Scott Tucker and his Level 5 Motorsports teammates recently began the final quarter of a racing year that has included numerous podium appearances, multiple car changes, incredible accomplishments and yet still room for improvement. Tucker, owner and driver for Level 5, has been a leader for the team despite the rookie status he maintained merely months ago. His tight, balanced driving has earned him top honors in the American Le Mans Series as Rookie of the Year and Champion Driver in 2010. His races often end with stints on the podium, and his career has only just begun.
As Tucker, his co-drivers Christophe Bouchut and Luis Diaz and team manager David Stone prepare to close the calendar year with the all-important Petit Le Mans and the Ferrari International Finals, the stakes are high-the team has woven itself a reputation of excellence that is best understood by looking back at what has made 2011 a stunning year for Level 5 Motorsports.
The first race of the final quarter of the racing season was a new start for Level 5 Motorsports. The Scott Tucker-owned, Microsoft Office-sponsored team debuted its long-awaited HPD ARX-01g in the team's Sept. 17 return to American Le Mans Series competition. In the months leading up to the ModSpace race, Tucker's and teammates Luis Diaz's and Christophe Bouchut's track appearances were sporadic, making last-minute withdrawals in order to pursue the new cost-capped LMP2 Honda in time for the world's best competitors in Intercontinental Le Mans Cup races at the end of the year.
Not having the correct wheels for the car in time forced Level 5 to withdraw from the Silverstone ILMC race that would have taken place just a week before the ModSpace race at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway. Not having enough competition made the team withdraw from several ALMS races in July, including the Northeast Grand Prix in Lime Rock Park in Connecticut and the Grand Prix of Mosport in Ontario, Canada. In its first year in the LMP2 class, Level 5 Motorsports wanted to continue progressing in the class, and races with no other LMP2 entries didn't seem worth the laps. With a brand new, state-of-the-art car in production and huge ILMC end-of-season races growing ever closer, the team focused on preparing itself for international competition-the best competitors the world had to offer.
The team went into the summer in extremely good standing, with Tucker and Bouchut leading in points and the entire team making numerous podium appearances in all three series in which it's entered. When the HPD ARX-01g started its racing season at the Laguna Seca race, it fell right into line with the rest of its team. The debut was flawless, delivering on its manufacturer promise of increased speed and not suffering a single mechanical issue or unplanned pit stop. The Level 5 team drove to a fourth-place overall finish with maximum points in the LMP2 category, yet another impressive feat for the team's first season.
The win secured the drivers' championship for Tucker and Bouchut in time for the all-important Petit le Mans, which means Tucker is on track to be a four-time national driving champion. That his career itself is only 5 years old speaks to his raw talent, determination and incredible development as a driver. That he also raced in two races besides the ModSpace contest speaks to the fact that he's a little nuts-or just versatile, enduring and knows how to win, considering he added double victories in the extra races to the win at Laguna Seca.
With the ModSpace ALMS out of the way, the race season began winding down in time but winding up in energy as drivers continued preparing for the Petit Le Mans and the final round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in China. With the season schedule back on track and a brand new ride to boot, Level 5 Motorsports will aim to continue its momentum and end up as it started: on top.
As Tucker, his co-drivers Christophe Bouchut and Luis Diaz and team manager David Stone prepare to close the calendar year with the all-important Petit Le Mans and the Ferrari International Finals, the stakes are high-the team has woven itself a reputation of excellence that is best understood by looking back at what has made 2011 a stunning year for Level 5 Motorsports.
The first race of the final quarter of the racing season was a new start for Level 5 Motorsports. The Scott Tucker-owned, Microsoft Office-sponsored team debuted its long-awaited HPD ARX-01g in the team's Sept. 17 return to American Le Mans Series competition. In the months leading up to the ModSpace race, Tucker's and teammates Luis Diaz's and Christophe Bouchut's track appearances were sporadic, making last-minute withdrawals in order to pursue the new cost-capped LMP2 Honda in time for the world's best competitors in Intercontinental Le Mans Cup races at the end of the year.
Not having the correct wheels for the car in time forced Level 5 to withdraw from the Silverstone ILMC race that would have taken place just a week before the ModSpace race at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway. Not having enough competition made the team withdraw from several ALMS races in July, including the Northeast Grand Prix in Lime Rock Park in Connecticut and the Grand Prix of Mosport in Ontario, Canada. In its first year in the LMP2 class, Level 5 Motorsports wanted to continue progressing in the class, and races with no other LMP2 entries didn't seem worth the laps. With a brand new, state-of-the-art car in production and huge ILMC end-of-season races growing ever closer, the team focused on preparing itself for international competition-the best competitors the world had to offer.
The team went into the summer in extremely good standing, with Tucker and Bouchut leading in points and the entire team making numerous podium appearances in all three series in which it's entered. When the HPD ARX-01g started its racing season at the Laguna Seca race, it fell right into line with the rest of its team. The debut was flawless, delivering on its manufacturer promise of increased speed and not suffering a single mechanical issue or unplanned pit stop. The Level 5 team drove to a fourth-place overall finish with maximum points in the LMP2 category, yet another impressive feat for the team's first season.
The win secured the drivers' championship for Tucker and Bouchut in time for the all-important Petit le Mans, which means Tucker is on track to be a four-time national driving champion. That his career itself is only 5 years old speaks to his raw talent, determination and incredible development as a driver. That he also raced in two races besides the ModSpace contest speaks to the fact that he's a little nuts-or just versatile, enduring and knows how to win, considering he added double victories in the extra races to the win at Laguna Seca.
With the ModSpace ALMS out of the way, the race season began winding down in time but winding up in energy as drivers continued preparing for the Petit Le Mans and the final round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in China. With the season schedule back on track and a brand new ride to boot, Level 5 Motorsports will aim to continue its momentum and end up as it started: on top.
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