With their names comfortably resting on the entire points leaders' chart, the motorists of Level 5 Motorsports brought their most current ultra-fast LMP2 vehicle out of the box in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., exceptionally near to their Madison, Wisc., home base after a streak of accomplishment in Intercontinental Le Mans Cup races in Europe. Scott Tucker and co-drivers Christophe Bouchut and Luis Diaz obtained 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 year, it's momentum-but not the sort that builds, gradually gaining speed. The Level 5 momentum has been remarkable, from the very beginning. Which, incidentally, was the very same kind of momentum the team's new LMP2 car had in 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 beginning dual shift.
Tucker then passed the wheel to Bouchut, who presented a magnificent performance despite a late stop-and-go penalty from a pit lane speed limiter problem. Bouchut, who is amongst the best 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. Even though team had entered the raceway targeting first place, the championship points were valuable, and the brand new car had a fantastic 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. Along with 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 possibility to win.
The Road America podium finish in the LMP2 class was Tucker's 56th win. With the championship all but official, they prepared to keep going on their awesome streak for the last quarter of the season, 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 year, it's momentum-but not the sort that builds, gradually gaining speed. The Level 5 momentum has been remarkable, from the very beginning. Which, incidentally, was the very same kind of momentum the team's new LMP2 car had in 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 beginning dual shift.
Tucker then passed the wheel to Bouchut, who presented a magnificent performance despite a late stop-and-go penalty from a pit lane speed limiter problem. Bouchut, who is amongst the best 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. Even though team had entered the raceway targeting first place, the championship points were valuable, and the brand new car had a fantastic 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. Along with 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 possibility to win.
The Road America podium finish in the LMP2 class was Tucker's 56th win. With the championship all but official, they prepared to keep going on their awesome streak for the last quarter of the season, 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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