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WORD!!!!

Braselton, Ga. - Culminating an unprecedented week of competitor growth, the American Le Mans Series announced today Lexus as the second of two elite manufacturers that in a three-day span have made commitments to field a two-car, factory-backed racing program for the 2006 season.

For its "Passionate Pursuit of Perfection," Lexus will compete with a pair of IS 350 sport sedans in the American Le Mans Series' GT2S class.

"Much like we hope the new IS will become, we view the American Le Mans Series as an aspirational series," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Bob Carter. "It's an ideal fit for Lexus because it celebrates the technology and performance inherent in the best cars."

Scott Atherton, president and CEO of the American Le Mans Series, echoed those thoughts.

"The Lexus brand coming into the American Le Mans Series is as close to a natural fit as we could ever imagine," Atherton said. "When anyone mentions Lexus, many of the same attributes that are associated with the American Le Mans Series come to mind – words like luxury, high performance, leading-edge technology, style and quality describe both brands. On behalf of the series, and its manufacturers and competitors, we are proud and honored to welcome Lexus into our competitive ranks."

Lexus is the second premium manufacturer to announce its participation in the American Le Mans Series this week. Tuesday, BMW confirmed its plan to bring two factory-backed M3s to the series grid starting at the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.

Lexus will join with its racing partner Team Lexus, which will build, develop and campaign the new cars with technical assistance and backing from Lexus. Work already has started on preparing the IS 350s for the 2006 American Le Mans Series, and driver lineups will be announced at a later date.

"Developing and racing two brand new cars in a series new to us will be a major challenge but one that we relish," said Team Lexus owner Chuck Goldsborough. "We've been building our team along with the new cars this year and are looking forward to some of the most exciting and competitive road racing in North America."

One by one, Atherton's promises of delivering new manufacturers and teams to the American Le Mans Series in his September "State of the Series" address at Petit Le Mans are materializing. And with an outstanding 10-race schedule that impacts nine of the top 20 markets across North America, the best television package in the series' history and 2005 season results indicating double-digit increases in sponsorship ROIs, times have never been better.

"The American Le Mans Series, with its ‘premium brand of motorsport' platform, is experiencing an unprecedented level of growth and expansion, and Lexus has recognized this," Atherton said. "This represents more than the addition of another prestigious manufacturer to our ranks. Lexus will bring another wave of elite sponsors, high-end clientele and a level of activation that we expect will establish a new benchmark. Lexus' involvement in the American Le Mans Series will have a positive impact by every measure. But the best part is that there still is more good news to come."

Cars competing in GT2S are not eligible for the 24 Hours of Le Mans at this time. However, GT2S entries will be classified in the GT2 class of the American Le Mans Series and will be eligible to score championship points. Series officials are working closely with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) to evaluate the involvement of GT2S cars in the American Le Mans Series with the possibility of making them eligible for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the future.

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Lexus to Race New IS 350 in the American Le Mans Series in 2006

TORRANCE, Calif., December 1, 2005 – Just six weeks after introducing the new IS 350 to the American market, Lexus announced today that it will enter the powerful luxury sport sedan in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT2 class in 2006 with a two-car team.

Under a new-for-2006 “S2” vehicle preparation standard, the IS 350 sedans will compete against established GT2 sports cars such as the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and Panoz Esperante and race for the same prizes, points and championships. Several other S2-prep cars are expected for 2006 as well, including the BMW M3.

“The ALMS endurance road-racing series is the ideal place to showcase the technology and performance of our new IS 350,” said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Bob Carter. “We expect the competition to be very tough, but we are confident that the new IS 350 will be a formidable challenger.”

As with the previous generation IS, Lexus will team with its production car racing partner, Team Lexus, who will build, develop and campaign the new cars. After a successful four-year run in the Grand Am Cup series with two championships and numerous wins, pole positions and podium finishes, the team has already begun preparing the IS 350s for their new mission.

“Developing and racing two brand-new cars in a new category will be a major challenge, but one that we relish,” said Team Lexus owner/driver Chuck Goldsborough. “We’ve been building our team along with the new cars this year and are looking forward to some of the most exciting road racing in North America.”

The ALMS’ S2 standard creates opportunities for new competitors to enter the series that were previously unavailable. This opened the door for Lexus to enter the new IS in a series with international appeal, populated with premium car makers.

"The Lexus brand coming into the American Le Mans Series is as close to a natural fit as we could ever imagine,” said ALMS President Scott Atherton. “When anyone mentions Lexus, many of the same attributes that are associated with the American Le Mans Series come to mind - words like luxury, high performance, leading-edge technology, style and quality describe both brands.”

Lexus IS 350 Headed for ALMS 2-2-2-2

Although Team Lexus expects to begin racing early in the 2006 season, the specific timing will be based on vehicle build and development progress. Driver lineup for the two-car team will be announced at a later date.

mkorsu

Isn't the GT2 class where the Porsches and Bimmers run?

This should make for a very interesting season!!!!

southernsc

Germany would crumble if Lexus won

Leets

this should be interesting... when do we get to see specs?

rominl

iTrader: (4)

lmmao, that's exactly what i thought when i read the title they better have it disabled

Erick G

I will get new pics next week of the lexus race car
last time I was there not much had changed
now they have the rollcage done

Any specific questions you guys would like answered?
post em and I will get them answered when I see Chuck.

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iTrader: (3)

yeah, I have one. Is Team Lexus ever going to bring back the GS race car?

NYlexus

NICE

I am a big fan of the Lemans Series and loved it when they had the Lambo running....I actually bought tickets for Laguna Seca but did not go....anyway If LEXUS does manage to out run BEAMERS and PORCHES then this will be big "F" u to all the nay sayers.

BlkGS3

If the IS should win, then im going to Point, Laugh, and Dance around my friends and their German-Driving faces.

XeroK00L

Link to the article and better pics here:
http://www.speedsportlife.com/lexus-...r-2006-season/




Wish them the best!

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iTrader: (3)

Thanks! I couldnt find bigger pics out there!

Faraaz23

So let me get this straight.... the IS350 is gonna go head to head in the same class as the GT3's and M3's??? Don't the LeMans M3's have high output V8's?? I have faith in the car... but i'm a bit nervous, I'm not gonna lie. BMW has had much more experience in motorsports and their M-series road cars are some of the most track-worthy cars in stock form... not to mention what the full-bred race converted models must be like. It's all good though, I love the underdogs. Come on Team Lexus!!!!

Gojirra99

Lexus IS 350 GT2 entry is nearly ready to race!
Courtesy of American Le Mans Series


Since Lexus’ announcement in December that Team Lexus will field two IS 350s in the 2006 American Le Mans Series’ GT2 class, the team has been hard at work preparing the cars for their first racing season. The new cars will challenge GT2-class stalwarts Porsche and Panoz while taking on new entries from Ferrari and BMW.

“Although we’d love to be racing this weekend in Houston, building a new, competitive, GT2 car from the ground up is a complex undertaking,” said Team Lexus owner Chuck Goldsborough. “Our team has been working very hard to design and build the new cars, with inevitable challenges along the way. Once complete, the task of development then starts and must ramp up very quickly.”


The level of GT2 American Le Mans Series competition underscores the challenges inherent in building a sedan to compete on even terms. Top GT2 competitors include the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Ferrari F430GT, Panoz Esperante GTLM and BMW M3—all formidable cars.

With its production-based V6 providing more than 450 hp to propel a race car weighing less than 2,800 lbs., the new IS 350 GT2 promises to be plenty quick. The car also will retain its double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, suitably modified for the task and tuned to work with the large BBS-mounted Michelin racing slicks. StopTech will provide an upgraded brake package.

The team expects to begin testing in the next few weeks with the goal of a race debut in July. But the final decision on race timing will be based on test and development program results. “With the majority of the American Le Mans Series schedule taking place after July 1, it simply makes sense to be patient and develop the car properly,” said Philip Gaviola, Lexus motorsports manager. “And with the caliber of competition in the GT2 class, it’s going to be a steep learning curve regardless of when the IS 350 makes its debut.”

source : paddocktalk

Gojirra99