Lexus Finally Enters Sport Sedan Racing On US Soil

For those of you that follow the US road racing scene, you might be aware that Lexus’ first foray in to sport sedan racing in the US, was finally marked last weekend at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course  in the SCCA Speed World Challenge GT class.  The IS-350 piloted by last year’s touring car champion Jeff Altenburg entered has the series late this year as a shake down exercise for an all out assault on the championship in 2009.

So just how did the first race go?  If you were counting on a top ten finish, you will be disappointed; however the goal for the season is to pinpoint issues not to rack up points.  The DRC IS-350 finished the 28 lap race in 24th place down only 1 lap, and actually ahead of a few Dodge Vipers in the process.  Not too bad for a shake down run, but clearly off the pace leading Dodges, Chevrolets, and Cadillacs.

However with 4 more races to go, the clearly competent Altenburg will assuredly sort out the IS into a competent racing machine by 2009.  But if it will be fast enough to keep up with the CTS-V, 911, and the Corvettes in the same class will be the real question.  Looking at the current pace set in the first race, Altenburg would have been at the head of the pack in the slower Touring Class series, but alas only averaging 3 seconds faster per lap than the slowest car in the class, a Volkswagen Jetta TDI.  So let’s hope the car picks up the pace for the reminder of the season.

As the season progresses, expect us to keep you up to date on the development of this racer.

91z4me - 7/31/2008 10:41:48 AM

+1 Boost

Is this the Opel race car that Lexus showed or actually a Lexus?

Agent009 - 7/31/2008 10:53:26 AM

+1 Boost

The real deal now.... this is a ground up effort.

91z4me - 7/31/2008 4:46:36 PM

+1 Boost

I can't believe I was deboosted by Lexus fans for asking a legitimate question. Sad that people quickly forgot about the IS-F race car that Lexus showed off that was a modified old Opel race car.

Dr550 - 7/31/2008 11:51:19 AM

-3 Boost

Not so fast sunshine. BMW is entering ALMS with M3 run by Rahal-Letterman Racing. The "A" stands for America. :>

hao420 - 7/31/2008 12:03:59 PM

-1 Boost

Lexus has continued to burnish its luxury-car credentials

Agent009 - 7/31/2008 12:02:03 PM

0 Boost

Just only did comparisons.

Actually the GT class with large V6 and v8s, isn't that much faster than the Touring Class sporting turbo cylinders and diesels. Actually the TDI beat some Vipers as well, however it was at the bottom of the heap in the Touring Class.

Agent009 - 7/31/2008 2:43:15 PM

-1 Boost

I actually received verification from SCCA that this car is technically running without rules right now.

Now the question is are they sand bagging till 2009? Probably not at this time.

The actually never attempted to qualify the car by looking at the qualifying times.

I need to add that it is not uncommon for makers to enter new cars at the end of the season to work out the kinks and acclimate their drivers before the first of the real season.

11SWC - 8/1/2008 6:10:50 AM

+1 Boost

The team was using Mid Ohio as a shake down. The car had no power steering as the codes we were using to control the electric power steering rack were not working correctly. So don't be fooled by the pace of the car, this program is focused on a full out effort for '09 with myself and Jeff Altenburg at the wheels.

0to60 - 7/31/2008 12:05:23 PM

-1 Boost

I guess Buick will be up next! I can picture some old guy out there in the fast lane going about 35 mph. LOL, j/k

EL34 - 7/31/2008 1:28:38 PM

-2 Boost

Well now that Lexus has finally entered sport sedan racing on US soil.

I think the US should land man on Mars.

Star - 7/31/2008 2:04:37 PM

-3 Boost

Yawn...

ThierryHenry14 - 7/31/2008 11:10:44 PM

+3 Boost

werent lexus supposed to enter ALMS? I can truly say that the Speed World Challenge is probably the worst "professional" racing there is. Not that I hate Lexus, but I think that this is dumb to use this series as a testing ground...

MeanVulcan - 8/1/2008 11:12:15 AM

0 Boost

There are the SSCA rules:
(1)winners get punished by added weight in their next race
(2)if winners keep winning we'll decrease their car's performance
(3)it is against the rules to have one car winning a high percentage of races
(4) repeat winners will loose performance and carry additioanl weight so the LOOSERS can have a chance at winning
(5) did we mention this makes us more $$$$ than having one competitor dominate when they deserve to?
(6)for the sake of 'sport' we reserve the right to change the rules as we please when we please so we can get the winners WE want.