Tucker Tireless in Pursuit of Excellence

Level 5 Motorsports Continues Relentless Schedule

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- After officially closing out his history-making 2010 racing season with victories at the Ferrari Challenge World Finals in Spain, Level 5 Motorsports owner / driver Scott Tucker wasted no time getting starting on 2011. Following a test session in Spain with the Ferrari 458 Challenge on Monday, Tucker quickly made his way to Homestead, Fla., to test two Daytona Prototypes in preparation for January's Rolex 24 At Daytona GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race.

Despite a hectic and sleepless 24 hours spent crossing the Atlantic to attend the test session, Tucker and fellow Level 5 Motorsports drivers Christophe Bouchut and Luis Diaz quickly got to work with the two BMW-powered Riley sports cars. As the most technically advanced cars in the field, the Level 5 DPs were sporting a host of enhancements.

The main improvement to the car was the addition of a new paddle-shifting system that Level 5 has lobbied to have approved for more than a year. This major advancement to the car was welcome news for the team.

"We've been vocal about our desire to have the paddle shifters on these Prototypes," Tucker said. "We were pleased when GRAND-AM made the change, and we were eager to get down here and test them out on the track."

The team wasted no time in getting to work and up to speed. Bouchut led the opening session with the fastest time, set in the team's No. 55 entry. He followed up that performance by setting the fastest time of the afternoon in the No. 95.

"Both cars are really quick," the Frenchman said. "We're trying different setups. We're not trying to be the fastest out here, but, with the banking, this is a perfect track to simulate for Daytona."

The team gathered copious amounts of data on set-ups to prepare for the grueling 24-hour marathon at Daytona International International Speedway. With a podium finish in the legendary race earlier this year, Level 5 has even bigger goals for 2011.

"This team is certainly capable of winning that race," Tucker said. "We've proven we can run fast and we've proven we can overcome the problems that we know we will face in endurance racing. We know there is not a tougher challenge in motorsports, but we prepare so we can meet those challenges head-on."

The team will return to Daytona for the "Roar Before the 24," January 7-9, 2011, for more testing in preparation for the race, which is scheduled for Jan. 27-30 at the newly repaved 3.56-mile road course.

"There are a lot of changes we'll face in 2011 -- changes to the cars and to the track," Tucker said. "But, we'll be prepared. Even with the crazy schedule we've kept up this season, I'm not looking to slow down. I am ready to get back out there and race."