Heistand Completes Full-Season AVS Autosport Lineup

Photo: AVS Autosport

Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup driver Richard Heistand has completed AIM Vasser Sullivan’s full-season lineup for the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

Heistand, a Bronze-rated driver by the FIA, will join Jack Hawksworth in the team’s No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 for the entire season, beginning with January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The Floridian, who has past experience in Toyota Atlantics, turned his first laps in the car during last week’s Michelin On-Track Opportunity at Daytona International Speedway.

“I’m really excited to share driving duties with Jack and benefit from the diverse and successful racing experience at AIM Vasser Sullivan,” said Heistand.

“A proven car in the Lexus RC F GT3, a proven team and a super-fast and winning teammate make for an exciting season and I can’t wait to get going with our championship challenge in 2019.”

AVS team principal and engineer Ian Willis added: “Richard joins us after a successful return to racing this past year in Europe where he held his own against top amateur and professional drivers in the highly competitive Porsche Supercup series.”

The previously announced pairing of Frankie Montecalvo and Townsend Bell will share season-long driving duties of the No. 12 Lexus next year.

The team utilized the Michelin Track Day to experiment with livery concepts, with its single Lexus featuring split black and silver base colors (pictured below) in an effort to finalize its 2019 color scheme.

Further tweaks are expected prior to next month’s Roar Before the Rolex 24.

Photo: AVS Autosport

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John