Oshima and Yamashita went into the final race of the season at the top of the points standings and as title favourites. However, two other crews were bidding to deprive them of the title, including the #37 LC 500 entered by KeePer TOM’S and driven by Ryo Hirakawa and Nick Cassidy.

The race winner in the GT500 class was the #37 KeePer TOM'S, allowing the team to claim the Team Championship title for the 2019 season.

The #6 WAKO'S 4CR LC 500 finished 2^nd in Motegi, giving Oshima and Yamashita their first Drivers Championship title.

The third place of the Motegi race podium went to the car #36, the au TOM’S LC 500 of Kazuki Nakajima and Yuhi Sekiguchi, followed by car #38, ZENT CERUMO LC 500 driven by Yuji Tachikawa and Hiroaki Ishiura, locking out the top four positions for Lexus in the LC 500’s final race in the Super GT Series before it is retired from competition.

2019 Final ranking drivers – GT500 class

1. #6 Kazuya Oshima / Kenta Yamashita 85 pts
2. #37 Ryo Hirakawa / Nick Cassidy 83 pts
3. #23 Tsugio Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli 52.5 pts
4. #38 Yuji Tachikawa / Hiroaki Ishiura 46.5 pts
5. #39 Heikki Kovalainen / Yuichi Nakayama 44 pts
6. #36 Kazuki Nakajima / Yuhi Sekiguchi 38 pts
7. #19 Yuji Kunimoto / Sho Tsuboi 27.5 pts

2019 Final ranking teams – GT500 class

1. #37 LEXUS TEAM KeePer TOM'S 107 pts
2. #6 LEXUS TEAM LEMANS WAKO'S 106 pts
3. #23 NISMO 69.5 pts
4. #38 LEXUS TEAM ZENT CERUMO 65.5 pts
5. #39 LEXUS TEAM SARD 64 pts
6. #36 LEXUS TEAM au TOM'S 53 pts
7. #19 LEXUS TEAM WedsSport BANDOH 46.5 pts

For more information please visit: https://supergt.net/news/single/19719

The Nürburgring 24 Hours race is held yearly at the Nürburgring in central Germany — known as the world's most gruelling course — and 2018 sees the final of this 46th race taking place from May 12th through May 13th.

In 2018, the Lexus LC will be competing for the first time. This car has been refined to race specifications by the company’s mechanics and engineers, and incorporates advanced development technologies destined for future production vehicles such as sports cars. It's all part of our company’s efforts towards "making ever-better cars" through activities aimed at "refining people, refining cars".

Competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours race with the Lexus LC will enable us to introduce the following advanced development technologies destined for future production vehicles:
・Body technology development (reducing weight, increasing rigidity)
・Driver assistance technology (enhancing visibility, etc.)
・Aerodynamics development
・Engine development (increasing power by reducing friction, enhancing fuel economy, etc.)
・Suspension technology (reducing weight, increasing rigidity, enhancing responsiveness, etc.)

The four drivers for this race will be Takeshi Tsuchiya, as the chief driver, along with young drivers Takamitsu Matsui, Naoya Gamo, and Yuichi Nakayama.

“The race car we are currently developing, the Lexus LC, is still in its infancy and finally beginning to take its first steps’, said Takeshi Tsuchiya, Driver. “It will be some time before it can properly stand by itself, but it will be well worth the effort, and I'm delighted to actually be involved in the company’s efforts towards "making ever-better cars" for the future. As the drivers, the four of us will work together to bring the company's goals to fruition.”