AIM Autosport readies for Grand Am at Laguna Seca
Working towards victory one step at a time
(Woodbridge, Ontario) 12 May 2008 – With four races in the book, some strong performances and a mixed bag of results, the AIM Autosport crew is heading to California confident of another good outing for the Exchange Traded Gold #61 Ford Riley. Following two successive front row starts and a consistent run at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) a few weeks ago, everyone under the AIM Autosport tent has a good feeling about their chances for a podium result very soon. The race at Mazda Laguna Seca next week could be that chance.
The race at VIR would be AIM’s best finish so far this season – a sixth place result, but that does not tell the real story. The car was fast all weekend and Brian Frisselle would score the early fastest lap and continue to turn consistent laps through his stint. Brian had also qualified the car to the front row spot.
“The car was on pace right away and we were having a very good run at the front” said AIM Autosport’s team manger Ian Willis. “We ran into a couple of problems when Mark (Wilkins) was on track that cost us a couple of positions, but that has helped us further develop race strategy for the future.”
Drivers and crew took some time to regroup after the race at VIR and focus forward to the next race in the Rolex Grand Am Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California this weekend.
“Laguna Seca is a very challenging course for the drivers with a combination of some extreme elevation changes and some very fast corners” commented Willis. “Track position is going to be very important as it is a very difficult circuit for passing and this year we will have both DP and GT cars on track together so working traffic will be of paramount importance.”
Following back-to-back races in Mexico and Virginia, Frisselle and Wilkins have had a bit of time to reflect on the series so far. Mark has spent time reviewing video of the last race and recently commented, “I made a few mistakes and ended up losing a few positions. I now need to concentrate on how best to approach and work my way through traffic and maintain my pace.”
Brian had this to add, “As a team we need to continue what we have been doing all year. If we all give just one percent more, I believe AIM Autosport will have the breakthrough result we have been trying for."
The action at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca starts Friday (16th) at 10:30 PT (13:30 ET) with a 90-minute practice with qualifying at 16:50 PT (19:50 ET). The race takes place on Saturday (17th) starting at 13:45 PT (16:45 ET). It is schedule to run 250 miles (112 laps) with a time limit of 2 hours, forty-five minutes. The race will be broadcast on Speed TV, Sunday (18th) at 12:00 ET.
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Press Notes:
About AIM Autosport
Established in 1995, AIM Autosport operates multi-car teams competing in the Formula BMWUSA Championship and the Star Mazda Series. The company has a mandate to identify, train and manage emerging motorsport talent. AIM has provided many young drivers with a solid foundation on which to build a career in professional racing. The success of the AIM driver development programs has been achieved through the dedication of our employees and the ongoing support of our commercial and technical partners.
Away from the track, AIM Autosport serves the needs of the racing community with a purpose-built preparation shop situated in the Toronto suburb of Woodbridge, Ontario.
Chassis brings resume of success to AIM Autosport:
AIM Autosport's Riley chassis was purchased from Chip Ganassi Racing and comes to the team with an impressive legacy of success, having won the Rolex Sports Car Series Championship in 2004.
AIM Autosport Alumni:
AIM has a long history of bringing drivers up through the ranks, and the alumni list reads like a who's who in the sport: www.aimautosport.com/drivers/Alumni/Alumni.htm
Performance-Oriented:
Performance Drink, the "Official Performance Drink" of Grand Am has signed on as an associate partner for the 2007 season, and will be utilizing the relationship to develop and demonstrate the high-performance capabilities of the drink. The drivers in the Rolex 24 At Daytona will be participating in a unique program that will closely monitor their bodies' performances throughout the enduro. More details to follow.
For additional information
www.aimautosport.com
