IMSA: Delays for American Lexus GT3 program?

IMSA’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship is getting closer to switching its GT Daytona class over to the full GT3 specifications, and could start the 2016 season with one of its incoming manufacturers on the grid.

As RACER detailed in May, Toyota’s Lexus brand has extended invitations to a select group of American teams to run its GTD program with the RC F GT3 in 2016, and as multiple sources have recently confirmed, it appears the V8-powered car will not make its intended debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.

Recent tests and race outings with the RC F GT3 have highlighted the need to continue developing the two-door coupe for a longer period than was previously expected. The car’s European racing debut earlier in the month at the legendary Nurburgring circuit (pictured) saw the factory RC F GT3s of Farnbacher Racing and Emil Frey Racing post race laps that were more than 11 seconds off of the class-leading Mercedes-AMG GT3. And in Japan, where the RC F GT3 competes on shorter circuits in the Super GT GT300 category, the car has been up to 2.5 seconds off pole.

Despite initial plans to contest the entire championship, a rollout after Round 1 at Daytona, and possibly after Round 2 at the 12 Hours of Sebring, has been mentioned. Provided IMSA’s next TUDOR Championship calendar is similar to the 2015 schedule, Lexus fans could have to wait until May 2016 to see the RC F GT3 run in anger.

With the car’s relative lack of pace to front-running GT3 machinery, rushing the new Lexus into the TUDOR Championship – which opens each season with its two longest races – would be far from optimal.

“There’s no reason to run the cars before they are ready,” said one veteran expected to play a role in the program.

The next piece of major news for the program is expected to come in the next six weeks as teams wait to hear if they’ve been chosen to spearhead the TUDOR Championship effort with direct support from Toyota Racing Development USA.

IMSA: Delays for American Lexus GT3 program?