3GT Racing, Lexus RC F GT3 cars meet the checkered flag at Sebring
A tenacious crew and a dedicated team of drivers brought both brilliant blue chrome Lexus RC F GT3 cars to the finish line of the 65th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida in Sebring, Fla. This was the second race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the team.
The No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3 finished 13th in the GTD class, 28th overall. Piloted by Robert Alon, Jack Hawksworth and Austin Cindric. Hawksworth earned the fastest lap in the No. 15 and the second overall quickest lap in the GTD class with a lap of 2:01.674.
The No. 14 Lexus entry, driven by Scott Pruett, Sage Karam and Ian James, finished 18th in class, 35th overall, after a couple of mechanical issues forced the car to the garage for attention at the 3.74- mile, 17 turn historic Florida road course.
Paul Gentilozzi, 3GT Racing managing partner said: “It is hard to have a mechanical issue outside your control that takes you from the top five contention. We do know we are now close to the hunt and it motivates us even more to solve these new car issues.”
Both cars had impressive qualifying runs the day before, when they locked down fourth (No. 15) and fifth (No. 14) positions for race day. During qualifying, Alon, in the No. 15, had a best lap of 2:00:998. Not far behind in the No. 14, veteran driver Pruett turned in a lap of 2:01.158.
On race day, Alon and Pruett were the first drivers on the track in the gorgeous cars under a bright blue Florida sky. Pruett soon had the No. 14 car in third position, but struggles began by midway in the race and the car never made it back to a top ten position.
“Yes, we had some issues today, but that’s the nature of racing,” said Karam, who was driving when the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 began to experience some fuel issues. “The good thing here is that we completed the race and all of the drivers had a chance to get in some experience. The fuel issue was a shame because we were multiple laps down but we got back out there. But the car was performing really well before that happened.”
The No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3 maintained 5th and 6th positions in the GTD class for most of the race, but a necessary brake change during a pit stop, slowed the cars progression and a brake change eliminated the chances of a top finishing place.
“We ran in the top 5 pretty much all day, top 5 or 6, we were running really strong,” Hawksworth said. “We had the second quickest lap of the race, which shows how competitive we are. The boys on the crew did a really good job all day. We had the brake issue and that’s what threw the race away from us. I don’t know if we would have won, but I think we could have still been on the podium at the end. It’s just a bitter pill to swallow, but with a new program and new car we must expect it. I think with the pace we’ve shown here at Sebring, we’re going to do great.”
Next up for the team is BUBBA burger Sports Car Grand Prix at Long Beach, Calif., April 7-8.
ADDITIONAL DRIVER QUOTES:
Scott Pruett, No. 14, Lexus RC F GT3: “Whenever you have problems it’s disappointing. But we have to consider where the program is at. We’ve made a big step forward taking a checkered flag. And we’ve learned more about the car and the system. This is all part of development, you hate it, but you know that it’s just part of the program.”
Robert Alon, No. 15, Lexus RC F GT3: “We had a great race. Obviously, we ran into am issue with the brakes and had to swap them out, but overall, we had great pace. We qualified really and it’s a good morale booster for the rest of the season. We ran well all day. I don’t think any of the drivers did anything wrong, we did a great job. It’s disappointing but it shows great potential for future. We have a great car and we’re in a good place.”
Ian James, No. 14, Lexus RC F GT3: “We started off the race with pretty high hopes, unfortunately with the 14 car, things just kind of fell apart a little bit. But getting both Lexus cars to the finish – that’s a first for Lexus. Hopefully the guys have fun in the sprint races and I’ll come back for the last one. We learned a lot today. But it was really a good step in the right direction for the team and for Lexus and the car, I expect them to come back stronger.”
Austin Cindric, No. 15, Lexus RC F GT3: “I think in Daytona we showed the car’s potential and we ran it for 12 hours here in Sebring and I think we showed the car has a lot of speed. We definitely had a Lexus that was really capable of winning the race and that was definitely capable of a podium finish. A few bumps in the road, but for the sake of racing this car, I think it’s really positive. I’ve got to thank Paul (Gentilozzi, 3GT Racing team principal) and everybody for letting me be a part of this program. I’m excited for July to get to Watkins Glen and see what we can do and what these guys can do in the next few races to really step up this program, which I know they will.”
ABOUT 3GT RACING:
3GT Racing was formed to race the Lexus RC F GT3. Owned and operated by five-time Trans-Am Series Champion, Paul Gentilozzi and his longtime partners, Tony and John Gentilozzi, the East Lansing, Michigan-based team principals have been involved in motorsports for more than 46 years and they have claimed more than 75 victories and 15 manufacturer and driver championships.
