Woodbridge, Ont. (February 11, 2011) — AIM Autosport will add Dinan-tuned BMW engines to its Daytona Prototype sports car package this year as it looks to return to race-winning form. The team is also happy to announce that Burt Frisselle and Mark Wilkins will be back to drive the car. Sponsorship is the last piece of AIM’s puzzle this year, but all should be in place shortly.
After being approached by BMW tuner, Dinan Engineering, last fall, AIM will use a 5.0-litre, V8 BMW motor this year. Over the course of seven years, Dinan has developed the engine to its current level of performance and success in Grand-Am competition.
With a well-established reputation for fielding superbly handling and competitive cars, AIM Autosport believes the BMW engine that won last year’s Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and finished first and second in this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona will be the tonic it needs to rejoin the ranks of race winners.
AIM is happy to have Burt and Mark back in the car this year as they will help the team hit the ground running when it joins the competition at round two in Miami. Unfortunately, the team was unable to participate in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, but Mark and Burt raced with other outfits, finishing eighth and ninth, respectively.
“We have our work cut out to catch up with the other teams who have been testing and racing already this year,” said AIM Autosport principal and Daytona Prototype chief engineer, Ian Willis. “Fortunately for us we will have consistency on our side as we will be returning with our team personnel from last year intact including our proven driver pairing of Burt and Mark. At least our drivers are up to speed having each just come off great runs at the Rolex 24 and that experience will be key in helping the team catch up.
“I would like to thank John Maddox from Roush Yates for the success we enjoyed together over the past three seasons,” he continued. “The decision to switch to Dinan BMW was difficult, but when we weighed the benefits and potential in both the short and long term we became confident that this decision will bring on track rewards.”
“Dinan has noticed the excellent performance of AIM,” said Dinan Engineering founder, Steve Dinan. “We feel the team has tremendous potential and we wanted to come on board and help them to grow into a championship winning effort.”
AIM Autosport will launch its 2011 season at the Grand Prix of Miami, March 4–5 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida.
AIM Autosport
AIM Autosport is a professional motorsports team active in highly-competitive sports car and open-wheel racing series in North America. AIM has achieved success at every level through its operating efficiency, engineering skill, experience, dedication and stability of workforce. AIM’s top-tier program is a Daytona Prototype entry in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series.
Since its launch in 1995, AIM has built a winning heritage by fielding competitive cars for talented young drivers in junior development categories. That continues with multi-car teams in the Road to Indy® professional driver development ladder where AIM is a perennial pacesetter in Star Mazda and USF2000. For more information about A IM Autosport, visit www.aimautosport.com.
Friday, February 11, 2011
ARMANDO’S PIZZA & AMHERST QUARRIES HELP EXPAND THE EXTREME 32 SERIES FOR 2011
The 2010 season was the first year for the Rudy Helds Performance Centre Extreme 32 Series presented by Armando’s Pizza and Amherst Quarries. The series is unique in design as it is based on the quickest 32 qualifiers who enter, regardless of vehicle type (Door cars, Dragsters, Altereds , Bikes, etc.) .
The series provides a race each day (Sat & Sun - 2 qualifiers followed by eliminations) so competitors can come for one day or make the most of their towing costs by racing both days. (Many competitors also enter another Thunder series class, providing 2 races per day or 4 for the weekend.)
While the program was not full last year, attendance grew at every event and we ended up averaging over 20 entries per race. This momentum will continue in 2011 as sponsors Ed Smith from Amherst Quarries and John Pizzo from Armando’s Pizza are both stepping up their involvement in the series for 2011 which will allow us to provide a bigger and better program.
The 2011 Extreme 32 series will have a minimum guaranteed winner’s purse of $1200 each race day. ( i.e. Full field purse is $4160 winners share $1664)The series will expand to 10 races in 2011 (from 8 last year) with the dates being May 21/22, June 11/12, June 25/26, July 30/31 and August 20/21 ( with July 2/3 being a rain date weekend for any of the first 3 races). Race entry fee will remain at $150 per race. The membership fee for 2011 will be $75 and the Year end Points fund has dramatically increased as the Series winner will now receive $1500 in Cash plus Rudy Held's Performance Centre Certificates, the Champion’s Trophy, Champion’s Jacket,
Banquet tickets & Contingency. The balance of the points fund is as follows: Runner up - $750*, 3rd place - $500*, 4th place - $250*, 5th place - $125*. (* positions 2 thru 5 also get Rudy Held Certificates and banquet tickets).
“We see this series as a great alternative/option for those teams who are not quick enough or can’t commit to the Napa Q32 series, but want a competitive program comprised of similarly quick vehicles” says Ed Smith. John Pizzo adds “ Being racers ourselves we like supporting the drag racing community and we see this program filling a void. That is why we supported it in 2010 and are expanding our involvement in 2011”.
Series information is available at the GBM website - grandbendmotorplex.com or call 519 238 RACE Grand Bend Motorplex is South Western Ontario’s premier racing facility and home to the MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals July 15-17th - Eastern Canada’s Largest Drag racing Event.
The series provides a race each day (Sat & Sun - 2 qualifiers followed by eliminations) so competitors can come for one day or make the most of their towing costs by racing both days. (Many competitors also enter another Thunder series class, providing 2 races per day or 4 for the weekend.)
While the program was not full last year, attendance grew at every event and we ended up averaging over 20 entries per race. This momentum will continue in 2011 as sponsors Ed Smith from Amherst Quarries and John Pizzo from Armando’s Pizza are both stepping up their involvement in the series for 2011 which will allow us to provide a bigger and better program.
The 2011 Extreme 32 series will have a minimum guaranteed winner’s purse of $1200 each race day. ( i.e. Full field purse is $4160 winners share $1664)The series will expand to 10 races in 2011 (from 8 last year) with the dates being May 21/22, June 11/12, June 25/26, July 30/31 and August 20/21 ( with July 2/3 being a rain date weekend for any of the first 3 races). Race entry fee will remain at $150 per race. The membership fee for 2011 will be $75 and the Year end Points fund has dramatically increased as the Series winner will now receive $1500 in Cash plus Rudy Held's Performance Centre Certificates, the Champion’s Trophy, Champion’s Jacket,
Banquet tickets & Contingency. The balance of the points fund is as follows: Runner up - $750*, 3rd place - $500*, 4th place - $250*, 5th place - $125*. (* positions 2 thru 5 also get Rudy Held Certificates and banquet tickets).
“We see this series as a great alternative/option for those teams who are not quick enough or can’t commit to the Napa Q32 series, but want a competitive program comprised of similarly quick vehicles” says Ed Smith. John Pizzo adds “ Being racers ourselves we like supporting the drag racing community and we see this program filling a void. That is why we supported it in 2010 and are expanding our involvement in 2011”.
Series information is available at the GBM website - grandbendmotorplex.com or call 519 238 RACE Grand Bend Motorplex is South Western Ontario’s premier racing facility and home to the MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals July 15-17th - Eastern Canada’s Largest Drag racing Event.
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