By: Lexus Racing
July 3 2018
Watkins Glen Recap
The 3GT Racing No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3 recorded a fourth-place result Sunday, leading the GTD field for 64 laps in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Watkins Glen International with drivers Jack Hawksworth, David Heinemeier Hansson and Mario Farnbacher. The fourth-place result marked the third top-five finish of the season for the No. 15 and equaled the entry’s best result. Hawksworth earned the GTD pole position at Watkins Glen with a track-record time and ran the quickest lap of the six-hour endurance event for the second-consecutive year. It was the second pole in the last three races for the Bradford, England native after also leading the GTD field to green at Mid-Ohio in May. The No. 14 Lexus finished in 13th-place after having a mechanical issue that forced the RC F GT3 to the garage for repairs.
Points Position
Lexus moved up to third in the GTD manufacturer championship points following the endurance event at Watkins Glen. Hawksworth and Heinemeier Hansson moved up one spot to fifth in the GTD championship standings following their fourth-place result at Watkins Glen, while Baumann and Marcelli rank eighth in points with six races remaining on the IMSA schedule. Heinemeier Hansson is the highest-ranking amateur driver in the GTD class by 30 points over the nearest competitor in the current Bob Akin Award standings.
Return to Canada
Lexus and 3GT Racing are set to race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this weekend, where the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 earned the first North American pole position last year. Sage Karam set a track record at the 10-turn, 2.459 mile Canadian road course to claim the first pole for the RC F GT3 and went on to lead 35 laps (of 122), finishing in fifth-place with co-driver Scott Pruett in 2017.
Coming Home to Canada
3GT Racing driver Kyle Marcelli will race close to home this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. The 28-year-old Canadian resides in Barrie, Ontario, located approximately 150 miles from the Bowmanville race circuit. While growing up playing ice hockey as a kid, Marcelli began racing go-karts at the age of 10 and decided shortly after to give up his skates to focus on racing competitively. He was the Canadian Formula Ford 1600 champion in 2007 and most recently claimed the first North American victory for the Lexus RC F GT3 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in May.
Time for a Hill Climb
Jack Hawksworth and Scott Pruett are both set to participate in the Goodwood Festival of Speed in partnership with Lexus UK July 12 to 15. Hawksworth and Pruett will compete in the historic hill climb event in West Sussex, England, and drive various Lexus vehicles, including the RC F GT3 as well as other Lexus race cars and production vehicles.
Celebrating a Decade of F
The Lexus F performance story began a decade ago with the launch of the Lexus IS F sedan in 2008, and later the limited production, exotic LFA coupe in 2012. To commemorate 10 years of F, Lexus has introduced the 2019 GS F and RC F 10th anniversary special editions that will be available in limited quantities this summer. These limited-edition 10th anniversary models come standard with unique features, making them stand out beyond their already-exceptional performance, including custom features and a coat of matte finish Nebula Gray paint. Lexus will produce 240 RC F special editions, matching the number of U.S. Lexus dealers, while 100 GS F 10th anniversary models are also being made.
Keeping Pace with Lexus … Fans can keep up with Lexus Racing on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by using #LexusRCF GT3, #LexusPerformance and #LexusRacing, and online at www.Lexus.com/Motorsports.
3GT Racing Driver Quotes
KYLE MARCELLI, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
Are you looking forward to racing nearby home this weekend?
“I’m excited to race in front of my home crowd. It’s always a pleasure to go there for me. I used to race there a lot as a kid and now it’s just once a year. You show up with a little extra hop in your step and a little more confidence. It’s a track unlike any other circuit really. It’s very old school and is very, very fast. It requires a lot of commitment and confidence in your car and the Lexus seems to really stride on the high-speed race tracks. The RC F GT3 really likes the smooth, fast surfaces. We found a sweet spot with the car and are confident going into the race weekend and looking forward to getting some redemption from Watkins Glen.”
DOMINIK BAUMANN, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
How much will you rely on your teammate Kyle Marcelli this weekend with his experience racing in Canada?
“I’ve never been there (Canadian Tire Motorsports Park). I had some good preparation for Watkins Glen, but I’m a bit lost for Mosport. However, I feel we have enough practice sessions to get to know the track and we should be okay. Kyle (Marcelli) is very familiar with the track so we may change the lead driver position and he would take the lead over and do all of the setup, strategy, because he has better opinions with his experience. It should be a good race. From what I’ve heard, it’s a fast track and I think we will be fine.”
JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3
What is your outlook racing at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this weekend?
“Mosport should be a good race for us. There’s a lot of fast corners and that should suit our Lexus. We were very fast there last year so it should be a good one for us. Tire degradation might be quite high, so I would think tire degradation is something we’ve got to work on, but in terms of pace it should be super strong for us.”
DAVID HEINEMEIER HANSSON, No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3
Are you confident heading into Mosport after having won there in the past and a strong performance at Watkins Glen on Sunday?
“We’re hungry for another crack at the podium. It feels slightly ridiculous that we haven’t converted yet this season. Mosport should again be a strong track for Lexus, so we’re going to give it all we have on track and pray the rest of the equation lines up this weekend.”
Canadians In BOLD