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It's the final round of the 2018 International GT Open series this weekend at Barcelona, Spain/Independent Republic of Catalonia. News and live timing is available on the official website while you can stream live qualifying and both races (one of each today, one of each tomorrow) through their YouTube channel. Emil Frey Racing - one of the two teams running the new GT3 specification RC-Fs - are in with a decent shout for overall honours. Qualifying for race one has just finished with a strong showing by both Lexus teams, securing P1 and P4 on the grid for this afternoon's 70 minute race, due to start 1500 UK time. Pole by a scant 21/1000ths from the two Imperiale Racing Lamborghinis but I have a feeling the Lexus is kinder to its tyres and its driver over a race stint. Forza Lexus! (if that's not an unforgivable mixing of motoring cultures)

That's reassuring, thanks. The oil filter on my IS is difficult from above or below, a real pain.

That looks exactly like the one I have, but I have had no end of trouble with that spout, so much so I have considered cutting it short for next time. I must be doing it wrong! I'm 95% likely to get an IS250 next, so I'm curious, is the oil filter easily accessible using normal domestic ramps, etc?

Don't know if you got your headlight washers sorted out Ray, but mine were problematic since the day I bought my IS. They generally didn't work in respond to the button or would start at random. I can't imagine it's correct but they actually remained live when the ignition was off, to the extent when parked I could here them trying to get going and one time overnight drained my washer bottle! In the end my garage admitted defeat (after a few hours of drenching them and the workshop!) and we agreed that with the wording of the MoT test, if we removed the dashboard switch, removed the relay and glued the jets in, a pass could be achieved. It's a case of if it's fitted, it must work; I suppose like taking an illegal spare out before the test. Have I missed them, not a jot. Worth bearing in mind if your fault proves illusive.

Nice pictures there, David. Very jealous you got Autopolis! Do you live in Japan or were you just visiting?

Sorry chap, I believe that's a SsangYong Tivoli, but the effect is much the same!

Watching with interest, Rob. Love to do something like this but I a) lack the space, b) lack the time, d) lack the budget, d) lack the tools, but perhaps most importantly e) I lack the skills to do it properly!

IMSA Weathertech is in Salinas, California this weekend for the penultimate race of 2017. The twisty Laguna Seca track will likely not play to the strengths of the RC-F, but qualifying. did produce an encouraging P5 and P8 after troubled free practice. If I have the times right, live streaming in IMSA.tv starts at 21.55 Sunday evening, UK time.

Amen to that. I subscribe to a couple of UK dash cam channels on YouTube; I feel there's always something to learn, even us old f*rts. Admittedly a lot of the clips say more about the dash cam driver than the other driver, but some are are instructive. And some are mind-boggling!

I've had a dashcam for over two years and I've still nothing worthwhile to post! Apart from the daily Audi and VW Golf knobbery (hardly worth reporting), interesting incidents seem to have passed me by. Perhaps I should be grateful! I am however serious considering a backwards facing camera to supplement my Mobius; so many tailgaters...

I don't know how many of you visit the Lexus UK Blog, but there is a nice article here about this weekend's running of the Emil Frey Racing RC-F at the Nürburgring (Grand Prix circuit).

I can see why he'd want to; a couple of season in IMSA will be a great education for him. And if he likes the lifestyle Stateside, he could have a glittering career ahead of him. Depends how down-to-earth a Yorkshire man he is; I mean what could beat testing at a wet and windy Silverstone?!

That's good to know, John. And I'm sure Jack's name will be in the frame if it ever comes to a Lexus backed assault on the Blancpain GT Series.

Well, after a encouraging weekend at Silverstone (my GT Open fanboy post is here) an announcement on Wednesday by Emil Frey has got me more than a little bit excited. And as Lexus enthusiast, I think you should be too! In a nutshell - out of the blue - the Lexus RC-F will be competing in the next round of the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup at the Nürburgring. It's exciting for sure, but let's not get carried away and keep expectations down, much as Emil Frey are doing themselves. It looks very much a 'fact-finding exercise', but also a barely-disguised sign of a realistic intention to join the party full-time next season. Thus far, Emil Frey have exclusively concentrated on the Blancpain GT Endurance Series in 2017 with the ageing XK8, so you have to think may be the RC-F will be bound as a replacement for the Jaguar in the three hours races, rather than a permanent fixture in the 60 minute sprints (even if it aligns more closely with the GT Open series). Meanwhile, concentrating on the race at hand, the Balance Of Performance / Nürburgring combination will probably - on past performance - favour the mid-engined cars, specifically the plethora of factory backed Audi R8s (Audi being the only manufacturer named as a sponsor of the Sprint series, no comment required). The switch to Pirelli rubber will doubtless stymie the RC-Fs performance, but it will be fascinating to see how they measure-up against the best GT3 teams in the business. Albert Costa is an undoubted star, but his pairing with the mega-experienced and rapid Stéphane Ortelli shows commitment by the team, and likely hints at the long term retirement of the venerable XK8. Live streaming will be at GT World. Forza Lexus! (or the Japanese equivalent...)

Sadly, yes; no more Lexus GTs this year in the UK. But, if you have the cash and the time, what could be better than the last weekend in September at Monza? Or the last weekend in October at Barcelona? Personally, I'm hoping the strong performances of Emil Frey and Farnbacher Racing will persuade other teams to perhaps abandon their SLSs or Huricans and switch to the RC-F, assuming the supply is available. A win in IMSA Weathertech would also do wonders state-side, I think. And if these come to pass, maybe a move to the Blancpain Endurance series? And who knows, in a couple of years time, may be to the rarefied atmosphere of LM-GTE at Le Mans...

