Photo: Multimatic
You’ll find Ian Willis in the No. 64 Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3 pit stand during IMSA race weekends.
As the team’s race engineer, his focus is squarely on squeezing every ounce of performance from the car in the program’s second year. It’s a big role—but one he embraces without losing sight of his roots at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
“I literally, as a kid, rode bikes around there and know every inch of the place,” said Willis. “It is home.”
He first visited in 1961, attending the track’s inaugural race. His father, a key figure at British Empire Motor Club (the organization that built the track), brought him along.
“My father oversaw the pre-grid area,” Willis said. “And, you know, you get to meet the drivers. And as a very young kid, I had—I’m pretty sure it was Lorenzo Bandini—grab my cheek like a true Italian, squeeze it, and say, you know, ‘bambino’.”
Fast forward a few decades, and Ian, along with his brother Keith, helped shape Canadian motorsports through the formation of AIM Autosport in 1996.
The team’s journey began in Formula Ford with the Aero2 race car—designed and built by Ian and Keith — a car that became a bit of a Canadian legend and a catalyst for AIM’s early growth.
From there, the team found success in Formula BMW, Star Mazda, and later in sports cars, highlighted by six IMSA wins in two seasons with Vasser Sullivan Lexus.
Photo: Multimatic
Although AIM closed its doors post-COVID, the impact was lasting. The team was inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2022.
“We were passionately Canadian,” said Willis. “And AIM gave a lot of people their start—not just drivers, but engineers and crew. I’m really proud of that.”
His transition to Multimatic—builders of the Mustang GT3—came via long-time friend Larry Holt, executive advisor at the Canadian company.
“For 30 years, Larry would call and bug me every year at AIM and say, ‘Hey, when are you going to come work for us?’” Willis said.’” Willis said.
“And I said, Larry, I’ve got my own team. So, when the opportunity arose, I phoned up and said, ‘hey, I’m available.’”
Willis’ first race as the official race engineer for the No. 64 Mustang GT3 was at Sebring.
Photo: Multimatic
Earlier this season, the No. 64 scored its first win in Detroit, following the No. 65 car’s Rolex 24 triumph in January.
“It was a bit of a monkey off the back,” he said. “Just validation for all the hard work.”
One IMSA victory that still eludes him? Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
“We’ve been on the podium with some of our programs,” Willis said. “So, obviously a bucket list item.”
This weekend offers a special twist: sibling rivalry. Keith Willis is also in the paddock — as team manager for the AWA Corvette.
“He’s on a Corvette, I’m on a Ford,” Willis said. “So, there you go. There’s a family dinnertime discussion.”
