IMSA: Karam to join Pruett in new Lexus

Sage Karam has signed on to race alongside Scott Pruett in the new F Performance Lexus in the GTD class of this year's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The news of his sportscar switch comes on the back of the confirmation of Lexus's plans to re-enter North American sportscar racing after a seven-year absence. The new Paul Gentilozzi-owned F Performance squad will field the Lexus RC F GT3 in selected events in 2016 ahead of a planned full-time program in 2017. Lexus previously competed in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series from 2004 through 2009, amassing three Rolex Series team championships, three Rolex 24 At Daytona overall victories and 25 overall race victories.

"As North America's premium brand of motorsport, we are honored to welcome one of the world's most successful premium automotive brands in Lexus back to professional sports car racing," said IMSA President Scott Atherton in a statement.

"We are pleased that Lexus has chosen the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as its racing home in North America. This program has all of the ingredients for success: a championship-caliber team, an outstanding driver lineup and an engaged and enthusiastic manufacturer partner.

"We are eager to see them take on the challenge of our highly competitive GT Daytona class – and to assist them in establishing Lexus and their F product line as a race-bred high performance brand."