1-6-2008 - Colin is 3rd fastest in 3 day Daytona 24 test

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- AIM Autosport got the 2008 Rolex Season off to a quick start this weekend, setting some impressive times during the "Roar Before the 24" test days in preparation for the 46th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, which takes the green flag on January 26th. Newly announced full-season AIM Autosport drivers Mark Wilkins and Brian Frisselle were joined by Rolex 24 At Daytona teammates Colin Braun and Andrew Ranger for the test days.

The test marked several firsts for the Toronto-based team as it prepared for its sophomore season in the Rolex Sports Car Series. Not only has AIM joined the Ford Racing stable for the 2008 season, but the team is also an early-adopter of the new specification Riley MK XX chassis upgrade, which was made available only days before the test kicked off.

During the test days, Team Principal Ian Wills was asked at a media event why AIM would take on this significant new variable as it prepared for the highly abusive 24 hour event.

"In racing, you snooze, you lose," said Willis. "We know that there is going to be a learning curve-new Pirelli tires, new Ford powerplant, and now this new Riley upgrade. But it's clear to us that in order to be on the right side of that curve, we needed to move forward as quickly as we could to integrate this new Riley package. There is a lot that goes into this-so the data we collect, the impression and feedback the drivers have of the car, and the familiarity of the team working on it, so the sooner we made the switch, the sooner are able to make advances in all those areas. Hopefully this will pay off in the 24, and it should definitely pay off as the season unfolds."

The driver line up, with no driver older than 24, is the youngest combined line up for the big race, yet with a combined CV that includes wins, championships, and countless podiums, is a group that also packs a ton of experience. The test days not only gave the team the chance to put the new car through its paces, but it was also a good opportunity for the drivers to gel.

While there are no prizes given for strong practice times, one might not know that by looking at the time sheets, as less than one second separated the top twelve times set during the test, with AIM sporting a firm presence at the sharp end after Braun set a 1:41.584-second lap on Saturday. The time was fourth on the charts, some two seconds faster than last year's pole time and a three-tenths sliver from the fastest time of the test.

"These guys definitely made the right call going to Ford power," said Braun, who set a record as the youngest winner of a major event when he scored a Daytona victory in the 2006 Brumos 250 at Daytona before even turning 18. "I am still getting used to this new Riley, but this test was a great start for us and I think we're going to be even stronger when we come back for the race."

Grand AM web site

Colin Braun, who is scheduled to run the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Roush Fenway Racing after two full seasons in a Daytona Prototype, turned the third-quickest lap of the day in the afternoon session. The 19-year-old piloted the No. 61 AIM Autosport Exchange Traded Gold Ford Riley around the "World Center of Racing" in a time of 1:41.582 (126.162 mph). Braun will be joined in the race by Rolex Series regulars Brian Frisselle and Mark Wilkins and NASCAR Canadian Tires Series champion Andrew Ranger.

Motorsport.com web site

On the last lap of the afternoon session, Colin Braun steered the AIM Autosport Ford Riley to the third fastest speed of 126.162 mph. "The team has been working very hard and we have been improving little by little," Braun said. "We are chipping away with it, and I got half of a clear lap at the end. It was only my third lap of the day."