To learn more visit:
www.3gt-racing.com
3GT Racing Qualifying both cars in top five at Sebring International Raceway
Sebring, Florida (March 17, 2017) — The 3GT Racing team’s two Lexus RC F GT3 cars qualified in 4th (No. 15) and 5th (No. 14) positions in the GTD class in preparation for Saturday’s 65th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida.
Robert Alon, driving the No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3, locked down the fourth position after eight laps with a fastest lap of 2.00.998. “Honestly, the car was just in great shape,” Alon said. “The crew put together an amazing car and all I really had to do was try not to make mistakes.”
During the 15-minute qualifying session, veteran driver Scott Pruett earned the fifth position with a fastest lap of 2:01:158 in the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 sponsored by Mark Levinson Luxury Audio.
“We have had some struggles with the No. 14 car,” Pruett said. “The first day we were here at Sebring, the car was difficult to drive, but the crew went to work, made a lot of changes before night practice and got the car running quite a bit better. I feel good about where we ended up, but I know we’re going to do even better.”
Pruett and Alon will start the 65th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida when the green flag falls at 10:40 a.m. Driver lineup for the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 will include Sage Karam and Ian James. In the No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3, Alon will be followed by Jack Hawksworth and Austin Cindric.
ABOUT 3GT RACING:
3GT Racing was formed to race the Lexus RC F GT3. Owned and operated by five-time Trans-Am Series Champion, Paul Gentilozzi and his longtime partners, Tony and John Gentilozzi, the East Lansing, Michigan-based team principals have been involved in motorsports for more than 46 years and they have claimed more than 75 victories and 15 manufacturer and driver championships.
3GT Racing team ready for Sebring
EAST LANSING, MI (March 9, 2017) — The 3GT Racing team is ready to take the track with the No. 14 and No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3s at the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla., March 17-18, for IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, 65th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida.
The team’s official IMSA race debut, marking Lexus’ return to North American sports car racing, took place in January at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. There, the No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3 finished 14th in the GTD class, 36th overall. The No. 14 car retired after an incident in the second hour.
Both cars will be on track for Sebring’s 17-turn, 3.74-mile circuit with full-time drivers Sage Karam, Scott Pruett, Robert Alon and Jack Hawksworth, and endurance drivers, Ian James and Austin Cindric.
Paul Gentilozzi, 3GT Racing managing partner, said the team learned a lot about the car and about the team, during the debut race at Daytona. Gentilozzi knows Sebring well, he won the GTS class in 1992 at Twelve Hours of Sebring and won the overall pole position in 1994. “Twelve hours at Sebring is like 24 hours at any of the other famous tracks in the world,” he said. “The design, conditions, and grueling pace make it a special challenge. But we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Pruett, veteran driver and newly named inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, has had two wins at Sebring. In 1986 and most recently an overall win in 2014 during the Tudor United SportsCar championship. Pruett said the track at Sebring, with its long and storied history of impacting cars and drivers with big bumps, multiple turns and an unconventional surface, is “an acquired taste.”
“It’s one of those tracks that hasn’t changed much over the years,” Pruett said.
“It’s one of the roughest in the circuit and challenging. It demands a lot of our set up, our crew, our drivers and our car. But with some of the BoP changes, as well as going back to using Continental’s standard construction tire, we’re going to be a lot more competitive. You could see it at the test, just looking at the lap times. And I hope, and plan, that will be the case when we go back to race.”
The sanctioning body of IMSA announced Balance of Performance modifications for three of the four WeatherTech Championship classes, shortly after the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Changes for the Lexus RC F GT3 cars, which run in the GTD class, include more ballast (+10 kg), an additional +2mm (total) across the restrictor and additional fuel capacities and increased refueling speeds (+2L, +2.0mm).
Practice sessions at Sebring will be held on Thursday, March 16 and qualifying for the GTD class, will take place on Friday, March 17. The race is schedule to begin at 10:40 a.m. on Saturday.
ADDITIONAL DRIVER QUOTES:
Robert Alon, No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3: “I’ve been to Sebring three times, twice in Prototype Lites and once in PC. I’m very familiar with the track. I came away from our test with a great deal of confidence in the car. It seemed to really handle the bumps well. I’m really looking forward to this race, it’s one of my favorite tracks.”
