| Racing news | Nurburgring 24 Hour Race | Lexus LF-A prototype |
Lexus is all set to put its new LF-A sports car through the toughest test imaginable. The LF-A will compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hour Race on 24-25 May, which is acknowledged as one of the world's most gruelling endurance races.
Racing at the Nurburgring will provide vital information about how the car behaves under incredibly stressful conditions, says Lexus. The car will be a standard road-going prototype with only minimal concessions to race safety, such as a roll cage, fuel cell and race seats.
Drivers for the race have been picked from Lexus' own test drivers from Japan as they will be able to give the necessary feedback throughout the race. The race support team will also be made up of young Lexus mechanics as part of the firm's commitment to developing their skills.
The LF-A has been seen as a concept car at several
motor shows and the production version is set to use a 500bhp V10 engine. It's front-mounted but set so far back in the chassis that the LF-A is effectively mid-engined. The transmission is mounted at the rear, along with the radiators.
Lexus says the LF-A will hit 200mph thanks to its V10 engine and superb aerodynamics. No date has been given when the production LF-A will go on sale, but insiders at Lexus say it is likely to be around late 2009.
Alisdair Suttie - 24 Apr 2008