Team Lexus to Spend 2005 Building New Cars, Preparing for 2006 Season
TORRANCE, Calif., January 27, 2005
After a successful four-year run with two championships in Grand American Racing’s Grand Am Cup series, Team Lexus will use 2005 to build and develop new race cars based on the next generation Lexus IS sedan. The team will return to competition for the full 2006 season and owner/driver Chuck Goldsborough will continue to lead the team from its base in Baltimore, Maryland. |
Lexus will unveil the completely new 2006 IS at the Geneva Auto Show this March and will begin selling the car in the fall. Details on Lexus’ newest luxury sport sedan are expected to be released with its unveiling at Geneva.
“We’re very excited about the new IS and its potential for competition use,” said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Denny Clements. “Team Lexus has given us great results with the current platform and we’re anticipating big things to come from them with the next generation.” Team Lexus began its relationship with Lexus in 1999 when they fielded the Lexus GS 400, giving the manufacturer its first-ever race win of any kind. The team switched to the IS 300 sedan in 2001, adding the SportCross in 2002 and again found success quickly. “The IS 300 made a solid racing car, giving us a great tool for Grand Am Cup racing,” said Goldsborough. “It didn’t take long before we had a competitive combination of car and drivers, and success followed quickly. Now, with the new car on the horizon, we’re looking forward to a much stronger package.” Andy Lally and Ian James, along with several other talented drivers over the past six seasons, helped Goldsborough’s team score numerous race wins, podiums, pole positions and track records. Team Lexus captured both the driver and team championships in 2002. Source: Contacts: |