IMSA: Lexus prepping for October test

Lexus driver Scott Pruett is expected to test the newly-built 2017 RC F GT3 model in October after the car completed its homologation and benchmarking runs in France.

The 2017 car, which will replace the troubled 2015 RC F GT3 the brand chose not to race in IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this season, will conduct runs at the Ladoux testing facility with the FIA before it is shipped to the factory F Performance Racing team in Michigan. Once in the hands of Pruett and F Performance, preparations for a race debut at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January will commence.

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"We will have some testing in October with the new car, pending its arrival," Lexus Motorsports manager Mark Egger told RACER. "We are still sorting the details with [Toyota Motor Corporation] on the actual delivery date. The cars goes into Ladoux for testing in mid-September, and then they'll work on the shipment date to us."

Although Pruett and young IndyCar veteran Sage Karam were announced as teammates with the Lexus program, Egger was only able to confirm Pruett's participation going forward when asked if both would be testing the new RC F GT3.

"Scott's looking forward [to testing] for sure," he said. "Right now, the drivers are being sorted out by [F Performance owner] Paul Gentilozzi, and that's where we stand on driver selection. There are core drivers and what I would call 'endurance drivers' that are being reviewed by Paul."

Karam, on the other hand, is confident he's still part of the RC F GT3's test and race program.

"As of what I know, I'll be in the car for 2017," the 21-year-old told RACER. "Lexus and Paul chose change the plans to get the new car ready instead of racing the old one, so we're going to be testing and getting it ready for next year."

Outside of private testing with the RC F GT3, and prior to its anticipated competition debut during the Jan. 26-29 Rolex 24, the team will have two additional opportunities to run the car at IMSA-sanctioned WeatherTech Championships at Daytona on Nov. 15-16, 2016, and Dec. 13-14.