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.
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