AIM/Doncaster - Rolex 24 qualifying

The No. 61 AIM Autosport Lexus-powered Riley Mk XI will start this weekend's
Rolex 24 At Daytona from 18th on the 70-car grid, after a brief qualifying
session, shortened to a few laps due to a crash. Mark Wilkins lapped the
3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway infield road course in one minute
45.680 seconds in the "gold car", sponsored by Exchange Traded Gold and
Barrick Gold Corporation. With the top 20 starting positions set for the
race, the team will not have to qualify on Friday, so can use the time to
change engines for the race.

 

"We have a very good race car for a 24-hour," Wilkins said. "We did what we
wanted to accomplish, which was to qualify in the top 20, which means the
guys have lots of time to get the other engine in the car tomorrow. That was
our main focus. It's fantastic to come out and run with these guys – these
are huge names, so to go out and get in the top 20 our first year, I'm
really happy.

 

"I think the Riley-Lexus is the best package. Lexus gave us a great motor;
we've got lots of power. I think it's going to be the engine to have in the
24-hour. The Lexus guys are great – they've given us tons of support and
they're working on ways to make us go faster."

 

Wilkins will drive the first stint of the 24-hour race, followed by Brian
Frisselle, Burt Frisselle and David Empringham.

 

Dave Lacey had a strong qualifying run for Doncaster Racing, setting the No.
17 MineStar Tim Hortons Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car 10th on the 42-car GT class
grid. His fast lap of one minute 52.777 seconds was less than a second
behind the class pole position. He will drive first on Saturday, then
alternate with Lance David Arnold, Johnny Mowlem, Tom Papadopoulos and Greg
Wilkins.

 

"We're very happy with that qualifying time," Lacey said. "I think a lot of
guys in the GT class went to a qualifying setup, but that hasn't been our
strategy for the weekend. We're trying to get a good race setup that's
driveable for everybody on the team. We started the day with a fairly harsh
front end and we softened that up quite a bit to make the car a bit more
compliant. We're happy with the time, we've got a good race car, the new
motor package is excellent and the team is coming together really well."

 

– aimautosport.com – 

 

 

 
Sylvia Proudfoot
HYPERLINK "mailto:sylvia@spurcom.ca"sylvia@spurcom.ca
403 287 3945