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AIM Autosport and Cauley Ferrari ready for battle at Belle Isle

Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell take GT-Daytona championship points lead to Detroit

#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell

#555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia: Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell

James Holland

Although the previous TUDOR United SportsCar Championship round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was a frustrating race for the no. 555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia of Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell, the team remains in the lead of the GT-Daytona class.

For this weekend's Chevrolet Sports Car Classic, AIM Autosport will partner with local Ferrari dealer Cauley Ferrari. Based in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Cauley Ferrari is Michigan's only Ferrari dealer. A dealer with a true passion for both Ferrari and motorsports, Cauley Ferrari hosts numerous track days for clients throughout the year.

Entering the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic on Belle Isle this weekend, Sweedler and Bell hold a tie for the lead in the GT-Daytona driver's championship, while AIM Autosport is also in a tie for the GT-Daytona team championship. Bell has been very busy since the TUDOR Championship race at Laguna Seca, as he competed in the Indianapolis 500 in the no. 6 Robert Graham - KV Racing Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry. Bell ran as high as second before an incident late in the race meant he would not see the finish.

"Competing in the Indy 500 is always an incredible experience, but I'm excited to be back in our Ferrari and continue our TUDOR Championship attack," said Bell. "We had a tough weekend in Laguna Seca, but we expect to have a strong Ferrari 458 Italia in Detroit. We made the best of a tough situation there, but the team is working hard and Bill and I are extremely motivated to own the lead of the GT-Daytona class championship. Being in a tie right now means we are sort of starting from ground zero. Belle Isle should be a very exciting race."

Sweedler is anxious to get back behind the wheel of the no. 555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia, and race on Belle Isle for the first time.

"I spectated at the Indy 500, watching my teammate and friend Townsend Bell challenge for the win, and it left me even more motivated to get back behind the wheel of our Ferrari," said Sweedler. "We didn't have the race we wanted in Laguna Seca, so we are all anxious to have another strong race like we had in Daytona and Sebring."

One of AIM Autosport's Ferrari 458 Italias finished on the podium at last year's GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race on Belle Isle, and team engineer Ian Willis is hoping for a repeat performance for his drivers and for Cauley Ferrari.

"We are thrilled to have our friends at Cauley Ferrari continue their partnership with AIM Autosport," said Willis. "We are looking forward to having them be a part of our program for the third straight year in Detroit. This is their home event, of course, but also is a home race of sorts for us as we can see Canada just across the river! Our guys are prepared for a challenging race in Detroit, but we are motivated to get back onto the podium just as I know Bill and Townsend are."

AIM Autosport

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