Last week as part of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s programmes for the upcoming Autobacs SUPER GT Series, it was confirmed that LM corsa would replace its previous Toyota GR Supra with a new Lexus LC 500.
On Tuesday, the new #60 Syntium LM Corsa LC 500 underwent its first shakedown test at Okayama International Circuit on a chilly day – even encountering snow flurries across the track.
But the test reportedly went without a hitch as LM corsa’s returning drivers Hiroki Yoshimoto and Shunsuke Kohno got their first laps in the LC 500. Reimei Ito, who joined LM corsa for the 2024 SUPER GT finale at Suzuka, also observed the shakedown test.
The new car is built by racing constructor apr to the GTA-GT300 regulations, using the mainframe of the Lexus LC 500 road car. Unlike apr’s original LC 500h first introduced in 2023, the LM corsa customer car will not use a hybrid system – but it is presumed that the car will still use the all-purpose Toyota 2UR-GSE V8 engine.
Previously, LM corsa was one of the first teams to race the Lexus RC F GT3 from its pre-homologation concept years in 2015-16, and continued to race the RC F GT3 after it was homologated from 2017-20.
They then switched to the Toyota GR Supra GT300 in 2021, and the duo of Yoshimoto and Kohno finished third in the GT300 standings with two wins at Fuji. Since then, they have just one top-five finish, coinciding with LM corsa developing a unique aero package for the GR Supra from 2022.
More details about LM corsa and its parent company Osaka Toyopet Group (OTG)’s plans to go racing in 2025 will be revealed at the upcoming Osaka Auto Messe from 7-9 February.
Elsewhere in the GT300 field, second-generation driver Ryo Ogawa has been signed as the third driver of the #30 apr Toyota GR86 GT, rejoining the team after making two starts in 2023. Ogawa will partner with the regular pairing of Hiroaki Nagai and Manabu Orido. This year also marks a significant change as the #30 team switches from Yokohama to Michelin tyres.
Feature image courtesy of Osaka Toyopet Group (OTG)
