AIM VASSER SULLIVAN – NO. 12 LEXUS RC F GT3
Drivers: Townsend Bell, Frankie Montecalvo, Jeff Segal and Aaron Telitz
Summary:
AIM VASSER SULLIVAN enters its first year of IMSA competition with two identically prepared Lexus RC F GT3s in the GTD class for all 11-rounds of the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 will be manned by Townsend Bell and Frankie Montecalvo for the full-season with Jeff Segal and Aaron Telitz co-driving at Daytona. The No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 will be campaigned by Jack Hawksworth and Richard Heistand with Nick Cassidy and Austin Cindric also sharing seat-time at Daytona.
Note: The AIM VASSER SULLIVAN No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 will have the only All-American driver line-up at the 57th Rolex 24 At Daytona.
NO. 12 AIM VASSER SULLIVAN DRIVER QUOTES/FAST FACTS:
Townsend Bell Quote:
“I am very impressed with the Lexus RC F GT3. It’s comfortable and capable. We still have lots of opportunity to improve. I am just happy the car is reliable and really just thrilled with the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN team. The guys executed. We were on time for every session, ran all the laps that were available. That’s a huge accomplishment for a new team.”
“I come into the Rolex 24 with legitimate excitement that as a new team I feel like we have a chance. We still have a lot to learn and a lot to improve, but so far the energy on the team feels capable. When we won in 2014, I had a very similar feeling.”
Bell Fast Facts:
Sixth Rolex 24. Best finish: First in 2014
In 2018, Bell teamed with Montecalvo in the four endurance events in the GTD class of the IWSC racing for Scuderia Corsa. Between 2012 and 2017, both Bell and Montecalvo have experienced on-track success in GT3-spec race cars while driving for AIM Autosport, but never as teammates.
Bell drove for a Jimmy Vasser co-owned team at the Indianapolis 500 finishing a career-high fourth in 2009.
Bell drove for AIM when they won the Rolex 24 and the NAEC Championship in 2014.
Frankie Montecalvo Quote:
“The Lexus RC F GT3, the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN team, everything is amazing. The amount of time the team has had with the car and how far they have come really shows what the manufacturer has put together. Especially qualifying third at the ROAR shows what we are capable of in such a short period of time. Going into a season with that kind of confidence, I feel we are only going to get better and build off of that.”
“Going into the Rolex 24, it’s an endurance race. You really need to be competitive, be fast, but at the same time you need to stay out of trouble. That is going to come down to the drivers, the team, the spotters, everyone to make it to the end. I think we have the manufacturer, we have the reliability in the car. That gives us the ability to push for the entire race, but we still have to be there at the end.”
Montecalvo Fast Facts:
Third Rolex 24. Best finish: Top-four
In 2018, Bell and Montecalvo teamed up in the four endurance events in the GTD class of the IWSC racing for Scuderia Corsa. Between 2012 and 2017, both Bell and Montecalvo have experienced on-track success in GT3-spec race cars while driving for AIM Autosport, but never as teammates.
Montecalvo raced with AIM and had some success in the Pirelli World Challenge Sprint X.
Jeff Segal Quote
“The Lexus RC F GT3 is really impressive. My first impressions are very favorable. There is still obviously a lot for me to learn about the car, a lot for the team to learn about the car, but everything we throw at it, it seems to take and respond really well. I think the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN team is in a good place. Having completed the Roar test to come back, after looking at the data and putting our heads together, I think we will have a good race car.”
“The secret to the Rolex 24 is that everybody just needs to be on top of their own responsibilities. We lay out a plan. We stick to that plan. If we do that, then certainly we can win. I just want us to have a solid race. We have a great team, a great crew and a great car. There are a lot of things out of our control, but my hope is that I get a shiny new watch this weekend.”
Segal Fast Facts:
11th Rolex 24. Best finish: First (2014)
Segal is a highly successful championship-winning driver from Philadelphia.
He won three IMSA championships (2007 Continental Tires Sports Car Challenge GS, 2010 Rolex Series GT, 2012 Rolex Series GT).
He has captured sports car racing’s “Triple Crown” with victories in the Rolex 24 At Daytona (2014 GTD Class), 12 Hours of Sebring (2016 GTD Class) and 24 Hours of Le Mans (2016 GTE – Am Class).
Segal also has wins in the Six Hours of the Glen (2016 GTD Class and 2008 GT Class) and was 2013 Indianapolis Brickyard GP winner (GT Class).
Aaron Telitz Quote:
“The Lexus RC F GT3 is an awesome car. It took me a little time to get used to it versus what I normally drive, open wheel cars where the wind blows in your face and you can see all the tires. Being in a cockpit with a roof over my head, a big car…it takes a bit to get used to. The guys did a great job helping me out. Getting me up to speed. I am starting to feel comfortable with the car.”
“The Rolex 24 is a way longer race than I am used to. The longest race I have been in up until now is an hour, an hour and a half, so I am going to be driving for a least an hour and a half at a time, maybe two hours. So, keeping the car together, being smart, managing traffic, keeping your average lap pace up, that is going to be key.”
Telitz Fast Facts:
First Rolex 24
Telitz, a native of Wisconsin, has progressed through open-wheel racing ranks.
He captured the Mazdaspeed/Skip Barber Racing School Scholarship Shootout in 2013 and was the 2014 Team USA Scholarship Recipient.
Starting in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Series in 2014, he advanced to the Pro Mazda Championship winning the title in 2016.
Most recently, Telitz had nine podiums including two wins in the 2018 Indy Lights Championship.
Telitz will compete for AIM VASSER SULLIVAN in all four of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events in 2019 (Rolex 24 At Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen and Motul Petit Le Mans).
AIM VASSER SULLIVAN – NO. 14 LEXUS RC F GT3
Drivers: Jack Hawksworth, Richard Heistand, Nick Cassidy and Austin Cindric
NO. 14 AIM VASSERS SULLIVAN DRIVER QUOTES/FAST FACTS:
Jack Hawksworth Quote:
“The ROAR was pretty interesting. It was really smooth in terms of reliability for the RC F GT3, so props to the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN guys for putting together two cars that ran without issue. It was promising for the race. Performance-wise it’s hard to tell, but I think we’re in pretty good shape. I think the speed of the car will be pretty good in the race.”
“Obviously, a brand new team that has only been together for a short period of time. The drivers are new and some experienced and some with less experience, so potentially could be a bit of a learning race with pit stops, driver changes and all of the on-track stuff. We’ll just see how the race unfolds. I think if we can survive without drama then the RC F GT3 will be quick enough to have a shot, but it’s going to be a long 24 hours. A lot can happen and the team is still growing so we’ve got a lot to do.”
Hawksworth Fast Facts:
Fourth Rolex 24. Best finish: Fourth in Prototype Challenge (PC) in 2016.
Hawksworth drove the No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class the past two seasons.
During that time, Hawksworth registered a GTD series-best four pole positions in 2018 and seven of the quickest GTD race laps, including five of the fastest laps during the 2018 season.
Hawksworth also previously won the 2014 Indianapolis Brickyard GP (Prototype Class)
Richard Heistand Quote:
“The Lexus RC F GT3 was great testing at the ROAR. I’m new to it, so really the focus for me was just getting used to the car, getting to know it and getting the most out of it for myself. We didn’t get a lot of track time, but I felt comfortable by the time I needed to feel comfortable, so from that perspective I was happy.”
“We’re on a great race team in AIM Vasser Sullivan. We’re a new team and a lot of work has had to be done, but there’s great drivers on the team and it’s engineered very well. Just everyone on the team is first class, so if anyone can have success in that time frame it would be this team in my opinion. With that said, success isn’t guaranteed and we’re in this for thinking long term. For me, I just need to do my job and there’s still some things in terms of traffic management that I have to get on top of and we’ll take another step in practice for the Rolex. I’m going to do my job so I can be relied upon and counted upon and that’s my goal for the race.”
Heistand Fast Facts:
First Rolex 24
Heistand will partner with Jack Hawksworth in all 11-rounds of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Heistand joins the team after a successful return to racing this past year in Europe where he held his own against top amateur and professional drivers in the highly competitive Porsche Supercup series.
Nick Cassidy Quote:
“I learned a lot at the ROAR. It was my first time in the Lexus RC F GT3, so it’s very different than what I’m used to in the LC 500. I’m used to lightweight, higher cars, but overall the ROAR was a great experience. I got up to speed pretty quickly, I think, and I feel quite comfortable, so I’m ready for the Rolex 24.”
“I don’t really know what to expect for the race. It will be my first 24 hour race. Obviously, we all want to win and I think we’ve got a car, on performance, I think can do it. We have a great team behind us, but with a 24 hour race there’s a lot that happens. It’s important not to be too confident and to make sure that we do the little things right.”
“Personally, I think it’s more of getting used to the systems and the routines of the driver changes. Communication is also a big thing as well. To understand the race, the strategy, what needs to be said, on my part, I’ve got a lot to learn in that respect. In terms of fitness and those sorts of things, I drive quite long and physical races so that part I’m prepared and it’s more about the mental side.”
Cassidy Fast Facts:
First Rolex 24
Cassidy is a well-respected champion world-wide.
In addition to numerous championships in his native New Zealand, he won the All-Japan Formula 3 championship in 2015, was fourth in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and was the 2017 Japanese Super GT500 champion (second in 2018 Super Formula – Japan and Japanese Super GT500). Cassidy’s GT500 2016-2018 seasons were in the race and championship-winning Lexus LC 500.
Austin Cindric Quote:
“I’ve had the pleasure of getting to see both sides of the spectrum with the Lexus RCF GT3. I was behind the wheel for its first stint in its first race at the Rolex 24 in 2017, and I’ve had the satisfaction of seeing all of the progress that has been put into this car and in this program up to this point. There’s a lot of people that should be very proud of this effort, and it’s exciting times for me to now be involved with AIM VASSER SULLIVAN, as this truly feels like an opportunity to be standing on the top step by the end of a long 24 hours.”
Cindric Fast Facts:
3rd Rolex 24 At Daytona – Best finish 6th overall (2018 Prototype Class)
Cindric, from North Carolina, has competed in several series during his young career including: USF2000, Global Rallycross (won the Bronze Medal at 2014 X Games Austin), the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hours (at 17, youngest driver to compete in the event) and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Most recently, he drove in the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series and is set to run the full season in 2019 for Penske Racing.