Lexus & 3GT Racing Terminate IMSA Partnership


Lexus and 3GT Racing have parted ways in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, concluding a three-year relationship that delivered a pair of class victories with the RC F GT3.

The split is said to be mutual, and this is backed up by quotes from company officials in SportsCar365:

“Paul Gentilozzi and the 3GT Racing team played an integral role in assisting Lexus in the development of the RC F GT3,” said Cooper Ericksen, vice president Lexus marketing.

“We are grateful for our partnership and for the growth we experienced together as Lexus returned to the race track. We wish them well in their future endeavors.”

“We started this journey with Lexus in the spring of 2015, we have been exceptionally proud of the progress of the program on track,” said 3GT managing partner Paul Gentilozzi.

“The cultural growth of our experiences with TCD in Japan and the technical exposure with TRD here in the U.S. have been invaluable. In our 48 years in motorsports, we can look back at this with success.”

Lexus remains committed to the IMSA Championship moving forward, with a new team partner announcement for the 2019 season expected shortly. 3GT Racing will also be staying in the series, with no word yet on the next manufacturer partnership.

RacingUSA
Comments
F1 Silver Arrows
Hahaha! Yes my good sir! ;) You got me good. F1 it is. It is simply a series that leaves me on the edge of my seat. Now that I am thinking about it, what about IndyCar? Toyota is hugely successful in the WEC and in Nascar, they are wiping the whole series with the other constructors (think of Mercedes-Benz in F1 from 2014 onward at the start of the hybrid era). When they released their new 2018 Camry, drivers said it was a harder car to drive, but it DOMINATED everything. Chevy, Ford and Dodge, their wins combined wouldn't even touch Toyota's wins in Nascar.

I think IndyCar is a good idea for Toyota, and F1 would do wonders for Lexus! Ideas, ideas!

love your enthusiasm!!! (from a rather enthusiastic person)! Let's see it Lexus!
F1 Silver Arrows
Hahaha! Yes my good sir! ;) You got me good. F1 it is. It is simply a series that leaves me on the edge of my seat. Now that I am thinking about it, what about IndyCar? Toyota is hugely successful in the WEC and in Nascar, they are wiping the whole series with the other constructors (think of Mercedes-Benz in F1 from 2014 onward at the start of the hybrid era). When they released their new 2018 Camry, drivers said it was a harder car to drive, but it DOMINATED everything. Chevy, Ford and Dodge, their wins combined wouldn't even touch Toyota's wins in Nascar.

I think IndyCar is a good idea for Toyota, and F1 would do wonders for Lexus! Ideas, ideas!

love your enthusiasm!!! (from a rather enthusiastic person)! Let's see it Lexus!
Haha! I am quite the enthusiastic (and a passionate one while I am at it) person! Glad our love for Lexus and racing is helping us all bond together! Our community needs to be stronger than ever! I honestly cannot wait for Toyota/Lexus to bring the competition to the rest of the world. It is time that we show what our brand values are, and not get ridiculed because of people with their blind views. Like that Autobild article a few days ago! I am so sick of journalists shoving their noses up at us. Hopefully we'll do so well that it will straighten their necks (so they can look straight at us resurging...... and swallow their pride).
Haha! I am quite the enthusiastic (and a passionate one while I am at it) person! Glad our love for Lexus and racing is helping us all bond together! Our community needs to be stronger than ever! I honestly cannot wait for Toyota/Lexus to bring the competition to the rest of the world. It is time that we show what our brand values are, and not get ridiculed because of people with their blind views. Like that Autobild article a few days ago! I am so sick of journalists shoving their noses up at us. Hopefully we'll do so well that it will straighten their necks (so they can look straight at us resurging...... and swallow their pride).
The official Lexus UK Blog features a pre-Sebring interview with British racer Jack Hawksworth, co-driver of the #15 Lexus RC F GT3:

http://blog.lexus.co.uk/lexus-at-sebring-12-hours-jack-hawksworth-interview/
The official Lexus UK Blog features a pre-Sebring interview with British racer Jack Hawksworth, co-driver of the #15 Lexus RC F GT3:

http://blog.lexus.co.uk/lexus-at-sebring-12-hours-jack-hawksworth-interview/
Final results of 12 Hours of Sebring:

