Level 5, Scott Tucker Ready to Race After Successful Sebring Test

Level 5 Motorsports got its American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón title defense off to a flying start at Sebring International Raceway this week, as the team’s Honda Performance Development prototypes were quickest in official testing for next month’s 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida.

Making the worldwide debut of the new HPD ARX-03b, the Scott Tucker-owned organization showed impressive pace from the No. 055 car, which posted the quickest overall time on Wednesday and ended the two-day test on top in LMP2. Level 5’s No. 95 HPD, running to 2011 specification, also proved its strength by recording the second best time in class.



Tucker, a five-time national driving champion, along with season-long co-drivers Christophe Bouchut and Luis Diaz collectively completed a total of 364 laps, more than 1,300 miles in their HPD prototypes, which also ran for the first time on Dunlop tires.

“We’ve been real fortunate as the test went as planned,” said Tucker. “The new HPD ARX-03b performed just as we thought it would. Having driven both cars during the two days, I found it to be a big improvement over the old car. Ending the day 1-2 was very pleasing and gives us plenty of momentum heading into additional test sessions and the race itself next month.”

While Diaz turned a best time of 1:51.714 in the year-old No. 95 HPD, Bouchut’s 1:51.522 lap in the No. 055 car stood as the quickest of the week. Additionally, both cars were more than two seconds faster than last year's LMP2 pole time, showing considerable gains with the Level 5’s new, but already well-proven HPD package.

“We are all very happy with the new HPD ARX-03b,” Bouchut said. “The car is working very well. It was also the first time we ran with Dunlop tires, so there was a lot to cover during the two days, but the result is impressive. Each session we were improving, while also doing tire testing and working hard on the setup. It went exactly to plan.”

Rebounding from a morning oil leak and spin, the No. 95 car returned to the 3.7-mile, 17-turn circuit in the hands of Diaz, who along with Tucker, drove both HPDs over the course of the test. With new Dunlop tires and aerodynamic developments to the HPDs, there was plenty to take away in preparation for the ten-round ALMS season, which kicks off next month.

“We completed a lot of laps over the two days and I had the chance to drive both cars,” Diaz said. “We were very pleased with what we learned but realize that we still have a long way to go before the race. But it’s a very good start for Level 5 and I’m looking forward to the season."

With increased competition on the horizon, Level 5 has clearly stepped up its game after an already successful 2011 season, which included five victories and the ALMS LMP2 championship. This year, the team will be seeking an unprecedented third consecutive ALMS title while also returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, site of their debut podium finish in the French endurance classic.

“I think it was a really great two days of testing here at Sebring,” team manager David Stone said. “We learned a lot with the new HPD ARX-03b chassis as well as running the Dunlop tires for the first time. The drivers that drove both cars could definitely see a positive difference in the new car, and everyone at Dunlop have been great to work with.

“This time last year we were a lot further behind the gun, having not even been at this test and still building cars. We’re definitely ahead of that point and will have our second new chassis coming in a few more days to get ready for our next test at the end of the month. We still have a lot to do between now and then, and of course before the race. But we’re prepared for it and look forward to coming back to Sebring to defend our title."

Level 5 will return to Sebring for further testing on Feb. 27-29, ahead of the 60th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida, where Tucker will be seeking his third straight victory in America's oldest endurance race. The American Le Mans Series season-opener, set for a 10:30 a.m. ET start on March 17, will also serve as the first race for the new FIA World Endurance Championship. It will be broadcast March 18 on ABC and shown live on ESPN3 or ALMS.com.

Level 5, Scott Tucker Confirmed to Race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans

With preparations in full swing for the upcoming season, Level 5 Motorsports received news Thursday of its entry confirmation for the 80th 24 Hours of Le Mans. Awarded by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, organizers of the legendary 24-hour French endurance race, Scott Tucker’s championship-winning team will take on the best of the world in a deep LMP2 field this June.

Five-time national driving champion Tucker will join team regular Christophe Bouchut in the No. 33 Honda Performance Development ARX-03b, one of only two Honda-powered LMP2 entries in this year’s race. The third driver for Level 5’s Le Mans program will be announced at a later date. Level 5 earned an automatic invitation to Le Mans thanks to its victory in last year’s Petit Le Mans, where Tucker, Bouchut and Joao Barbosa scored an impressive sixth place overall finish in the American Le Mans Series season-finale. It capped off an incredible 2011 season, which saw a sweep of five victories and back-to-back ALMS titles.

