Lexus Racing Report: Mid-May 2019


May 2019 has proven fortuitous, thus far, for Lexus motorsports. We’ve already reported on AIM Vasser Sullivan’s victory in Round 3 of IMSA WeatherTech GTD racing in Mid-Ohio in the U.S. Lexus racers in Japan and Europe have seen similarly positive results.


Super GT Round 2 at Fuji (500 km)

As with Round 1 at Okayama, rain was the operative word (including a 30-minute red flag period). Ultimately, the rains stopped, and after a thrilling duel with the #23 Nissan GT-R, the #38 ZENT CERUMO LC 500 co-driven by Yuji Tachikawa and Hiroaki Ishiura claimed the first GT 500 Lexus victory of the season. Other Lexus top-10 finishers were the #39 Denso Kobelco SARD LC 500 co-driven by Heikki Kovalainen and Yuichi Nakayama (4th place), the #37 KeePer TOM’S LC 500 co-driven by Ryo Hirakawa and Nick Cassidy (7th place) and the #6 Wako’s 4CR LC 500 co-driven by Kazuka Oshima and Kenta Yamashita (8th place).

In the GT 300 class, the sole Lexus top-10 finisher was the #60 SYNTIUM LMcorsa RC F GT3 co-driven by Hiroki Yoshimoto and Dominik Farnbacher in 9th place.

The next race will be on May 26th at the Suzuka Circuit.


Blancpain GT Europe Round 2 at Silverstone, England

Lexus RC F GT3 Blancpain

In just their second race in the Blancpain GT Series Europe Endurance Cup, the #23 Tech1 Racing Lexus RC F GT3 co-driven by team principal Fabien Barthez and Bernard Delhez achieved their first AM Cup class podium finish (2nd in class and 31st overall).

The next race will be on June 1 at Circuit Paul Ricard in France.

EuropeJapanRacing
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.
congratulations Lexus!
Finally a good result after the bad start
Congratulations to Toyota
Lexus IS just racking up those wins . Nice !!
Everything start getting better!!!
1 to 3 once you get there you get there good job team .

L