Lexus will compete in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb at Colorado Springs with its all-new RC F GT Concept race car.
The RC F GT Concept, which builds on the legacy of the IS F CCS-R that last ran at the legendary Pikes Peak event in 2013, will compete in the Time Attack class this weekend.
24 Hour Le Mans winner and automotive personality Justin Bell will take the wheel of the RC F GT Concept at Pikes Peak.
Bell said he was looking forward to the challenge after positive initial test runs in the new V8-powered coupe.
“With very little time behind the wheel, the RC F GT Concept has already proven fast and easy to drive, very much like the production models,” he said.
“We expect the race car will only pick up pace as we do more testing, tuning and data acquisition on the mountain.”
The RC F GT Concept represents a pivotal component of the Lexus F brand motorsport initiative, alongside the forthcoming global GT3 program.
The new concept incorporates a high level of composite materials, contributing to weight savings of more than 360 kilograms compared with the road-going RC F. The RC F GT weighs in at 1420 kgs.
Carbon fibre bonnet, roof, boot, doors, front and rear quarter panels, rear spoiler, interior trim and dashboard all replace standard heavier items. There are also light weight poly carbonate windows.
It retains the same 5.0-litre V8 engine and eight-speed transmission as the road vehicle, now with 351 kWs and 530 Nm.
2015 marks the 93rd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. It runs on a highly demanding 19.9-kilometre course with 156 turns that begins at 2,862 metres before finishing at the 4,300-metre Pikes Peak summit.
