The new model, which was officially unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon on Friday, replaces the Toyota Prius PHV GR Sport as the #31 car in the two-car apr stable for the upcoming season.
It marks a return to SUPER GT for the LC500, which previously served as the Toyota base model in the GT500 class from 2017-19 before being replaced by the GR Supra.
The #31 car will be driven by long-time apr man Koki Saga and Toyota Super Formula rookie Kazuto Kotaka, who replaces Yuhki Nakayama in the line-up. Yuki Nemoto will serve as the third driver.
Apr will continue to the campaign the non-hybrid GR86 GT for a second season as its #30 entry, with Manabu Orido and Hiroaki Nagai remaining as the two full-season drivers. Yuta Kamimura and Ryo Ogawa will share third-driver duties between them.
Apr boss Hiroto Kaneso revealed to Motorsport.com last summer that the front-engined Prius would be replaced after four disappointing seasons.
The car scored a single win at Autopolis in 2021 with Saga and Nakayama, but only after a one-off Balance of Performance break that was subsequently reversed.
The new Lexus LC500h will be fitted with the same 5.4-litre V8 engine that powers the GR86 GT as well as apr's likewise self-built GR Supra GT300 car.
Lexus will be represented in the GT300 class by at least two cars this year, as K-tunes Racing is poised to continue with the existing RC F GT3 for another season while the brand’s next-gen GT3 car is developed.