Hope you enjoy the recorded stream, Sean. Such a shame GT racing doesn't get more exposure; its not a massive deviation from the truth to say there were more marshals at Silverstone last weekend than spectators. I see you have an RC-F, so here is a better shot of that IMSA GT3 (taken on Saturday, when it was sunnier):

Well, what a cracking weekend that was! I won't mention the result in case anyone is catching-up on the GT Open YouTube channel, but I will post a picture of the low-key Lexus display in the paddock at the back of the Emil Frey garage. First chance I've had to be see an LC500 in the metal; wow, what a stunning bit of kit. Such beautiful detailing, all over. In the background is a GT3 spec RC-F which - as far as I could tell - was the genuine #14 car from the IMSA Weathertech Series. I'm amazed Lexus paid for it to flown over from The States and then just leave it sitting round unattended in the paddock. Perhaps I'd missed some big corporate walk-around, or may be it's a bit of a mock-up from a European GT3 testing hack. Either way, great to see it up close. Like a lot of racing cars, surprisingly rough and ready close-up. The car fibre on display is actually a wrap of good old aluminium sheet in places. And by the way, the RC-Fs of Emil Frey and Farnbacher racing sound amazing, somewhere between the guttural throb of the SLS and the flat-beat of the Bentley.

I promised the mods I wouldn't start yet another Lexus motorsport thread, but I think this weekend's events warrants a renegement for us UK residents, namely... Lexus will be racing at Silverstone this weekend! The GT Open series - after a bit of a break - returns for round five (of seven) this weekend at the famed old Northamptonshire/Buckinghamshire circuit. The two teams running a pair of RC-F each - Emil Frey and Farnbacher Racing - have been testing at Barcelona recently so the expected cool conditions at Silverstone should prove a contrast. However, the Balance Of Performance formula will have been reassessed before a wheel turns for free practice on Friday, and hopefully things will favour the RC-Fs a little more than has been evident in recent races. High speed corners at Silverstone may well play to the Lexus strengths if the pattern of the early season can be repeated. As is normal for GT Open, there will be two races this weekend, one on Saturday (70 minutes), one on Sunday (60 minutes). Both days have a qualifying session for the GT3s and support races of Radical European Master and Euroformula Open. Tickets are a bargain £15 for Saturday and £26 for Sunday; a ticket for both days on the gate costs £30. Of course, if you can't make it, there will be extensive streaming on the GT Open YouTube channel. I will be there both days, waving a flag for Lexus; may be see some of you there.

No problem Geoff, I am a frequent visitor to Autotrader (to say the least!). Depending on your budget, you could stay within the Toyota family with a RAV4 if you want another hybrid. I've only driven the diesel (shudder) version for work and it was a pretty good bit of kit. Of other SUVs I driven for work I think the most impressive was the Hyundai Tuscon, surprisingly better than the Qashqai, I thought. But none of these are going to get close to an RX in terms of quality; you're coming from a hybrid so that's half the battle! When (if!?) it comes to trade-in, if you are insulted by the dealer, let me know; an IS300h in Mesa might just be what I am after next...

If you click 'More options' under the red 'Search 476,161 cars' button on the Autotrader homepage, it brings up eight category icons (including SUV!) plus all the other searchable variables. If not a nearly new NX, how about an older RX just to keep in the Lexus fold?

Wow, that's quite an achievement; wish I could say the same! I was amazed when I was told my old girl (now 175k) failed her last MoT with a broken front coil spring; a previous car of mine had one fail (at much lower mileage) and I noticed that at once. Second reason was for corrosion in the sills (patently obvious) but fortunately I had already budgeted for it and had lined-up the work at the same time. Other than that, a leaking exhaust, inoperable headlight cleaners and various cheese bushes have been the reason for fails in its 16 year life. If you replace the brake callipers and the suspension often enough, MoTs aren't a problem...

IMSA Weathertech travels to Virginia this weekend for the Michelin GT Challenge. Qualifying was strong for the two RC-F GT3s finishing 5th and 6th. Live stream will be here: IMSA TV from 1330 local time 27/08/17 (1830 BST).

If you are in the UK and bear to be up at 0530 on a Sunday, the next round of the Super GT series will be taking place at Suzuka. It's a 1000km race and given this is Honda's own track, it's not surprising that they have elected this race to run Jenson Button as a guest driver. No doubt they will be a little miffed a GT-R will be on pole with the first of the LC500s alongside. Live stream will be here: Nismo TV

Interesting read Alan, thanks for that. I'm starting the slow process of lining-up the inevitable replacement this-year-or-next of my trusty old IS. I've narrowed it down to a IS250 or GS250 (although I keep finding other cars that distract me for a few weeks, then fall by the wayside) so I'm always interested to read owners thoughts. The M27 is awful, I know; a couple of lads I work with suffer its vicious vagaries everyday. My early morning commute southbound on the M3, is by contrast blissfully quiet; perhaps I don't need a GS?

I waited for it to get dark (and very wet!) and went outside to check; either we both have duff bulbs or no, they are not illuminated. Looking into it a bit more, this spare is listed on ebay: I'm pretty sure the small circular bit is a bulb holder. Might be worth trying to (carefully!) prise it out. If it works out, I might try mine...