gemini1

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Lexus USA has been actively participating in the racing scene lately to help boost their sports image. For the past 2 years Lexus USA and the ISF CCS-R have been racing at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and even taking 1st place this year in the Exhibition Class with Ken Gushi behind the wheel.

And to add to the impressive resume, Lexus USA and the ISF CCS-R rumbled into Thunderhill 25hr Race with a 4th place finish in the ES class and 5th place overall out of 87 cars.

The 25hr Thunderhill Race took place on Dec 7 & 8th and it was “a long and grueling race,” said crew chief Jeoffrey Ngo of Lexus USA. According to Jeoffrey, this was the first time for Lexus USA to enter such a long race with the IS F CCS-R. They needed all pit crews to be all in sync, from changing tires, re-fueling, driver changes, engine checks, all the way to the smallest duty of each pit crew member.

Piloting Lexus USA team IS F CCS-R were Jeff Westphal, a veteran of the 25hr Thunderhill Race, Ken Dobson, another 25hr race veteran, and Tom Dyer, a Grand-Am Continental Tire Challenge series racer in the ST and GS categories.

Despite a 50 minute pit stop in the paddocks where the IS F CCS-R had to get both right and left axles replaced due to extreme wear and tear together with damage over the long race. Team Lexus USA and the pit crew believed that if this didn't happen they could've placed as high as 2nd or 3rd in the ES class.

Per Jeoffrey, "you cannot prepare for unexpected events like axle replacements. In such a long race together with weather and other factors, anything can happen to the car. It could be as little as a loose bumper to a major engine failure.

“But, for Team Lexus USA and the IS F CCS-R, it was the right and left axle damages. We can learn from this incident and improve for a better finish next year. Still, despite the axle issue we placed 4th in the class and I'm very happy."

I asked Tom Dyer about his impressions and experience as part of Team Lexus IS F CCS-R and be behind the wheel as one of the drivers. He said it was an honor to be asked to drive for Lexus in the IS F CCS-R. Lexus has great reputation and for them to participate in such a race, they must be very confident that they would finish. The question had always been about what’s going to happen from start to finish because this is new to Lexus USA and the IS F CCS-R being here for the first time. They needed a pit crew that knows what they are doing and the entire staff to collaborate as a team. Even with the 4th place finish he was happy to be one of the drivers of Team Lexus USA and the IS F CCS-R."

The entire weekend was very cold no matter what time of the day, it even dipped into the low 20's during late evening. Lexus Chief Engineer Yaguchi-san's Lexus ISF CCC-R has proven that it can compete in any races, whether it’s a race to the cloud in extreme elevation or long haul 25 hour intense race.

Luckily, Myself (gemini1 ) and another fellow Club Lexus Northern California member (gstrilogy) were able to attend the ThunderHill 25hr race with Lexus USA. It was fun-filled long cold weekend but well worth it. I hope that Lexus USA and the IS F CCS-R will continue to race the car in as many races here in the USA. It’s a way to show the public that Lexus is not only serious about building sporty vehicles but also build cars with great versatility.

*****The Club Lexus banner in the pics has been around since 2002. It is basically 11 years old and still in great condition. The banner has been in a very close tight knit circle of local So Cal members and is brought out only for special events!******

gemini1

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Jeff Westphal is a close friend of Paul Walker and attached this sticker on the car in rememberance
of him.

gemini1

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IS F CCS-R in pits next to N1 Racing's 2014 IS250

gemini1

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Lexus Drivers. Jeff Westphal, Ken Dobson, and Tom Dyer


Warming the tires for the next pit stop and driver change.

gemini1

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More pics to follow

shahir18

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I want that rear diffuser!

bnizzle87

An impressive feat indeed. Thanks for the summary, Bryan! Way to see Club Lexus represent with the growing of Lexus' involvement in racing events. While the IS F hasn't been slated to continue, the F marquee will, and this will only increase awareness and add to the heritage of Lexus' sport performance line.

gemini1

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Thanks, B!

chrisp1

great pics, looking forward to more

Joe Z

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Great Write up Bryan...!!! And awesome photos....

Congratulations to Team Lexus

It's great to finally see Yaguchi-san's Passion & Enthusiasm for Lexus racing, being continually tested here at various events in the USA..!!

From the TWO runnings at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Formula Drift Exhibition show, Toyota Grand Prix hot laps and now this grueling NASA 25hr at Thunderhill.

The IS F CCS-R has truly been put through the ringer over the last several years.
Besides the one here, there are a dozen more or so spread across Japan & Germany.
Raced regularly at Fuji Speedway & the Nürburgring.

Its great to finally see Lexus International using these machines with a solid purpose..!!

The rumors of the IS F CCS-R being used as a Benchmark for the next Lexus F are indeed true.

The next Lexus RC-F - V8 460HP will not disappoint at all.

Various Photo credits via google




















Checkered Flag



~ Joe Z

ISF350

4th place and 5th place overall. I only see few enthusiast cars on the street today so what cars did the ISF lost to ? Like to see the list.

NotnFsport

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1st place Audi TT RS, 2nd -Porsche GT3 cup, 3rd - Audi R8 LMS, 4th- Lexus ISF

ISF350

Those are awesome cars to lose

ISF4life

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ISF

gemini1

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