Race Summary No. 12 AIM VASSER SULLIVAN Lexus RC F GT3:
The 67th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring began under a caution yellow due to the rainy conditions, an extremely wet track and standing water. True racing action commenced with 11:19:12 of the 12 hours left. The AIM VASSER SULLIVAN Team qualified the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 eighth. However, when the green flag dropped, they were seventh because some teams pitted during the caution period to adjust tire pressures and add fuel. At the end of the first stint, which was driven by Frankie Montecalvo, who qualified the car, they sat in 11th place. Montecalvo, Townsend Bell and Aaron Telitz ran in tenth or eleventh, except following pits stops, for the vast majority of the race despite an incident with their sister car with approximately seven hours left in the 12-hour contest. The No. 12 Lexus was damaged slightly in the incident needing just some minor repairs that were done during a scheduled pit stop. During the final hours of the race the No. 12 Lexus moved into ninth place and held strong until their final pit stop when they dropped back into tenth. Bell, who drove the last stint, immediately began to put pressure on the car ahead and with less than 18 minutes left in the race retook ninth and held off a stiff challenge. The ninth place showing was the second top-10 finish in as many races this season for the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN No. 12 Lexus RC F GTE car following a second placing showing in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
NO. 12 AIM VASSER SULLIVAN Driver Race Quotes:
Townsend Bell:
“Probably the toughest ninth place I’ve ever had. Just never really had the pace frankly on long runs. Just kind of hung in there. The team really didn’t make any mistakes. We had a little contact there in the middle of the race. It wasn’t Frankie’s (Montecalvo) fault at all. Just kind of wrong place, wrong time for both cars. One of those awkward situations, but we really didn’t lose much from that. The AIM VASSER SULLIVAN guys fixed our Lexus RC F GT3 and we didn’t lose much time. Aaron (Telitz) and Frankie both did a great job. I’m proud of the team. It’s our second race and we’ve finished both of them without a whole lot of drama.”
Frankie Montecalvo:
“I think if we can walk away with a top-10 finish at Sebring it’s a good day. Hats off to all of the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN guys. They gave us a phenomenal car. The Lexus RC F GT3 made it through the Twelve Hours of Sebring. Not many teams can do that. To come away with a top-10 finish with the rain in the beginning and all kinds of different conditions. We got a lot of valuable championship points today.”
Aaron Telitz:
“It was my first Sebring race and honestly this is a way tougher race track than Daytona. It’s tougher on the cars, it’s tougher on the drivers and then the rain as well at the start of the race made the conditions tough. We went a lap down early and just kept battling and battling. We never ended up getting it all the way back, but to get a top-10 the first time at Sebring the AIM VASSER SULLIVAN team is doing alright. I know the podium was awesome at Daytona, but it’s hard to keep that up in this kind of a competitive series. So, I know these guys will keep going strong in the regular season races and I’ll be back for the endurance race at Watkins Glen.”
Race Summary No. 14 AIM VASSER SULLIVAN Lexus RC F GT3:
AIM VASSER SULLIVAN qualified the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3, driven by Jack Hawksworth, Richard Heistand and Philipp Frommenwiler, 11th, but had to line-up 16th as a result of a penalty. When the race started they were already 12th as a result of cars pitting during the opening yellow. When the track went green, Heistand, who qualified the car, ran the first two stints with Hawksworth taking over after the second stop. They were running in the mid-teens during that period. At approximately the five-hour mark, Frommenwiler and Montecalvo made contact which damaged both cars. The No. 14 Lexus immediately pitted for repairs, but was forced to the garage for more extensive work. The crew leaped into action and effected the necessary repairs and returned to competition albeit in last in the GTD class and several laps down. Despite the deficit, they continued to battle and fight. As a result of their effort they picked up a couple of positions and finished in 15th place,
NO. 14 AIM VASSER SULLIVAN Driver Race Quotes:
Jack Hawksworth:
“There were times when the Lexus RC F GT3 seemed pretty competitive, but I don’t think we were quite fast enough today. It was a shame to have to retire there at the end. We had an unfortunate incident in the middle of the race. It was very unlucky, really, to be honest. It was a freak kind of accident. One of those things. Then we had a little issue at the end and had to retire.”
Richard Heistand:
“When it rains, it pours. In the warmup the conditions were bad. A lot of things just didn’t go our way. I feel bad for Philipp (Frommenwiler). There’s nothing he could do about that. Really not anyone’s fault. We’ll move on to the next one and try to improve. That’s racing and that’s sports.”
Philipp Frommenwiler:
“Not the weekend we were hoping for because the RC F GT3 showed good pace last year here and good pace in practice, so I expected to be in a good position to fight for the podium. It didn’t start good this morning with the wet weather. Then, in the race I wasn’t able to avoid the accident. I was just too close behind to avoid it. Things happen in motorsports and we’ll try to do better next time. Our AIM VASSER SULLIVAN mechanics did a good job. After the accident our Lexus was running very strong so thank you to our mechanics for their hard work.”
