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Lexus has confirmed that its new 351kW RC F hero coupe will be pressed into safety car duties at each round of this year’s V8 Supercar Championship series.

The RC F will be joined on the track by F Sport versions of the IS 350 and GS 350 sedans (the new top-shelf GS F has yet to hit Australia), which will operate as course and medical cars.

The news follows word yesterday that an announcement would be made today at Sydney Motorsport Park as part of this coming weekend’s SuperTest event.

"V8 Supercars is the world's leading touring car series and our involvement as supplier of vehicles reflects the new energy in our brand and our dynamic model lines," Mr Hanley said.


The presence of the new flagship Lexus performer through this year’s V8 Supercar series could also represent a preview of the carmaker’s plans for a full track assault on the series.

Lexus Australia boss Sean Hanley has made no secret of his interest in fielding a V8 Supercar team under the code’s wider-ranging 2017 rules, which would allow for two-door models to compete.

“We’re looking at the entire motorsport landscape; we’re examining the benefits it might have to this brand,” Mr Hanley said yesterday.


Lexus could conceivably enter with a version of its own big 5.0 litre V8 (“it’s a great engine,” Hanley told press yesterday), however the new rules would also accommodate the company’s new turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

“But there will be no quick decisions,” he said. “If we go into it, we’ll go into it right.”

Fans keen to see the RC F on the track can head to this weekend’s free SuperTest at Sydney MotorSport Park, or tune in for the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide later this month.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

So cool to see Lexus F/F-Sport vehicles gaining traction in motorsports