View attachment 2781

Thought this was funny:

Final results of 12 Hours of Sebring:

View attachment 2781

Thought this was funny:

seems that they are in the middle of the pack. I'd like to see better, but the AMG GT3 and others are tough competitors, but its nice to see Lexus out there and Emil Frey is a great racing team. Being in the race is critical! Lexus is right on track being in this competition. Last year I attended an IMSA race at Watkins Glen, I will be at least another IMSA event this year to support Lexus Racing.
seems that they are in the middle of the pack. I'd like to see better, but the AMG GT3 and others are tough competitors, but its nice to see Lexus out there and Emil Frey is a great racing team. Being in the race is critical! Lexus is right on track being in this competition. Last year I attended an IMSA race at Watkins Glen, I will be at least another IMSA event this year to support Lexus Racing.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY THEY ARE IN BLANCPAIN!! A GREAT STEP IN SPORTSCAR RACING. WHO IS CUTTING ONIONS HERE? STOP CUTTING THEM. Anyways I am so proud. :')
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY THEY ARE IN BLANCPAIN!! A GREAT STEP IN SPORTSCAR RACING. WHO IS CUTTING ONIONS HERE? STOP CUTTING THEM. Anyways I am so proud. :')
F1 Silver Arrows
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY THEY ARE IN BLANCPAIN!! A GREAT STEP IN SPORTSCAR RACING. WHO IS CUTTING ONIONS HERE? STOP CUTTING THEM. Anyways I am so proud. :')

oops, i think I took a slice of an onion there! mea culpa.

You are correct that the fact that they are in Blancpain is fantastic!
F1 Silver Arrows
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY THEY ARE IN BLANCPAIN!! A GREAT STEP IN SPORTSCAR RACING. WHO IS CUTTING ONIONS HERE? STOP CUTTING THEM. Anyways I am so proud. :')

oops, i think I took a slice of an onion there! mea culpa.

You are correct that the fact that they are in Blancpain is fantastic!
PeterF
oops, i think I took a slice of an onion there! mea culpa.

You are correct that the fact that they are in Blancpain is fantastic!
Awww you! ;) Ya got me there. All good though!

Anyways, boy am I really proud for these guys, they are having much more presence in racing. They are winning lots of races in different series and have won titles under Lexus too. Smart on them, build a strong foundation in racing divisions smaller than F1, they can make an entrance in time for the 2021 regulations, where they have attracted a lot of potential constructors and suppliers like Aston Martin, Porsche, Cosworth and Ilmor. Hope Lexus joins in too.

For those who don't follow F1 and are not aware of what the 2021 regulations are:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/tech-analysis-behind-f12021-engine-row-974447/
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/4/formula-1-tables-its-proposals-for-2021.html

This can really open doors for Lexus. Plenty of reasons why it makes sense. For those who haven't seen my very first few posts here, it was regarding Lexus in F1, flip to the first page to see why I said it makes sense.
PeterF
oops, i think I took a slice of an onion there! mea culpa.

You are correct that the fact that they are in Blancpain is fantastic!
Awww you! ;) Ya got me there. All good though!

Anyways, boy am I really proud for these guys, they are having much more presence in racing. They are winning lots of races in different series and have won titles under Lexus too. Smart on them, build a strong foundation in racing divisions smaller than F1, they can make an entrance in time for the 2021 regulations, where they have attracted a lot of potential constructors and suppliers like Aston Martin, Porsche, Cosworth and Ilmor. Hope Lexus joins in too.

For those who don't follow F1 and are not aware of what the 2021 regulations are:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/tech-analysis-behind-f12021-engine-row-974447/
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/4/formula-1-tables-its-proposals-for-2021.html

This can really open doors for Lexus. Plenty of reasons why it makes sense. For those who haven't seen my very first few posts here, it was regarding Lexus in F1, flip to the first page to see why I said it makes sense.
So in general bad week
I remembered the previous yead Lexus had all 6 cars in the top ten of super GT
So in general bad week
I remembered the previous yead Lexus had all 6 cars in the top ten of super GT

M