Lexus’ Racing Program Ends With 2026 Season

Faisal Sheikh

Faisal Sheikh

Admirer
Messages
866
Reactions
1,518
I might be the odd one out, but this is how I am feeling right now about this big transition. I fully realize it is end of an era that started with the ISF. While I am very sad F and Lexus racing are going away, I am genuinely happy to welcome GR racing. It might sound blasphemous and I totally empathize with the passion and respect for Lexus racing, but hey I actually own an F car and two F-Sport cars so I walk the talk.

Bought my F back almost 10 years ago and it led me to buy two F-Sport cars (and a They are staying with me for as far as I can see and are not going anywhere, but I am not too stuck on branding. As long as they produce great/exciting cars under the Lexus GR badge and GR racing, I would rooting for the brand like the way I rooted for Lexus racing. F brand and the RCF GT3 all these years.
 
DarkSpace6383

DarkSpace6383

Follower
Messages
380
Reactions
167
Faisal Sheikh said:
I might be the odd one out, but this is how I am feeling right now about this big transition. I fully realize it is end of an era that started with the ISF. While I am very sad F and Lexus racing are going away, I am genuinely happy to welcome GR racing. It might sound blasphemous and I totally empathize with the passion and respect for Lexus racing, but hey I actually own an F car and two F-Sport cars so I walk the talk.

Bought my F back almost 10 years ago and it led me to buy two F-Sport cars (and a They are staying with me for as far as I can see and are not going anywhere, but I am not too stuck on branding. As long as they produce great/exciting cars under the Lexus GR badge and GR racing, I would rooting for the brand like the way I rooted for Lexus racing. F brand and the RCF GT3 all these years.
Click to expand...
I can respect your take, and congrats on owning so many F cars! The issue for me is that pretty much the whole sport product line has been muddled across every brand, especially with GR now being its own brand. I think that should've been the end of GR as a trim level. The Toyota products should've introduced "TR (for the new Toyota racing brand)" naming while Lexus should stay with F. Gazoo Racing can be it's own thing, and focus on more premium and out-there products. Main cars from them could be MR2, Celica (but make Celica a bit more upmarket, 50kish price), and GRGT. Supra MK6 and 86 should stay Toyotas. A lot of people are praying on GR's downfall. I am not. I just think that it would be better off if it had it's own identity as its OWN brand, rather than being somewhat involved in every single part of TMC's sportscars. This would allo wroom for other brands to grow. The fact is people are buying AMG, BMW M, and Audi RS for the prestige. GR won't carry that same weight if you can buy a Rav4 GR Sport with the same badge.

Gazoo Racing should exist, but it shouldnt suck in all the other brands' cars. VWG has proven that it makes a lot more sense to just let brands have their own performance divisions.
 
Will1991

Will1991

Moderator
Messages
1,638
Reactions
3,332
Totally understandable… A RX based race car simply won’t work (competitively) 🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.