Lexus and AIM VASSER SULLIVAN (AVS) are set to race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sprint race at Wisconsin’s historic Road America circuit. The Lexus RC F GT3 returns to Road America for the third time in IMSA competition with its best finish of sixth place coming last year at the 14-turn, 4.048-mile road course.
AIM VASSER SULLIVAN is coming off yet another top-10 finish in extremely warm weather conditions at Lime Rock Park on July 20. Jack Hawksworth and Richard Heistand teamed up behind the wheel of the No. 14 RC F GT3 to earn a sixth-place finish — their fifth top-10 of the season. Townsend Bell and Frankie Montecalvo finished 13th in the GTD class due to a mechanical issue, marking it the first time this season the driver duo has not finished in the top-10 in class.
With only four races remaining on the IMSA schedule, Lexus continues to lead the GTD Sprint Cup Championship standings and is currently second in the GTD overall manufacturer championship point standings. In the overall GTD driver championship standings, the AVS No. 12 Lexus is fourth and the No. 14 is in fifth in the points. Hawksworth and Heistand sit third in the GTD Sprint Cup driver point standings, while Bell and Montecalvo rank fifth.
AVS drivers have quite a bit of experience racing at Road America. Jack Hawksworth has made three starts at Road America, including once in the IndyCar Series in 2016 and twice in IMSA competition with his best finish of fourth place coming in just his second-career IMSA start in 2014. Hawksworth also turned the fastest GTD lap around the Road America circuit in 2017 behind the wheel of the RC F GT3. His teammate, Richard Heistand, has raced at Road America twice in Skip Barber National competition and was victorious there in 2006. Townsend Bell and Frankie Montecalvo have both raced at the Wisconsin road course a handful of times with Bell’s best finish of fourth coming in 2015, and Montecalvo earned a class win there in the Pirelli World Challenge race in 2015.
AVS endurance racer Aaron Telitz hails from Birchwood, Wisconsin and is no stranger to Road America. Although he is not competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sprint race this weekend at Road America, Telitz has been a big part of the first-year team’s success, recording three top-10 finishes, including a second-place podium finish at the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona. Telitz will be back racing with the AVS No. 12 team at the 10-hour season finale race at Road Atlanta in October.
AIM VASSER SULLIVAN Driver Quotes
JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
Do you enjoy racing at Road America?
“I love racing at Road America. It is another historic venue that the IMSA series visits. It offers some good opportunities for passing with long straights, leading into some tight corners. In terms of the championship, it’s crunch time in both the overall and sprint series, so hopefully AIM VASSER SULLIVAN can put together a strong weekend in our Lexus RC F’s and come away with some good points.”
RICHARD HEISTAND, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3
Are you looking forward to racing at Road America?
“I’m looking forward to Road America. It’s a beautiful place and I have a lot of fond memories from when I raced in Skip Barber National there, including winning in 2006. I won by refusing to be passed regardless of the draft. With our straight-line speed in the Lexus RC F GT3, we’ll have to do that again this weekend.”
TOWNSEND BELL, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
What is your outlook racing the RC F GT3 at Road America this weekend?
“We’re spoiled in IMSA, getting to go to the best road courses in America. Road America is certainly at or near the top of the list of everybody’s favorite road racing circuit. The track has long straightaways, heavy braking zones and fast corners should fit well with our Lexus RC F GT3. We had a tough race at Lime Rock and looking to make up points in the Championship this weekend at Road America.”
FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3
What is your previous experience racing at Road America?
“I’ve raced at Road America a few times over the years. It is one of my favorite tracks and an absolute pleasure to drive. You cannot complete a lap without smiling ear to ear. This track should also be very good for AIM VASSER SULLIVAN, suiting the characteristics of the Lexus RC F GT3 car. I’m looking forward to this weekend racing with AIM VASSER SULLIVAN.”
Source. Lexus
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