Both professional and amateur teams compete in the GT3 International GT Open series, hosted across Europe. The Blancpain GT series is the better-known European GT3 series, and of the two, it is the more competitive. This being as it is, in a race between similarly competitive GT3 cars, and totaling 14 races across five countries, competition is nonetheless fierce. The two LEXUS RC F GT3s entered in this series for test purposes manages to score a total six wins, including a four-win streak at the start of the season, as the Emil Frey Lexus Racing team came away with an outstanding ranking of 3rd for the series.
A four-race winning streak
in the first two rounds of the series
The International GT Open is a GT3 car race series held at celebrated circuits across Europe. Two teams, Emil Frey Lexus Racing of Switzerland and Farnbacher Racing of Germany, competed in the 2017 season with LEXUS RC F GT3s. Both teams had previously experienced the race at Nürburgring in Germany using the prototype RC F GT3.
Serving as the GT Open debut round for the teams, the races held at Portugal's Estoril Circuit on April 29-30, would become a triumphant round for Emil Frey Lexus Eacing and Farnbacher Racing. The driver duo of Albert Costa and Philipp Frommenwiler of Emil Frey Lexus Racing would take a debut-win in Race 1 on Saturday. In the following Race 2 on Sunday, Farnbacher Racing's drivers Dominik Farnbacher and Mario Farnbacher would emerge victorious. It marked a pair of back-to-back victories for the RC F GT3 in the opening round of the series. Then carrying over this momentum to the next round at Spa-Francorchamps, Race 1 was again won by Emil Frey Lexus Racing, and Race 2 by Farnbacher Racing.
RC F GT3s take two additional wins late in the season
for a total of 6 wins
After taking four opening wins in the GT Open's 2017 season, the RC F GT3 would not go unchallenged by its competitors in mid-season. Difficulties would begin to visit Farnbacher Racing in particular, including two missed opportunities to earn points at either of the Circuit Paul Ricard races. However, at Round 5, held at Silverstone Circuit, Race 1 would end with a victory for Emil Frey Lexus Racing. This marked the 5th season victory for the RC F GT3.
As the series entered its latter stages, the Albert Costa/Philipp Frommenwiler driver pair were still in contention for the season's Drivers title, and in the final round of the series in Barcelona, they took their fourth win of the season in Race 2. This meant that the RC F GT3 ended the season with ta total of six series wins. The Costa/Frommenwiler driver pair had compiled a total of 98 series points, which left them a somewhat disappointing 3rd in the season ranking. Dominik Farnbacher had a total of 77 points, which left him in 6th place in the season ranking as the series ended.
In September, the Emil Frey Lexus Racing team also made a spot entry in the Nurburgring Round of the the Blancpain GT series, the leading race series for GT3 cars that also played out around Europe.Although they finished the race in 21st place, it would prove to be a valuable experience and source of data for their future.
Albert Costa
Unexpectedly good results
in a top-flight series
lead toward the next year's Blancpain GT series entry.
−− What kind of series is the International GT Open？
Well, for me it's one of the top Championships here in Europe. You can learn a lot in it, and its the only one were you have two qualifying rounds and two races completely separate. That means you have two opportunities if you are unlucky!
−− What was your first impression of the Lexus RC F GT3？ What are the strong points？
It was amazing, I will never forget the first 3 laps I did with this car. The car was so stable, very predictable and once you start to push toward its limit, you never find it! It is like a formula car sometimes, the amount of aero you have gives you a lot of confidence!The strongest point is the aerodynamics in fast corners!!
−− How was the season with Emil Frey Racing？
To be honest, the season has been better than we expect. We were starting from zero as a team, the car, the crew and the drivers, but when you put good people together with each other, it is much easier to work and grow as a team! I'm proud of them and happy to be part of this family.
−− What is your next year's goal？
For me the goal is to compete in the Blancpain series sprint and endurance races, because it is known as the main GT championship in the world, and I'm sure we have the potential to show the world how fast the Lexus is and how good Emil Frey Racing Team is.
No.54 Emil Frey Lexus Racing
| Rd.1 | Rd.2 | Rd.3 | Rd.4 | Rd.5 | Rd.6 | Rd.7 | Ranking | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | |||||||||||||||
| Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | |
| 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 18 | - | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 1 | - | 6 | 1 | 3 |
*This overall ranking is the driver's ranking.
No.55 Farnbacher Racing
| Rd.1 | Rd.2 | Rd.3 | Rd.4 | Rd.5 | Rd.6 | Rd.7 | Ranking | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | |||||||||||||||
| Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | Q | R | |
| 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | - | 3 | 1 | 21 | - | 16 | - | 14 | 15 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | - | - | - | 4 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 6(8)*1 |
*This overall ranking is the driver's ranking.
*1:Dominik Farnbacher got 77 points and ranked 6th. Mario Farnbacher got 69 points and ranked 8th.
