Here is some epic footage of the Lexus Drift team in action from the Seattle, Las Vegas and Sonoma Formula D events. This footage was taken just before the season finale which was held just recently at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA. Watch the Apex’i/Lexus Drift SC430 slide sideways for the perfect angle, courtesy of native Japanese driver Ryuji Miki
MOTORSPORT
n 2008, the second generation IS 350 was entered in the Super GT race series in the GT300 class (cars with approximately 300 horsepower). Extensively modified from the factory car, with upgrades including a V8 engine,[65] the #19 Team Racing Project Bandoh IS 350 driven by Manabu Orido and Tsubasa Abe achieved its first victory in its fifth race at the Motegi GT300 race.[66] Other IS 350 GT300 competitors included those of the WedsSport and Green Tec/Kumho teams.[65] In 2009, two manufacturer sanctioned Racing Project/Bandoh and Team Reckless/Shift IS 350s were also announced for competition, both equipped with 3.0L V8 engines.[67] The Project Bandoh WedsSport IS 350, driven by Manabu Orido and Tatsuya Kataoka, won both driver and team title in the GT300 class that season.[68]
Lexus IS F race car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
In 2009, Gazoo Racing produced a Lexus IS F VLN racing vehicle, which was entered in the SP8 class of the ADAC-Westfalenfahrt VLN 4h endurance race. The vehicle finished second to the team's Lexus LF-A in the race.[69] The IS F VLN racer was also entered in the 2009 24 Hours Nürburgring race and finished third in the SP8 class.[70] The IS F was also later entered in the DMV Grenzlandrennen VLN 4h endurance race in August 2009 where it won the SP8 class.[71] In Gazoo's win at the DMV Grenzlandrennen VLN race in August 29, 2009,[71] Kazunori Yamauchi, the developer of Gran Turismo series who had little experience in actual motorsport, was also one of their drivers,[72] along with Peter Lyon and Hideshi Matsuda.[71] An IS F driven by Peter Lyon, Hideshi Matsuda, Kazunori Yamauchi, and Owen Mildenhall participated in the 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring and finished in 4th place in the SP8 class, behind the 1st place ranked Lexus LFA.
