Lexus wants race success

Lexus sports cars are upholding parent company Toyota's racing traditions.

Auto Express Car Reviews

Lexus SC 430 in Super GT

By Dan Gilbert

21st August 2006

Lexus is getting proud of its racing achievements, as two of its models start to make strides in the race world.

The SC 430 has succeeded the iconic Toyota Supra in the Super GT series, with 4 of the 15 teams choosing the model, and Team Cerumo lying second in the championship with theirs.

In race trim the V8 SC produces around 500bhp, and this weekend the teams take part in the legendary "Suzuka 1,000km", which appears in the Super GT series for the first time.

Meanwhile the Lexus GS 450h, the world’s first rear-wheel drive hybrid power sports saloon, made its motor racing debut in Japan’s only 24-hour race last month - the Tokachi International Speedway in Hokkaido. It finished fourth in its class and 17^th overall in a field of 33, and was monitored closely as many of the hybrid features look set to cross into F1 imminently.