The New IMSA Automotive Partner: Lexus
Just before the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona, an event boasted as America’s premier endurance race, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and Lexus announced the carmaker as their newest Official Automotive Partner. This partnership is the first milestone in Lexus rejoining the forerunning ranks of professional North American sports car racing since their last run from 2004 through 2009.
To join the 2016 racing ranks, Lexus unveiled plans for their F Performance Racing team. Based out of East Lansing, Mi., by F Performance Racing owner Paul Gentilozzi, the Lexus team will be helmed by drivers Scott Pruett and Sage Karam, with Pruett holding the most number of wins among drivers in North American sports car racing history. Together with Lexus, the F Performance Racing team plans to take the Lexus RC F GT3 to victory in the IMSA WeatherTech United SportsCar Championship in 2016.
This long awaited comeback is sure to intimidate other competitors. When Lexus departed sports racing in 2009, they left behind an impressive record of three Rolex Series team championships, three Rolex 24 At Daytona overall victories and 25 overall race victories. The partnership with F Performance Racing and drivers Pruett and Karam is anticipated to see more wins under the Lexus name as they compete in the GT Daytona (GTD) class within IMSA’s series.
Lexus and its fans aren’t the only ones impressed and excited about the carmaker’s recent team announcements. IMSA expressed delight at Lexus’ F Performance Racing team and IMSA partnership, stating that “this program has all of the ingredients for success: a championship-caliber team, an outstanding driver lineup and an engaged and enthusiastic manufacturer partner.”
Should everything align for Lexus in the racing world this year, the future is sure to hold more opportunities for expanding the team and introducing the best in innovative sports car design. IMSA calls the Lexus F product line “a race-bred high performance brand,” and with notable driving alumni like Pruett and Karam, this is surely the recipe for success that IMSA holds it to be.
The F Performance Racing team plans to debut on the track later this year under a limited schedule with full-time performances coming in 2017. Until then, you can expect to find the team working to get the Lexus RC F GT3 fully under safety and performance standards as the IMSA WeatherTech series starts underway.
Even if you’re not a sports car driver like Pruett or Karam, those of us here at Lexus of Highland Park invite you to make a pit stop and take a spin behind the wheel of one of our 2016 Lexus RC 300 F Sport series coupes. Trust us when we say that it doesn’t take Daytona to make one of these powerful Lexus machines make your head spin with speed.
