AIM Autosport Launches Three-Car Formula Mazda Campaign

Courtesy AIM Motorsport

March 17 2006 (Woodbridge, Ontario): AIM Autosport will enter the 2006 Star Mazda Championship with a three-car line up. Drivers Rob Bunker, Daniel Herrington and Jay Poscente will spearhead AIM’s second season of Formula Mazda competition which begins this weekend at the 54th annual 12 Hours of Sebring.

Bunker, who has graduated to Formula Mazda from AIM’s Formula BMW programme, will drive car number 18 with sponsorship from Team Rennsport. The 17-year-old from Bridgewater, New Jersey; showed well last year, improving throughout the season and peaking at the final event of the year. He is well liked at AIM and his continued relationship with the team can only help his prospects this year.

A newcomer to AIM Autosport, 19-year-old Herrington of Winston Salem, North Carolina; will race car number 3. Another graduate of Formula BMW, Herrington tested with AIM last fall and convincingly showed his abilities. His sponsor, Bluetooth SIG will show off its technology on Daniel’s race car by developing a wireless helmet which will eliminate the wiring between the driver’s helmet and the car.

Ian Willis, AIM Autosport’s Formula Mazda Team Manager, is confident both Bunker and Herrington will fare well this year.

‘Rob will be a contender this year in the Star Mazda Championship as he has been quick and focused during off-season testing. He has adapted well to the faster Star Mazda car and I am pleased that he is entering his second season with us.

‘Daniel proved himself by setting some very impressive lap times. As we worked through various set ups at our Sebring pre-season two-day test, Daniel provided excellent feedback which helped us to find a fast, well-balanced car. This resulted in lap times that would have put us at the front of last year’s grid and race at Sebring.’

Rounding out AIM’s Formula Mazda line up is Jay Poscente who will drive the number 85, NDA car in the Star Mazda Masters Class (for drivers over 45 years of age). Poscente of Calgary, Alberta, is well known to Willis as they raced each other in the Canadian Pro Formula Ford series in the early 90s. Following a chance reunion at last year’s Mazda exhibition race in Trois Rivieres where Jay was racing sports cars, he expressed an interest in trying a Mazda.

Based on testing, after which Willis reported that Poscente had ‘too much fun and was impressively quick considering he had not been in a high-performance open-wheel car for many years,’ Poscente decided to join AIM Autosport and run a full season. He is not only looking to win the Masters Championship but also hopes to mix it up with his younger team mates.