Apr Feels “Reset” With LC500h After “Irregular Year”

The apr Lexus team has been able to “reset” ahead of the new SUPER GT season after what team boss Hiroto Kaneso described as an “irregular year” with its LC500h GT.

In what was among the team’s worst years in recent history, apr’s No. 31 entry shared by Oliver Rasmussen, Miki Koyama and Yuki Nemoto ended up 23rd in last year’s teams’ standings, one place ahead of the No. 30 apr Toyota GR86 GT.

The Toyota-affiliated constructor has all-new lineups for the 2026 season that kicks off next month at Okayama, with Kazuto Kotaka returning after a year away to join Koyama and new third driver Charlie Wurz in the Bridgestone-shod LC500h.

Hibiki Taira meanwhile has joined the Pro-Am No. 30 lineup together with Hiroaki Nagai and Manabu Orido, along with a switch from Michelin to Yokohama tires.

“Rather than a totally fresh start, it feels like we have gone back to where we were before,” Kaneso told Sportscar365.

“With the No. 30 car, we had various problems with the Michelin tires and so we decided to go back to Yokohama, and Hibiki has been driving well.

“In the No. 31, we have our previous ‘ace’ driver, Kotaka, back with us, and over the course of these off-season test we have been returning the car gradually to the state we ran in before. In that sense, it has been a bit of a reset.

“We speak the same language and our way of working is the same. Last year was a bit of an irregular year, but now I feel like we are back to our usual high level of working.

“That said, we are not aiming to go back exactly how we were in 2024, but rather to incorporate what we learned last year, and separate the good parts from the stuff that didn’t work at all. And now it feels like we are steadily building up the speed again.”

The apr Lexus concluded the most recent official test at Fuji 14th in the GT300 class with Kotaka setting a best time of 1:36.652, within a second of the pace-setting Subaru BRZ.

With Kotaka a known quantity to the team, Kaneso believes that apr’s chances of being in title contention could hinge on how Toyota junior Koyama performs in her second year.

“I’m convinced we can be in the title battle this year,” said Kaneso.

“Miki is in her second year now, so it’s time for her to show her real performance. I’ve been telling her that Kazuto is a good benchmark and she should try and learn from him.

“Last year, even when she was the fastest driver, there were many strange things going on that it was hard to tell her real level. So I think it depends on how much she can improve this year.”

However, Kaneso did not rule out the possibility of Wurz appearing as Kotaka’s co-driver in the shorter 300km races that make up the majority of the schedule.

“If it turns out Charlie is faster than Miki, it’s something we will discuss with Toyota,” he said. “There is a possibility that for the races where we can only use two drivers, we will use Charlie and Kazuto as a pairing, but we also may use Miki and Kazuto.

“That’s something we also have to think about to be able to fight for the title.”

Kaneso Hints At LC500 Successor “Before Too Long”

The LC500h is heading into its fourth year of GT300 competition, having been introduced in 2023 as the successor to the much-loved Toyota Prius PHV GR Sport.

A second example of the car appeared on the grid last year in the hands of LM Corsa, albeit equipped with Dunlop tires and with the hybrid system removed.

However, earlier this year, it was announced that the Lexus LC road car will cease production this summer — something that could have an impact on apr’s future plans, as the Prius GT300 car was phased out once the equivalent road car was replaced.

Kaneso was tight-lipped on apr’s future plans, and while did not rule out the LC500h still being used in 2027, he admitted Toyota will have the final say.

“That’s something we have to decide in consultation with Toyota,” said Kaneso when asked whether plans were already in place for a successor to the LC500.

“It also depends if there is still demand among potential customer teams, but we are open to whatever Toyota wants to do. It’s not something we can decide alone, and it depends on what developments there are in the road car market.

“What comes next is still up in the air, but apr’s style is not to use the same car for years and years on end. I think we’ll have something interesting coming before too long.”