“We’re very proud of our past accomplishments and championships,” said Tucker. “Getting an invitation to Le Mans is something we have worked very hard for and we’re honored and humbled at the same time in receiving it. We’re going to plan and work very efficiently to represent USA in the best possible light on the world’s stage and are proud for being one of the few American teams that competes in the highest level of sports car racing in the world.”

Tucker, who will be returning to Le Mans for the third consecutive year, will face a record level of competition in the LMP2 category. Eighteen entries have been entered, with Level 5 being only one of two teams to fly the stars and stripes of America. Last year, Tucker finished on the podium in the team’s debut and was also the highest-placed American driver in the race.

While their third place result last year was achieved with a Lola-Honda Coupe, Level 5 will have a new HPD ARX-03b as its weapon of choice in 2012, as it aims for victory in the world’s greatest endurance race. "We're happy to be returning to Le Mans this year in what we believe will be a competitive package with the new HPD ARX-03b," team manager David Stone said.

"With the time we've had with these cars from last year, particularly the Petit Le Mans, and what we'll have between now and the Le Mans Test Day and race, will only add to our likelihood of being very competitive and reliable. I'm happy to hear there is a large field in LMP2 and it should be a good fight.” 

With the American Le Mans Series’ annual Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway less than one week away, work continues at Level 5’s Madison, Wis. headquarters to prepare its new HPD cars for the new year. The team took delivery of the first new ARX-03b chassis late last week, with one of the new 2012-specification LMP2 cars expected to be ready for action.

One of last year's race-winning HPDs will also be present for the two-day test on Feb. 8-9. 
Both of Level 5's new cost-capped LMP2 cars will compete in the 60th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17, which will open the ALMS season and also serve as the start of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship. The 80th annual 24 Hours of Le Mans is scheduled for June 16-17, 2012.

Scott Tucker Earns Pole, Faces Stiff Competition at Ferrari Challenge International Finals

Scott Tucker’s quest for a Ferrari Challenge Series world championship got off to a great start Thursday. The driver of the No. 755 Boardwalk Ferrari F430 earned the top qualifying position with a speed of 158.416 mph in preparation for Friday’s North American division race No. 1 at the Ferrari Challenge International Finals at Mugello Circuit in Mugello, Italy. 

It is Tucker’s first time back in competition behind the wheel of an F430 in Challenge Series competition since last November, when he won a race and finished second in the other at the Ferrari Challenge International Finals in Spain.  Following Race number 1 on Friday will be a second race on Saturday.  Then, the season comes to a close with the F430 World Finals on Sunday where Tucker looks to solidify another driving championship.

A mere .7 seconds separates Tucker from the top qualifier, Italy’s Riccardo Ragazzi, setting up a showdown for the World Championship title.   The Ferrari Finali Mondiali features a world-class field of drivers, and the competition among the F430 cars is as tight as it has ever been.

“We came into this week knowing how hard we needed to work to win here.  The field is very, very tough,” Tucker said.  “This is a very challenging circuit.  You can’t make any mistakes here.  If you do, you’ll run yourself right out of a chance to win.  And, that’s what we came here to do — win.”

Tucker is a three-time winner in the Ferrari Challenge International Finals between 2009 and 2010.  The event was held in Valencia, Spain, both years.

Mugello Circuit, officially the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, is a 3.529-mile road course near Florence.  The track, built in 1974, is comprised of 15 turns and a long straightaway.

Turns 14 and 15 combine in a challenging hairpin that leads into the straightaway, which is 1,141 meters in length.  The width of the track varies between 9, 6 and 14 meters.

Tucker has competed in four Ferrari Challenge Series races this season, all in the new Ferrari 458.  He won the series opener at Infineon Raceway in California in April and finished sixth in the second race that weekend.

In May at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Tucker finished second to Enzo Potolicchio in Race 1 and fifth in Race 2.  With his busy worldwide racing schedule, he has not participated in the Ferrari Challenge Series since.

The green flag isscheduled to wave for race No. 1 on Friday at 3 p.m. local time.  Qualifying for race No. 2 for the North American division is set for 9:30 a.m. local time Friday.  The green flag is scheduled to wave for race No. 2 at 2:40 p.m. local time Saturday.

Fans looking to follow the action can find live timing and scoring as well as all session and raceresults on the Circuit’s website:  http://mugellocircuit.it/.