Lexus RC F GT3 Delayed Until 2017

Photo: F Performance Racing

The Lexus RC F GT3 will not make its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race debut until next year, following a decision by the automaker to focus on development of its new-for-2017 GT3 car instead.

As initially revealed by Slipstream Network, the F Performance Racing team will forgo entering its current GT3-based model, which has been used for initial testing in the U.S., and was slated to race this year.

An all-new RC F GT3 is currently in build in Japan, which will be GT3 homologated and is expected to take part in the full 2017 WeatherTech Championship as a two-car factory supported operation.

“We’re making the strategic and competitive decision to focus our efforts on the 2017 vehicles next season with a two-car effort, so we can represent the brand in a way we deem appropriate,” Lexus Motorsport manager Mark Egger told Slipstream Network.

While having been tabbed to make its race debut in Detroit, supply issues forced the initial delay in the program, with F Performance team boss Paul Gentilozzi telling Sportscar365 in May that there was no timeline set for the car’s race debut.

The car is understood to have since completed testing, with both Scott Pruett and Sage Karam, and recently debuted in a national television ad campaign.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John