Burt Frisselle Watkins Glen race report

Burt Frisselle Finishes Fourth in GAMMA88 Machine at Watkins Glen

#61 AIM Autosport BMW Riley: Burt Frisselle, Mark Wilkins

Photo by: Adriano Manocchia

Watkins Glen, N.Y. (13 August 2011) – Despite not being in the rhythm of a regular race schedule, Burt Frisselle and AIM Autosport co-driver Mark Wilkins delivered another solid performance behind the wheel of the No. 61 GAMMA88 BMW-Riley at Watkins Glen International to score a fourth place finish in the Canadian Tire 200 and Round 10 of the 12-race GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series championship.

The result gives the team its third fourth place finish in five races this season and also marks Frisselle’s best finish on the Watkins Glen short-course since his debut at the event in 2004 when he stood on the podium after finishing second.

Frisselle opened the two-hour sprint race from seventh on the grid and took advantage of an early race caution to pit for fuel only. With the sprint race format, teams would have to determine a different fuel strategy and AIM Autosport opted to utilize the caution on Lap 10 to hit pit road for a splash of fuel. Frisselle would remain at the helm of the No. 61 following the pit stop and steadily began to work his way through the field.

Frisselle took over the race lead on Lap 42 and the GAMMA88 machine would run at the front of the field for 22 laps before the team would reach its pit window and call the Colorado racer to pit road at the 1 hour and 10 minute mark.

Wilkins strapped in to drive the No. 61 to the finish and returned to the field fourth in line - quickly matching the steady pace Frisselle had previously set throughout the opening stages.

Without another race caution to bunch the field, the AIM Autosport squad could not make up the track position to catch the leaders, but were nevertheless pleased with yet another top-five result for GAMMA88.

“I’m really happy for the GAMMA88 team,” said Frisselle. “We came and worked hard this weekend. We don’t get to race the whole season so it’s always ‘catch up mode’ for us. AIM Autosport gave us a great car tonight and called a great strategy. We’re very happy with a top-five. We need a little bit more work to be in the running with the No. 01 and No. 10 cars but all in all what a great weekend for GAMMA88 and AIM. It’s just so great to be back at the race track. I can’t tell you how much I love racing. It hurts to sit at home and watch the races on tv so to come here and be in the top-five, that’s what we’re looking for. We’ve got fourth place wired, so now we just have to make it P1!"