ASP to Run Lexus RC F GT3 at Portimao Tire Test

Akkodis ASP Team will run a Lexus RC F GT3 as part of a two-day Goodyear tire test at Portimao, which has also attracted a number of other significant teams and manufacturers.

As reported by French publication Endurance-Info, the Jerome Policand-led squad has arrived at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve with a single RC F GT3, decked out in black with yellow accents and branding from both title sponsor Akkodis and longtime backer Minerva Oil, along with support personnel from Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Jack Hawksworth, who recently guided Vasser Sullivan to the GTD Pro title in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, as well as current Toyota FIA World Endurance Championship driver Jose Maria Lopez are expected to drive the car across the two-day test on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Both Hawksworth and Lopez were already present in Portugal having taken part in the European Le Mans Series double header finale with Algarve Pro Racing and Cool Racing, respectively.

ASP has been heavily linked to a potential Lexus LMGT3 bid in recent months, with Policand telling Sportscar365 in September that his organization was closing in on a deal that could see the team make its world championship debut with the RC F GT3.

In addition to ASP and Lexus, European Le Mans Series LMP2 runner-up United Autosports has remained in Portimao following Sunday’s season finale to run a single McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.

The British manufacturer announced earlier this month that it had selected the Anglo-American squad to run a two-car LMGT3 effort in WEC, should it receive an entry slot.

Newly crowned GTE champion Proton Competition is also present with a single Ford Mustang GT3, which initially arrived carrying a Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS number panel before being re-stickered with an orange panel carrying the German squad’s signature No. 77 graphic and WEC branding.

Proton recently tested the car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where it was being shadowed by personnel from Dinamic GT.

A Dinamic spokesperson told Sportscar365 that team members from the Italian squad will also be present at Portimao, but are not involved with running the car. The team plans to run a pair of Mustang GT3s in GTWC Europe Endurance and Sprint Cup next year.

Other manufacturers present at the test include Audi, which has arrived with an R8 LMS GT3 Evo II along with crew from Sainteloc Racing, as well as BMW together with Team WRT and Aston Martin, which will roll out an updated version of its Vantage GT3 car to customers in 2024.

AF Corse is on the ground with a pair of Ferrari 296 GT3s from its Michelin Le Mans Cup stable. Iron Lynx also ran its Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 at the Le Mans Cup finale and is expected to stay in Portugal for the test.

Daniel Lloyd contributed to this report