VIRginia is Next Challenge for AIM Autosport’s Sweedler and Bell.

Duo ready for challenge of VIR and for championship fight

August 21, 2014 (Toronto, Ontario) – Following a fifth-place finish at the TUDOR United Sportscar Challenge race at Road America, drivers Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell continue to lead the GT-Daytona championship standings with three races remaining in the season.

However, facing the duo this weekend is one of the most challenging venues on the TUDOR Championship schedule – Virginia International Raceway. Both are familiar with the challenges dished out by VIR’s 3.2-mile, 17 turn circuit having competed together at the circuit in the American Le Mans Series rounds there in 2012 and 2013.

This weekend’s race will also throw a bit of a curve ball at the drivers as the Oak Tree Grand Prix will mark the first time that the GT class cars of the TUDOR Championship compete in their own race. Sunday afternoon’s race will feature only the cars of the GT-LeMans and GT-Daytona class.

“We can only control what we do, so our plan is to go out there and put in the best performance that we can,” said Sweedler. “VIR is one of the best circuits we get to race at, and one of the most challenging in North America. It demands a driver’s full attention – it is fast, very challenging, and very old school. We’ll need to get everything out of our Ferrari on race day.”

Bell echoed his teammates thought on the team’s plan for Sunday’s Oak Tree Grand Prix.

“We aren’t in the mode of managing a gap – we are going for a maximum effort this weekend,” said Bell. “We lost a bit of ground at Road America, but we sort of expected that with the way the current Balance of Performance for the Ferrari. VIR should be better for us, as we should be able to take better advantage of some of the inherent advantages of the Ferrari.”

Team engineer Ian Willis is not underestimating the challenge of this weekend’s race. Despite racing without the Prototype and Prototype Challenge class cars, there is plenty for the drivers to be occupied with competing in the GT-Daytona class and sharing the track with the GT-LeMans class cars. And, there is also the potential of rain in Sunday’s race.

“There are some sections of VIR that will play to the strengths of the Ferrari,” said Willis. “But ultimately, we need to execute perfectly on the track and in the pits – and perhaps hope for a little bit of luck – to have a shot at a victory. The forecast for Sunday does not look very good at the moment, and with the rain, it will be a lottery for everyone!”

Sunday’s Oak Tree Grand Prix will be shown live on Sunday, August 24 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.

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Press contact – PR@AIMAutosport.com

 

 

 


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