The Grid.co.uk    the national & club motor racing website - est1998          

  ^News

Racing action for the Emco Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, starts on Friday (June 20) with practice and qualifying. The 250 mile race starts at 5:00 p.m. (ET) on Saturday (21st). It is schedule to run 111 laps with a 2 hr. 45 min. time limit. 

The race will be broadcast live on SPEED TV starting at 5:00 p.m. (ET)

AIM Autosport Facts:

Established in 1995, AIM Autosport  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. AIM currently fields the #61 Exchange Traded Gold Ford-Riley Daytona Prototype in the Rolex Grand Am series with drivers Mark Wilkins and Brian Frisselle. The team continues to support the Star Mazda series and is developing a team for the 2009 season.

Continued from News

Mid point at  Mid-Ohio

AIM Autosport has time and energy on its side 

This weekend's race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is appropriately enough, the mid point of the season in the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.  After taking successive top-ten results, AIM Autosport feels  it is time to break onto the podium. And move further into the top ten in the points. It would be a big boost for the drivers and the crew to enter the second half of the fourteen race season on a high note. 

Following a promising start in the Six Hours of The Glen two weeks ago, the Exchange Traded Gold No. 61 Ford Riley crossed the line in seventh place mioving the team up to eighth overall in the championship.  "We didn't quite get the result we hoped for" commented Aim Autosport's Ian Willis, "but it was a very close race after six hours and we were in the thick of it at the end. For us it's a matter of turning that energy into having the pack chase us at the checkers."  

The MId-Ohio Sports Car Course is fast, has great vantage points and it can be pretty exciting for the fans with plenty of action on the track as the Daytona Prototype cars carve their way through the slower GT traffic. This is a track where Mark and Brian can take full advantage of the pace shown this year by the No. 61 Ford Riley. An evening race, cooler temperatures will be good for the car as well as the drivers. A welcome change from the triple-digit heat experienced at the last two events.  

The drivers are particularly anxious to get things going and for the first time since Mexico, Mark Wilkins will qualify and start the race with Brian Frisselle set to bring the car to the flag,  "Both Mark and I are very excited for the race at Mid-Ohio.” Saiud Brian. “The track is a lot of fun to drive and always has a good amount of fans on race day. The entire Exchange Traded Gold team is confident that we will be competitive and looking forward to the opportunity of getting a good result. Mark and I switch the driver rotation every 3 races, so I am really looking forward to be the one to bring the No. 61 Ford Riley to the finish." 

Mark said: " Sounding a bit like a broken record, our focus for this weekend is undoubtedly to get on the podium. The AIM Autosport Ford Riley has rolled off the trailer fast all season and we look to continue that this weekend. My personal goal for the weekend is to qualify the car on the pole. Mid Ohio is a fun but challenging course. I find it quite easy to get in a good rhythm but it is imperative that you not over drive some of the corners. I'm looking forward to an exciting race weekend."

mail your links to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk