SEMA 2015: Lexus debuts new racing team and GT3 race car

Lexus has debuted its newly formed racing team at this year's SEMA. Marking the debut of the Lexus F Performance Racing team is the their unveiling of their entry for the 2016 motorsport season, the RC F GT3.

“A core mission of F Performance Racing was to strengthen the Lexus’ F brand by applying lessons gleaned from racing, while nurturing an engineering culture that transfers that knowledge to dynamic, high performance passenger car development. We are very excited about what this partnership and race effort can mean for the brand in the years to come." said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager. 

The RC F GT3 is powered by the company's 5.0-liter V8. While the race car shares the same block as the road car, internal engine modifications bring the power up to 500 PS. Power is then transferred through a six speed sequential transmission and the whole car weight 1,300 kilograms.

The first car will be driven by five time Grand-Am champion Scott Pruett. Pruett has been driving race cars professionally since 1984 and has also competed in Nascar, Indy Cars, Trans-Am and won had the 24 Hours of Le Mans back in 2001.

This isn't Pruett's first time collaborating with Lexus. Pruett gave Lexus three Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Championship titles from 2004 to 2007. For 2016, the team will run in a limited number of races using that season for testing. Under Pruett's wing, Lexus plans to compete with a multi-car team for the 2017 and 2018 season.