With their names comfortably resting on the entire points leaders' chart, the drivers of Level 5 Motorsports brought their most up to date ultra-fast LMP2 vehicle out of the box in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., remarkably in close proximity to their Madison, Wisc., home base after a streak of achievement in Intercontinental Le Mans Cup races in Europe. Scott Tucker and co-drivers Christophe Bouchut and Luis Diaz acquired podium finishes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France and 6 hours of Imola in Italy.
If there's one word to describe the Level 5 Motorsports 2011 season, it's momentum-but not right type that builds, gradually gaining speed. The Level 5 momentum has been wonderful, from the start. Which, incidentally, was the exact same kind of momentum the team's new LMP2 car had at the four-hour Road America enduro. At the race, the sixth round of the ALMS season, Tucker, Bouchut and Diaz wasted no time setting the cost-capped prototype up with a fifth-place overall placement after practice and qualifying. Tucker later moved the automobile into 4th place after commanding the wheel for his starting double shift.
Tucker then passed the wheel to Bouchut, who delivered a superb performance even though a late stop-and-go penalty from a pit lane speed limiter problem. Bouchut, who is one of the greatest endurance drivers in the world, recovered from the penalty and handed the car to Diaz in good standing. Diaz set a late record for the team's fastest lap time and ultimately crossed the finish line in fifth place overall with maximum points in the LMP2 category. The team had entered the raceway eyeing first place, the championship points were valuable, and the completely new car had a good quality performance.
"It was really important for us to do well being based so close to Elkhart," Bouchut said. "We lost an overall podium position with the pit speed limiter, but in racing, you never know what will happen. The car didn't have any problems the entire weekend."
Winning the LMP2 class meant Tucker, Bouchut and Diaz's undefeated streak in the ALMS season remained in tact. As well as the Road America enduro that weekend, Tucker competed in the IMSA Prototype Lites, IMSA GT3 Challenge by Yokohama and SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am races on Saturday, winning in the Trans-Am T2 class and making the podium in all four races. The juggling act has become commonplace for the reigning ALMS LMPC champion, with every race meaning another chance to win.
The Road America podium finish in the LMP2 class was Tucker's 56th win. With the championship all but official, the team prepared to keep going on their fabulous streak for the remaining quarter of the year, with the ModSpace American Le Mans Monterey presented by Patron at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in which the team would finally release the new HPD ARX-01g car by Wirth Research and Honda Performance Development.
If there's one word to describe the Level 5 Motorsports 2011 season, it's momentum-but not right type that builds, gradually gaining speed. The Level 5 momentum has been wonderful, from the start. Which, incidentally, was the exact same kind of momentum the team's new LMP2 car had at the four-hour Road America enduro. At the race, the sixth round of the ALMS season, Tucker, Bouchut and Diaz wasted no time setting the cost-capped prototype up with a fifth-place overall placement after practice and qualifying. Tucker later moved the automobile into 4th place after commanding the wheel for his starting double shift.
Tucker then passed the wheel to Bouchut, who delivered a superb performance even though a late stop-and-go penalty from a pit lane speed limiter problem. Bouchut, who is one of the greatest endurance drivers in the world, recovered from the penalty and handed the car to Diaz in good standing. Diaz set a late record for the team's fastest lap time and ultimately crossed the finish line in fifth place overall with maximum points in the LMP2 category. The team had entered the raceway eyeing first place, the championship points were valuable, and the completely new car had a good quality performance.
"It was really important for us to do well being based so close to Elkhart," Bouchut said. "We lost an overall podium position with the pit speed limiter, but in racing, you never know what will happen. The car didn't have any problems the entire weekend."
Winning the LMP2 class meant Tucker, Bouchut and Diaz's undefeated streak in the ALMS season remained in tact. As well as the Road America enduro that weekend, Tucker competed in the IMSA Prototype Lites, IMSA GT3 Challenge by Yokohama and SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am races on Saturday, winning in the Trans-Am T2 class and making the podium in all four races. The juggling act has become commonplace for the reigning ALMS LMPC champion, with every race meaning another chance to win.
The Road America podium finish in the LMP2 class was Tucker's 56th win. With the championship all but official, the team prepared to keep going on their fabulous streak for the remaining quarter of the year, with the ModSpace American Le Mans Monterey presented by Patron at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in which the team would finally release the new HPD ARX-01g car by Wirth Research and Honda Performance Development.
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Scott Tucker and Level 5 scored a commanding victory in the 2011 Petit Le Mans and secured the 2011 American Le Mans LMP2 Championship Scott Tucker
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