In the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series, the young Supercar Life team, led by David Stone and Scott Tucker, will never again be seen in
quite the same light. In early August, on the legendary Watkins Glen circuit, it claimed its first podium after a tremendous effort from
the whole team. On Sunday, at the 'Glen', the Frenchman won his first bet, with a fine podium finish. Their next ambition is victory!
First Podium
Christophe Bouchut had not driven in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series since the last 6-hour race at Watkins Glen, which took place just before the 24 Hours of Le Mans in early June. A two month gap due to Scott Tucker's calendar in the Ferrari Challenge. However, although Supercar Life
Racing was not busy at the racetrack, the team did not stop working, even acquiring a second car.
"We were not satisfied with our settings during the last '6 Hours' of Watkins Glen and it was with great satisfaction that we arrived with a good compromise this time," the Frenchman noted. "Setup is the key to this Championship where everyone has almost the same chassis, engine and tyre
combinations. The cars are quite precise, and need a good setup in order to be competitive. The major teams like Ganassi, Penske, Brumos and other less well-known teams have been competing in this category for a number of years, and have a technical basis that Supercar Life Racing lacks.
We are starting off with a blank sheet at each new track, and that is why the team has opted to invest in a second car, in order to double our ability to test, with Scott in one car and me in the other, which
is quite extraordinary."
A heavy decision from a financial point of view, but which paid off immediately, as Christophe was fastest in free practice.
"As usual, it was Scott who qualified the car and took the start," the Frenchman continued. "This is a strategic choice, which allows me to stay behind the wheel during the refuelling and finish the race. It is the best solution to optimise our hopes of victory."
Tucker did quite well during qualifying, as he placed
the team's Riley-BMW on the 6th row, after a very close qualifying session, to the delight of the many spectators.
"We were sharing the Watkins Glen with the prestigious NASCAR series, which allowed me to discover this series," Christophe enthused. "It was really interesting to see the cars in action. What an engine! But as far as the chassis is concerned, they are really basic. The NASCAR cars are five seconds a lap slower than our DP cars around this track. But the show is there, and the spectators too. It is quite extraordinary. I have been interested in this series for many years."
The next day, Scott Tucker took the start, with the aim of staying on the same lap as the leaders.
"On a short track like the Glen, it's easy to drop back," Christophe continued. "At the front they were pushing hard, and it was thanks to an excellent strategy from David and Bill which left Scott out on the track while the leaders were pitting to refuel during a safety car period that meant I was able to rejoin the track in an excellent position, on the same lap as the leader after our first stop. As the car was competitive, I started to push and overtook a number of our rivals. When I found myself second, I really thought we could win, and began to take car. But when the team told me I had to make another splash and dash, I realised that it would be more difficult than I had imagined. Zonta (Krohn Racing) took a risk and got past thanks to the intervention of the Safety Car towards
the end of the race. After my lightening pit stop, I found myself in 7th position and pushed very hard again. It was really a battle to get up to third. At one point, I had to put two wheels in the grass to avoid a GT car, while I was right behind Pruett (Ganassi Racing). Angelelli (Sun Trust
Racing) hit me slightly, while he gathered up a Porsche in his manoevre, trying to take advantage of the situation. Cars were going in all directions. And the safety car came out again."
The re-start was very busy. Bouchut lost a place in the confusion, with just 20 minutes remaining. Pushing hard, the Frenchman managed to get ahead of Angelelli again, at the end of the straight, under heavy braking, and then overtook the Penske car, with Dumas at the wheel, to take third.
"A very satisfactory result for all sorts of reasons," Christophe underlined. "Although we were not able to do the last three rounds due to clashes with the Ferrari Challenge, the whole team had prepared very seriously for this race. I had been back to the States to drive at Kansas City, a circuit close to Scott's home, where he has installed a test basis,
allowing him to drive as often as possible."
Optimal conditions for the duo of Tucker and Bouchut, whose aim is, more than ever, to claim a win before the end of the season.
"I have announced it, because after so many years racing it is something that you can feel coming, but this series is so close that no one can say when or where it will take place. Our last race at the Glen showed our potential," Christophe explained. "If I could have overtaken Angelelli and Dumas sooner, I would have caught up with the leaders, but when I got past, there were only three laps left."
However, when Bouchut crossed the finish line in 3rd place, the whole team was celebrating on the pit wall.
"A real day of glory for this young team," the Frenchman commented, delighted. "The next race will take place at Montreal, in Canada, at the Ile Notre Dame circuit, which is new to me, once again, it will be a matter of finding the right set-up. However, I have great hopes for the final race
of the season, at the Homestead circuit in Miami, where I set the best time in the test sessions at the start of the season. Florida will be the opportunity to show what we are able to do, up against the prestigious teams which compete in NASCAR and IRL. For the close-knit Supercar Life team
members, this third place finish means a lot, and they are working harder than ever to get an even better result: Victory!"
Next meeting:
28th-29th August: Montreal (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve), 10th round of the Grand Am Sportscar Series
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