ALMS is a Big Move Up from Grand Am Cup
What did Cadillac do when it wanted to add performance credibility to its brand image after replacing the lackluster Catera with the
edgy CTS-V? Go racing. Lexus is planning to do likewise with its all-new IS 350 luxury sport sedan, but rather than put it up against similar compact to midsize sedans in the SCCA Speed World Challenge, as Cadillac did, Lexus is targeting Porsche's 911 GT3 RSR, BMW's M3 and the Panoz Esperante in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT2 class. Two cars will be entered, under a new-for-2006 "S2" vehicle preparation standard.
"The ALMS endurance road-racing series is the ideal place to showcase the technology and performance of our new IS 350," commented Lexus Group Vice
President and General Manager Bob Carter. "We expect the competition to be very tough, but we are confident that the new IS 350 will be a formidable challenger."
To those who follow motorsport, seeing a race-prepared IS vying for the checkered flag won't be anything new. But the previous generation IS 300 didn't take part in the ALMS, but rather was entered in the Grand Am Cup series, where it ran successfully for four years and in that time accumulated two championships, plus numerous wins, pole positions and podium finishes under the auspices of Team Lexus.
What did Cadillac do when it wanted to add performance credibility to its brand image after replacing the lackluster Catera with the
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| Lexus is targeting Porsche's 911 GT3 RSR, BMW's M3 and the Panoz Esperante in the upcoming 2006 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT2 class. (Photo: Lexus Canada) |
"The ALMS endurance road-racing series is the ideal place to showcase the technology and performance of our new IS 350," commented Lexus Group Vice
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| the previous generation IS 300 didn't take part in the ALMS, but rather was entered in the Grand Am Cup series. (Photo: Lexus Canada) |
To those who follow motorsport, seeing a race-prepared IS vying for the checkered flag won't be anything new. But the previous generation IS 300 didn't take part in the ALMS, but rather was entered in the Grand Am Cup series, where it ran successfully for four years and in that time accumulated two championships, plus numerous wins, pole positions and podium finishes under the auspices of Team Lexus.