ALL FOR CUSTOMERS OF LEXUS RC F GT3 | SPECIAL | CUSTOMER MOTORSPORTS

The "RC F GT3" is a stock-car-based GT3 category machine. Lexus Customer Racing (LCR) is not merely a vendor of the RC F GT3 to users competing in races. Lending its full support to the customers' races, LCR supplies parts and provides a full array of engineering services at the circuits. Described below is LCR's globally available Customer Support, deploying from hubs in Japan, the United States and Europe.

PART 01

To give all our customers the best racing experience possible

On the racetrack, unexpected machine trouble and accidents may occur, despite the vehicle having the best performance, and being of the highest quality. LEXUS transports parts to circuits including aerodynamic parts, the unsprung parts and parts for the engine as preparation, in order to offer timely support for our users in parts replacement.
Also, LCR's support is not limited to parts replacement. Mechanics knowledgeable in machine settings and vehicle performance are present on-site; always available to answer customer questions and give support so that they can compete with peak performance.

An engineer from TRD USA in conversation with team staff

Spare Lexus RC F GT3 parts transported to the circuit during a race event

A transporter (TMG) en route to a race were the LEXUS RC F GT3s compete

INTERVIEW 01

TRD USA
Senior Manager for Team and Vehicle Support

Steve Hallam

My principle responsibility is supporting the two cars in the Lexus RC F GT3 program as they compete in the WeatherTech Sportscar Championship that includes world-famous races such as the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Our Lexus Customer Racing support transporter contains over 1,000 different parts for the Lexus RC F GT3 as we visit circuits to support our team. The transporter also serves as an operational base for the support team at such events.
There have been a number of challenges, but these have been matched equally by many rewarding experiences. A particularly satisfying experience was during the race at Daytona in January 2018, when one of the cars suffered a system problem with the anti-lock brakes (ABS), and both our mechanics and engineers and the team got together to diagnose and rectify the issue.

A list of circuits that the LEXUS RC F GT3, supported by TRD USA, competed (2018 results, North America)

PART 02

An information system connecting Japan, the United States and Europe

Customer support for the Lexus is not limited to Japan. TRD USA in the United States, and TMG in Europe, each provide user support for the RC F GT3. In order for customers from across the world to realize the optimal performance for their RC F GT3, information is collected from the various regions to Toyota Customizing and Development (TCD) in Japan, where a system shares the results of their analysis back to the various regions.
Recommendations to fit the unique circumstances of the users are compiled from information on diverse data including the world's circuits, diverse weather conditions, and different tires used.

TRD's Kazumoto Yuasa, responsible for developing the LEXUS RC F GT3

Real-time analysis of data during a race by a TRD USA engineer

Cloud radar to keep track of the weather

INTERVIEW 02

TMG
Coordinator, Lexus GT3 Program Europe

Loïc David

Constant exchanges of information are held between Toyota Customizing and Development (TCD) in Japan, TRD USA and ourselves. These exchanges between Japan, the US and Europe is to our advantage. Because of the timing of the beginning of the seasons, TRD USA often encounters problems first, for example, and we are able to use the information and to be proactive.
As for tires, because I have experience in tire development, and because of our past experiences with F1 and the World Endurance Championship (WEC), I believe we can share this information for use in various races around the world.
As a result, there have been instances where we requested modifications to Japan for the optimization of suspensions, to traction control and various other control systems.
Such exchanges between Japan, the US and Europe will rapidly allow us to accumulate experience and respond to the diverse requests originating from around the world.

Circuits where the LEXUS RC F GT3 competes with TMG support (2018 data, Europe)

PART 03

Toward the further development of the RC F GT3

The information that is shared between our development centers in Japan, the United States and Europe is not limited to set-up. That is, unexpected difficulties present themselves when competing in the endurance and sprint races around the world. The information concerning these problems is collected in Japan alongside the ride data, followed by a prompt analysis for the potential causes and respective countermeasures.

MAX Racing's No. 244 LEXUS RC F GT3 competed in the 2021 Super Taikyu Series

Toyota Customizing & Development Co., Ltd. Customer MSG Group Chief, Sports Vehicle Business Section, TRD Department, Technocraft Headquarters Takashi Sakurai

INTERVIEW 03

Toyota Customizing & Development Co., Ltd.
Customer MSG Group Chief, Sports Vehicle Business Section, TRD Department, Technocraft Headquarters

Takashi Sakurai

We use our own website and a cloud-based server for the sharing of information between development centers. In addition to being the base of support for Japan and greater Asia, TCD is an RC F GT3 constructor team; therefore, we are responsible for the performance of the RC F GT3 in races the world over. The reports and the information that we receive from the centers in Japan, the US and Europe are vital, contributing in a direct way to improving the RC F GT3's performance and reliability.

Circuits where the LEXUS RC F GT3 competes with Toyota Customizing and Development support (2018 data, Asia)