Daytona an eye-opener for AIM Vasser Sullivan

It’s going to be hard to miss the new AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3s when the team returns to Daytona for the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The team’s two cars will carry striking bright day-go yellow liveries, making them easy to spot, both on and off the racetrack.

“We want to come in with a strong identity,” said veteran sports car owner Andrew Bordin, whose AIM Autosport is partnering with winning IndyCar owners Jimmy Vasser and James “Sulli” Sullivan. “We want to make a statement with the new team, and we think we will achieve that. We’re excited to be here with the new Lexus.”

To finalize the livery, the team ran a unique double-sided paint scheme for drivers Jack Hawksworth, Townsend Bell and Frankie Montecalvo, joined at Tuesday's Michelin test by Richard Heistand. The car was painted black and yellow on one side (below), and silver and yellow on the other. Following the test, while the team engineers study the test data, their marketing folks will analyze which of the two schemes look best.

The drivers were happy with the car, which tested for the first time on Tuesday.

“It’s a very comfortable car to drive,” said Bell, who will join Montecalvo in the No. 12 Lexus. “I like the seat position a lot, and I’m looking forward to coming back to the Roar and taking everything we’ve learned here and see if we can continue to tweak it to get it even better. It’s a winning car; it’s a fast car. I’m excited to get settled in with everyone, finally getting the car on track for the first time.”

Hawksworth and “TBA” will co-drive the No. 14.

Bordin’s AIM Autosport has logged many laps competing in the Rolex 24, running both a Daytona Prototype and Ferrari 458 in the GT category. Vasser has driven six times in the event, finishing second in 2008 for GAINSCO co-driving with Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty and Jimmie Johnson.

A veteran of open-wheel competition, Sullivan has never competed at Daytona.

“Before this, we considered the Indy 500 an endurance race,” Sullivan said. “This is a new experience for us – and the first hurrah for this piece.”