Lexus RC F is the official 2015 V8 Supercars Safety Car

Australia’s V8 Supercars motorsport series will feature the Lexus RC F sports coupe as the official Safety Car in the 2015 season as part of a new partnership between the Japanese premium marque and V8 Supercars.

The rear-wheel-drive RC F, which is equipped with a 5.0-litre V8 that produces 351kW of power and 530Nm of torque, will feature at each of the 15 V8 Supercars Championship races in 2015.

Joining the RC F on track will be the Lexus GS 350 F Sport and IS 350 F Sport, supplied under the new agreement as the championship’s official course cars and medical cars respectively.

Lexus Australia chief executive Sean Hanley said the partnership with V8 Supercars was a fitting match for the brand.

“V8 Supercars is the world’s leading touring car series and our involvement as supplier of vehicles reflects the new energy in our brand and our dynamic model lines,” Mr Hanley said.

“This partnership is also the perfect opportunity to show Australian motorsport fans the new RC F, which is just as suited to driving on a track as it is on the road.”

V8 Supercars chief executive officer James Warburton said Lexus was one of the world’s great brands.

“We are proud and excited that Lexus has chosen our sport to showcase their high performance credentials,” Mr Warburton said.

“The stunning RC F safety car will be a feature of its own, and together with the IS 350 F Sport and GS 350 F Sport, we are absolutely delighted these ultra-high performance vehicles will be an integral part of V8 Supercars in 2015.”

The RC F is the latest model to wear the F badge – the high performance vehicle arm of Lexus – and takes the mantle as the brand’s most focused, race-inspired model since the hype.

Along with its aggressive, aerodynamic curves, it features racetrack-developed suspension and brakes, and power delivery via an eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission and unique torque vectoring differential.

The Lexus GS 350 F Sport course car and IS 350 F Sport medical car boast performance and safety credentials to provide support to V8 Supercars’ intense on-track activities.

They both feature a 3.5-litre quad cam V6 that produces 233kW and 378Nm, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual control via paddle shifters.

The RC F, GS 350 F Sport and IS 350 F Sport models will commence their association with V8 Supercars at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide from February 26 to March 1.