Townsend Bell

“I am very impressed with the Lexus RC F GT3. It’s comfortable and capable. We still have lots of opportunity to improve. I am just happy the car is reliable and really just thrilled with the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN team. The guys executed. We were on time for every session, ran all the laps that were available. That’s a huge accomplishment for a new team.”

Bell Fast Facts:

“I come into the Rolex 24 with legitimate excitement that as a new team I feel like we have a chance. We still have a lot to learn and a lot to improve, but so far the energy on the team feels capable. When we won in 2014, I had a very similar feeling.”

Frankie Montecalvo

“The Lexus RC F GT3, the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN team, everything is amazing. The amount of time the team has had with the car and how far they have come really shows what the manufacturer has put together. Especially qualifying third at the ROAR shows what we are capable of in such a short period of time. Going into a season with that kind of confidence, I feel we are only going to get better and build off of that.”

Montecalvo Fast Facts:

“Going into the Rolex 24, it’s an endurance race. You really need to be competitive, be fast, but at the same time you need to stay out of trouble. That is going to come down to the drivers, the team, the spotters, everyone to make it to the end. I think we have the manufacturer, we have the reliability in the car. That gives us the ability to push for the entire race, but we still have to be there at the end.”

Jeff Segal

“The Lexus RC F GT3 is really impressive. My first impressions are very favorable. There is still obviously a lot for me to learn about the car, a lot for the team to learn about the car, but everything we throw at it, it seems to take and respond really well. I think the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN team is in a good place. Having completed the Roar test to come back, after looking at the data and putting our heads together, I think we will have a good race car.”

Segal Fast Facts:

“The secret to the Rolex 24 is that everybody just needs to be on top of their own responsibilities. We lay out a plan. We stick to that plan. If we do that, then certainly we can win. I just want us to have a solid race. We have a great team, a great crew and a great car. There are a lot of things out of our control, but my hope is that I get a shiny new watch this weekend.”  

Aaron Telitz

“The Lexus RC F GT3 is an awesome car. It took me a little time to get used to it versus what I normally drive, open wheel cars where the wind blows in your face and you can see all the tires. Being in a cockpit with a roof over my head, a big car…it takes a bit to get used to. The guys did a great job helping me out. Getting me up to speed. I am starting to feel comfortable with the car.”

Telitz Fast Facts:

“The Rolex 24 is a way longer race than I am used to. The longest race I have been in up until now is an hour, an hour and a half, so I am going to be driving for a least an hour and a half at a time, maybe two hours. So, keeping the car together, being smart, managing traffic, keeping your average lap pace up, that is going to be key.”

Jack Hawksworth

“The ROAR was pretty interesting. It was really smooth in terms of reliability for the RC F GT3, so props to the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN guys for putting together two cars that ran without issue. It was promising for the race. Performance-wise it’s hard to tell, but I think we’re in pretty good shape. I think the speed of the car will be pretty good in the race.”

Hawksworth Fast Facts:

“Obviously, a brand new team that has only been together for a short period of time. The drivers are new and some experienced and some with less experience, so potentially could be a bit of a learning race with pit stops, driver changes and all of the on-track stuff. We’ll just see how the race unfolds. I think if we can survive without drama then the RC F GT3 will be quick enough to have a shot, but it’s going to be a long 24 hours. A lot can happen and the team is still growing so we’ve got a lot to do.”

Richard Heistand

“The Lexus RC F GT3 was great testing at the ROAR. I’m new to it, so really the focus for me was just getting used to the car, getting to know it and getting the most out of it for myself. We didn’t get a lot of track time, but I felt comfortable by the time I needed to feel comfortable, so from that perspective I was happy.”

Heistand Fast Facts:

“We’re on a great race team in AIM Vasser Sullivan. We’re a new team and a lot of work has had to be done, but there’s great drivers on the team and it’s engineered very well. Just everyone on the team is first class, so if anyone can have success in that time frame it would be this team in my opinion. With that said, success isn’t guaranteed and we’re in this for thinking long term. For me, I just need to do my job and there’s still some things in terms of traffic management that I have to get on top of and we’ll take another step in practice for the Rolex. I’m going to do my job so I can be relied upon and counted upon and that’s my goal for the race.”

Nick Cassidy

“I learned a lot at the ROAR. It was my first time in the Lexus RC F GT3, so it’s very different than what I’m used to in the LC 500. I’m used to lightweight, higher cars, but overall the ROAR was a great experience. I got up to speed pretty quickly, I think, and I feel quite comfortable, so I’m ready for the Rolex 24.”

Cassidy Fast Facts:

“I don’t really know what to expect for the race. It will be my first 24 hour race. Obviously, we all want to win and I think we’ve got a car, on performance, I think can do it. We have a great team behind us, but with a 24 hour race there’s a lot that happens. It’s important not to be too confident and to make sure that we do the little things right.”

“Personally, I think it’s more of getting used to the systems and the routines of the driver changes. Communication is also a big thing as well. To understand the race, the strategy, what needs to be said, on my part, I’ve got a lot to learn in that respect. In terms of fitness and those sorts of things, I drive quite long and physical races so that part I’m prepared and it’s more about the mental side.”

Austin Cindric

"I've had the pleasure of getting to see both sides of the spectrum with the Lexus RCF GT3. I was behind the wheel for its first stint in its first race at the Rolex 24 in 2017, and I've had the satisfaction of seeing all of the progress that has been put into this car and in this program up to this point. There's a lot of people that should be very proud of this effort, and it's exciting times for me to now be involved with AIM VASSER SULLIVAN, as this truly feels like an opportunity to be standing on the top step by the end of a long 24 hours."

Cindric Fast Facts: