With their names comfortably resting atop the overall points leaders' chart, the individuals of Level 5 Motorsports rolled their completely new ultra-fast LMP2 car out of the box in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., exceptionally in close proximity 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 made 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 period, it's momentum-but not right type that builds, steadily gaining speed. The Level 5 momentum has been intense, from the start. Which, incidentally, was the exact 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 spent no time setting the cost-capped prototype up with a fifth-place overall position after practice and qualifying. Tucker eventually moved the car into fourth place after commanding the wheel for his beginning dual shift.
Tucker then gave the wheel to Bouchut, who presented 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. Even so the team had entered the raceway targeting first place, the championship points were valuable, and the latest car had a excellent 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 stayed 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 an opportunity 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 outstanding streak for the final quarter of the year, with the ModSpace American Le Mans Monterey presented by Patron at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, when the team would finally introduce 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 period, it's momentum-but not right type that builds, steadily gaining speed. The Level 5 momentum has been intense, from the start. Which, incidentally, was the exact 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 spent no time setting the cost-capped prototype up with a fifth-place overall position after practice and qualifying. Tucker eventually moved the car into fourth place after commanding the wheel for his beginning dual shift.
Tucker then gave the wheel to Bouchut, who presented 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. Even so the team had entered the raceway targeting first place, the championship points were valuable, and the latest car had a excellent 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 stayed 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 an opportunity 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 outstanding streak for the final quarter of the year, with the ModSpace American Le Mans Monterey presented by Patron at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, when the team would finally introduce the new HPD ARX-01g car by Wirth Research and Honda Performance Development.
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