merger was going to happen a while back, and also the switch in power units, but Mercedes-Benz were adamant on the V8 engines, so it stayed.

Now that things are going to clear up a little, with 2019 being a transition year, probably being the last year for both series on its own, the merger will probably happen in 2020. I hope this comes true, because this move will make Lexus hugely successful in Europe (and other manufacturers of course).
Great job Gazoo for another great win, continuing the legacy of the LFA. Although IIRC LFA competed in SP8 class and was finishing 1st in class and something like 14th (or maybe 30 something) overall? I truly miss the LFA days, maybe if they went up in class, the LFA could've been winning the N24 outright? I'm not a big racing fan so excuse my ignorance but LFA days were truly exciting for me.

Some of the photos included were really nice, thanks for the update!
Great job Gazoo for another great win, continuing the legacy of the LFA. Although IIRC LFA competed in SP8 class and was finishing 1st in class and something like 14th (or maybe 30 something) overall? I truly miss the LFA days, maybe if they went up in class, the LFA could've been winning the N24 outright? I'm not a big racing fan so excuse my ignorance but LFA days were truly exciting for me.

Some of the photos included were really nice, thanks for the update!
Failure, even the RC350 of previous year nuburgring did better, honestly even the 86

In short Toyota failed this year 24hrs Nuburgring
Failure, even the RC350 of previous year nuburgring did better, honestly even the 86

In short Toyota failed this year 24hrs Nuburgring
Failure, even the RC350 of previous year nuburgring did better, honestly even the 86

In short Toyota failed this year 24hrs Nuburgring












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
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
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!

F