A true test of endurance.
They call it “surviving the 25” for a reason. A team doesn’t just go in with a sports car and come out unscathed. It’s not just endurance racing, its severe endurance racing. Twenty-five hours of braking, revving, slipping, sliding, analyzing, and wear as man-made forces and nature’s grasp hammer the vehicle, body, and mind.
The NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill is a true test of endurance pitting man and machine against time and Mother Nature. It’s the perfect test to showcase the capabilities and performance of a sports car, which is why N1 Racing brought a new 2014 Lexus IS 250 AWD supplied by Lexus and an IS 300 to the 2013 USAF 25 Hours of Thunderhill, while another factory-backed Lexus IS F was also competing in the field.
Not since 2009 has Lexus been actively involved in sports car racing and its return with the N1 Racing No. 79 2014 IS 250 AWD, sponsored by the renowned Barrett-Jackson, “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions”, SportTruckRV, and Inde Motorsports Ranch was nothing short of impressive. The N1 Racing team essentially brought a showroom 2014 Lexus IS 250 AWD model to the track after adding some racing modifications, proving that sport and performance was engineered into the car’s DNA right from the factory.
In a short time span, the N1 Racing team was able to take the showroom-ready IS 250 AWD and transform it into a racecar. Motoring Exposure’s friend, Kai Goddard, was a part of a very talented driver lineup for the sports car that included Dave Smith, Mark McManus, Alan McCallum, Michael Whelden, and Chris Quintana.
The No. 79 N1 Racing 2014 Lexus IS 250 AWD joined over 60 entrants in the demanding severe endurance race. The N1 Racing team battled ups and downs throughout the race but was able to overcome minor brake issues and the 22-degree weather with determination and teamwork. The Lexus IS 250 AWD shined in the corners as its handling proved to be one of its many hallmarks, battling against competition from Acura, Mazda, and Honda in the E1 Class.
The Lexus IS 250 AWD may have been beaten by the elements and wear from racing a full 25 hours, but it was never broken. The N1 Racing No. 79 team crossed the finish line proudly wearing its Barrett-Jackson, SportTruckRV, and Inde Motorsports Ranch logotype. To bring a new car to compete and finish a race of such magnitude was an accomplishment in itself, leaving Lexus and the N1 Racing team proud of their performance. The team finished 7th in the E1 class, but proved their skill and talent paired up with the capability of the 2014 Lexus IS 250 AWD could handle the brutal punishment dealt during North America’s longest and toughest sports car endurance race.
The N1 Racing 2014 Lexus IS 250 AWD will be on display at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale from January 12th through the 19th. For information on the event and to purchase tickets, visit the Barrett-Jackson website.
We’d like to congratulate Kai Goddard and the rest of the N1 Racing No. 79 2014 Lexus IS 250 AWD team with their impressive finish at the 2013 USAF 25 Hours of Thunderhill!
2013 USAF 25 Hours of Thunderhill Gallery
