Mark Wilkins all set for eighth Rolex 24 appearance

Canadian racer seeking his first podium in Daytona Prototypes

The 2011 racing season is getting underway and Toronto’s Mark Wilkins is all set to head to Florida for the 49th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the leadoff race in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. This is Wilkins eighth straight appearance at the Rolex 24 where he recorded podium finishes in 2004 (3rd – SGS) and 2005 (3rd – GT).
He switched to Daytona Prototypes in 2007 and is on the hunt for his first podium in that class. Wilkins will be driving the Level 5 Motorsports No. 55 BMW Riley in this year’s race.
Wilkins will share driving duties with Christophe Bouchut, Luis Diaz and Scott Tucker.
“I am happy to be here with Level 5 Motorsports for The 24 this year” commented Wilkins. “I learned a lot driving with Christope and Scott in an LMP car last year, understanding their driving styles and how they like to set up a car. That experience will be invaluable for us going into Daytona and in achieving a podium result. We had a great test session a couple of weeks ago at Daytona and everyone on the team is extremely confident.”
The Microsoft, E Data Solutions, Selling Source, US Bank No. 55 BMW Riley recorded the third-fastest time at the recent Roar Before the 24 test days just two weeks ago posting a lap of 1:40.491 at 127.533 miles per hour.
“I really enjoy racing here on the Daytona road course”, Wilkins stated. “I have two third-place finishes in The 24 and Daytona is also where I recorded my first GRAND-AM series pole back in 2008 in the AIM Autosport Ford Riley Daytona Prototype. But I’ve also had some disappointment here and really hope that this year we can turn that around and go for a win.”
Before racing gets underway, Wilkins will be joining a number of other GRAND-AM drivers for the annual Boggy Creek Gold Tournament. Boggy Creek is part of the Hole In The Wall Camps founded by Paul Newman and the golf tournament, designed to foster awareness of the camp’s work and to raise funds to support its efforts has become an annual tradition for GRAND-AM events at Daytona.
Practice and qualifying for The Rolex 24 at Daytona get underway on Thursday, January 27th.
The 49th Annual Rolex 24 at Daytona takes the green flag at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, January 29th and will be broadcast live on Speed TV from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (ET) , resuming coverage at 9:00 a.m. Sunday until 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Mark Wilkins fast facts: Twenty-seven year old Wilkins is a native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He started racing in karts and in 2001, joined Woodbridge, Ontario-based AIM Autosport to compete in Formula Ford. He would move on to run in Fran Am, Star Mazda and Formula Renault through 2004 earning podiums in each series. In 2004 he earned his first podium (3rd) in the Rolex 24 at Daytona (SGS Class) repeating a year later taking third in GT. Wilkins and AIM Autosport joined the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No 16 full time in 2007. In 2008, co-driving with Brian Frisselle, Wilkins scored three podiums including back-to-back victories at Montreal and Watkins Glen.
Wilkins also recorded two poles that season. He has recorded two podiums in 2010 taking second place at VIR and third at Mid-Ohio. In 2010, Wilkins also competed in three American Le Mans events scoring two victories in the LMPC class with Level 5 Motorsports. A graduate of Georgian College in Automotive Marketing, Wilkins works in marketing with Engineered Automotive, a business specializing in Automotive Sales (inc. importation), Automotive Service, Automotive Tuning, Vehicle Storage and Track Events.

Source:  http://www.flagworld.com/news/?p=50237#more-50237