At one point, Lexus has been one of the top contending racing teams across the globe. More than a decade ago, the Nagoya-based automaker has been a champion in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Championship Series.

The luster may have somewhat faded but the Japanese motor manufacturer has proven that its competitive pedigree remains intact. The emergence of the upcoming Lexus RC F GT-3 unit is proof of this.

It has been a long time since Lexus has brought out a roaring machine on the race track. During that stretch, the company has been on the verge of a breakthrough.

The Nagoya-based firm has been able to carve out a V8 engine under its F performance stable. This is what has been powering the Lexus RC F GT-3 as of late.

With this year's IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Competitions in the horizon, the Japanese racing vehicle is off to test the machine under its hood. Former top driver Scott Pruett will be manning the wheel when the race gets underway.

The Lexus RC F GT-3 will be unraveling a 5.4-liter V8 engine that is able to unleash 500 horsepower. This 6-speed car with a sequential racing transmission will be competing in a couple of GTD class tournaments in the US.

The 3GT racing team will also participate in the Super GT Series in Japan. Two groups, namely, the Farnbacher and the Emil Frey teams will race in selected European circuits.

What makes the Lexus RC F GT-3 primed for racing events is the incorporation of carbon-fiber materials. At 1,300 kilograms, it weight is 500kg lighter than its prototype.

Easing off the mass burden has been a priority for the car. This means that the hood, the bumpers, the dashboard, the engine air-box, the rear spoiler, the door panels and the roof contain weight-reduced materials.

The Lexus RC F GT-3 has caught a lot of attention with its Liberty Walk posture. The enormous grille and the huge rear wing are both immense representation of impressive engineering works.

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