This Weekend: Lexus Racing at the Rolex 24 at Daytona

Posted by Kevin on January 26th, 2018

Lexus Racing enters its second season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, running two RC F GT3 cars in the GTD class. The Rolex 24 at Daytona is the first and most difficult race of the year, and Lexus Enthusiast is live covering the race from the Daytona Speedway.

The driver lineup breaks down like this: The #15 RC F GT3 will be piloted by Jack Hawksworth, Dominik Farnbacher, David Heinmeier Hansson, and Scott Pruett, while the #14 car will be a team of Dominik Baumann, Kyle Marcelli and Bruno Junqueira.

The race takes on a special significance with the announcement that Scott Pruett will retire following its completion. He will finish with a record 60 wins in American sports car competition, including five overall victories in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. He is a four-time Rolex Grand-Am Champion (2004, 2008, 2010 and 2012) and a two-time IMSA champion (1986 and 1988).

“Lexus

Circling back to the race, look for a steady stream of updates on all the Lexus Enthusiast social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In addition to our usual coverage, be sure to check our ongoing Instagram story throughout the weekend. Good luck to the Lexus teams!

(The Lexus UK blog has a great interview with Pruett and Hawksworth, highly recommended reading ahead of the race this weekend.)

Racing
Popular Stories

Sorry. No data so far.

Comments
PeterF
Many thanks to Scott Pruett for all that he has done with Lexus! what a superb driver and human being
krew
Just spent the day at Daytona Speedway talking with the drivers and team members. Had a hot lap around the track in a GS F, also had a Pedialyte Mimosa.

Great start to the weekend, and I can see why people are so crazy about racing. It's been a real eye-opener.
mikeavelli
Have a great time, I'm not making it this year....

That Pedialyte Mirmosa hahahahaha
PeterF
krew
Just spent the day at Daytona Speedway talking with the drivers and team members. Had a hot lap around the track in a GS F, also had a Pedialyte Mimosa.

Great start to the weekend, and I can see why people are so crazy about racing. It's been a real eye-opener.
jealous! did you know that the fastest time for the Lightning lap at the VIR (virginia international raceway) was set by a Lexus RCF GT3 prototype which is essentially what they are driving at IMSA. that's impressive since the competition is the Ford GT.

This year I have developed a real love for track driving. I saw the Lexus team at Watkins Glen last year, and will see them again this year as well. Must be a blast doing a hot lap in a GS F at Daytona. Enjoy! and thanks for reporting on the event
PeterF
so far things look great, at least at my last viewing. lexus was running 2nd and 3rd; looking very very fast! this is very important as it speaks to the quality of the RFC GT3 racing engine (it's quite different from the RC F), but what's really important is that they are beating Porsche and Mercedes AMG GTR; these cars are outstanding as regular street cars. The current RCF is too heavy to compete on the track. I've been at many track events and the current RCF just doesnt come close to a 911 S (I own one and drive it on the track) or a 911 Gt3 or even GTS; but the race results tell me that Lexus can build a RCF that really can complete with the AMG and 911 GT3/ GTS, it just takes some focus. I would definitely buy a RCF GT3, since I' likely to get a Porsche 922 GT3, but would much more rather get a Lexus RCF GT3, let's go Lexus, translate this into some serious upper level performance cars. People will buy them, but certainly your IMSA performance wil support that.
krew
krew

Lexus RC F GT3 Teams Finish Mid-Table in Rolex 24 at Daytona
[​IMG]

The #15 finishes 9th, the #14 finishes 15th.
View the original article post
PeterF
I was wondering what happened that dropped them from 2nd and 3rd. I was watching the race, they were right at the top, then I had to take a break, then #15 was down to 10th. I was looking at fastest lap times, and Lexus was right up there.

I'm not sure what a "software mapping issue" is or the precise "timing" rules that led to their having to delay or wait. Unfortunate! Nonetheless, given their final placing and this big glitch, they did well.

Can anyone explain what this 'software mapping issue' is or means in the context of this race?
M
From my understanding each regulatory body no matter what racing series has strict rules about what ECU is allow to do and what it is not like how to limit engine RPM, fuel usage, fuel-air mixture, etc. Constructors have to work within the legal bounds to make the most out of the car so many working modes or maps are applied to the ECU through software mapping. This gives drivers the ability to change maps during the race like qualifying mode, fuel saving mode, etc. Lexus must have glitched out somehow and this has affected the car's performance somehow.

On a side note Acura/Honda has done such a great job on their second try with NSX GT3!
PeterF
mediumhot
From my understanding each regulatory body no matter what racing series has strict rules about what ECU is allow to do and what it is not like how to limit engine RPM, fuel usage, fuel-air mixture, etc. Constructors have to work within the legal bounds to make the most out of the car so many working modes or maps are applied to the ECU through software mapping. This gives drivers the ability to change maps during the race like qualifying mode, fuel saving mode, etc. Lexus must have glitched out somehow and this has affected the car's performance somehow.

On a side note Acura/Honda has done such a great job on their second try with NSX GT3!

thanks, makes sense, but I must admit that I thought it was simply all out racing within a category without limitations apart from basic engine and car specs. Complicated! you are right, Acura NSX GT3 really did well!

P