Second Evo Possible for Lexus RC F GT3 in 2021

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

A second evolution of the Lexus RC F GT3 could be possible for as early next year, according to Toyota Racing Development president and general manager David Wilson.

The luxury automaker’s GT3 model, which debuted in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition in 2017, underwent its first Evo in 2018 that was primarily focused on serviceability updates as well as a switch from Continental to Bosch ABS systems.

Wilson said that an additional Evo, which is permitted in the recent refresh of GT3 regulations that goes through the end of the 2021 season, is something they are considering amid other options within the overall IMSA landscape.

Lexus is set to embark on its fourth season in the WeatherTech Championship and second consecutive with the AIM Vasser Sullivan organization, which delivered GT Daytona class victories at Mid-Ohio and Detroit last year.

“Our current homologation [for the RC F GT3] runs through 2023,” Wilson told Sportscar365. “It’s a seven-year homologation and we’re in our fourth year of it.

“One the surface, there doesn’t need to be a significant change or update to the RC F that would, from that angle, cause us to build and develop a new car. We [could] continue to race with this car.”

Lexus wouldn’t be the first GT3 manufacturer to take advantage of the GT3 regulations cycle to debut a so-called ‘double evo’, with Ferrari having rolled out with its 488 GT3 2020 in lieu of an all-new GT3 model for this year.

Wilson said Lexus could take a similar path for 2021.

“That’s if we’re going to keep racing this car,” he said. “Lexus are very happy with the GT3 program. They’re really getting a lot of traction with their dealer group and starting to lay that foundation down.

“But this car, five or six years in, it could probably use an Evo and that’s something that we’re looking at to see if that might make sense.”

While primarily focused in the WeatherTech Championship, the RC F GT3 has maintained a significant presence in the GT300 class of Super GT, while also having been present in GT World Challenge Europe Sprint with the newly named Panis Racing operation.

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