Sage Karam, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3: “Sebring is really a different animal. Probably one of the bumpiest circuits ever. At the test, as far as reliability, our car did great. It really floated over that surface, took the bumps well. For me, that’s really encouraging because twelve hours is a long time to go on that surface. We have a few question marks going into the race, but our goal here is the same as it was in Daytona. And that is – complete all the hours in the race and do as well as possible. If we can do that, we’ll be off to a great start for the rest of the season.”
Jack Hawksworth, No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3: “While testing at Sebring we ran through an extensive program and were really happy with our progress and the competitiveness of the Lexus RC F GT3. Getting to the end of the 24 hours at Daytona was a big confidence boost for the whole 3GT Racing team. We have had time to make improvements and the whole team has really seemed to gel. If we can continue to the build on this, then I am positive we can achieve a great result. I love this track, it has a ton of character and I can’t wait to get out there!”
ABOUT 3GT RACING:
3GT Racing was formed to race the Lexus RC F GT3. Owned and operated by five-time Trans-Am Series Champion, Paul Gentilozzi and his longtime partners, Tony and John Gentilozzi, the East Lansing, Michigan-based team principals have been involved in motorsports for more than 46 years and they have claimed more than 75 victories and 15 manufacturer and driver championships.
MEDIA CONTACT:
3GT Racing, PR Director, Brenda Brissette-Mata
Ph: 517-337-3000 Cell: 810-394-8910 Email: [email protected]
3GT Racing Completes Driver Lineup for Endurance Races
3GT Racing IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Driver Lineup Completed for Endurance Races
EAST LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 13, 2016) – 3GT Racing has signed four drivers to complete its driver lineup for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s endurance events in 2017.
Austin Cindric, Dominik Farnbacher, Ian James and Gustavo Menezes will join 3GT Racing for the four Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup races, which include the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida, Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and the Petit LeMans powered by Mazda at Road Atlanta.
James and Menezes will share the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 with Sage Karam and Scott Pruett, while Cindric and Farnbacher will team with Robert Alon and James Hawksworth in the No. 15 entry.
Farnbacher said he’s honored to be selected to drive the Lexus RC F GT3 with the 3GT Racing team.
“I did some of the development for this car in Japan and Europe,” he said. “The first race we did with that car was in October and we won the VLN9 race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The car has huge potential to be competitive in Daytona and for the rest of the season. Right now, we are focused on the Rolex 24, that is our main goal.”
3GT Racing made its official IMSA debut at a test session at Daytona International Speedway in November, after conducting a number of private sessions, including tests at Atlanta Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta in October.
In addition to Farnbacher’s familiarity with the RC F GT3, Menezes has previous experience racing with Gentilozzi. The California native competed for Gentilozzi’s RSR Racing from 2013 through 2015. Most recently, Menezes captured a LMP2 class victory in the 24 Hours of LeMans this year, and three total WEC victories in 2016.
Cindric became the youngest winner in the history of the IMSA Continental Tire Series in 2015 at age 16, and has earned podium finishes in IMSA, GRC and Pirelli World Challenge. The Ohio native’s diverse racing background also includes victories in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and ARCA Series in 2016. Cindric is the son of Team Penske president Tim Cindric.
James comes to 3GT Racing having previously scored wins in IMSA, Grand-Am and America LeMans Series competition. A native of England, James finished third in the LMP2 class of the 24 Hours of LeMans in 2006. James is now an American citizen and resides in Phoenix, and he garnered the American LeMans Series’ Rookie of the Year honors in 2004.
In addition to his experience driving the RC F GT3 in Europe, Farnbacher brings considerable GT and endurance racing experience to 3GT Racing. He has two wins in the 24 Hours of Daytona – in the GTD class in 2015 and the GTS class in 2005 – and recorded a runner-up finish in the GT2 class of the 24 Hours of LeMans in 2006. Farnbacher drove for the SRT Viper program from 2012 through 2014, and he has wins in IMSA, Grand-Am and the American LeMans Series.
The four endurance drivers will join 3GT Racing for the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test at Daytona International Speedway from Jan. 6 – 8. The RC F GT3 then makes its competition debut in the Rolex 24 at Daytona later that month.
For more information, visit www.3GT-Racing.com
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ABOUT 3GT RACING:
3GT Racing was formed to race the Lexus RC F GT3. Owned and operated by five-time Trans-Am Series Champion, Paul Gentilozzi and his longtime partners, Tony and John Gentilozzi, the East Lansing, Michigan-based team principals have been involved in motorsports for more than 46 years and they have claimed more than 75 victories and 15 manufacturer and driver championships.
