British outfit plots Lexus entry.

British outfit LGT Engineering has announced plans to enter a brace of diesel powered Lexus IS220d cars in the World Touring Car Championship.

The outfit, formed in February this year by Tim Blake and George Ryton intends to run two cars in the Yokohama Independents Trophy later this season before embarking on a full campaign next season with the Liverpool-based squad aiming to follow the lead of SEAT in using alternative fuels to campaign its machines.

"Our plan is to run the cars towards the end of this season, prior to embarking on a full assault on the championship in 2008," commercial director Blake, who had an involvement with the Lexus programme in the British Touring Car Championship back in 2001, said. "We are currently undertaking the official Lexus homologation with the FIA, with many of the car's components, including the proven transmission, having been designed by our innovative in-house team.

"The WTCC is a natural fit for the company to showcase its work. Needless to say, we're eager to get out there and start racing!"