October 10th, 2011 - Level 5 Motorsports owner-driver Scott Tucker has spent the better part of the 2011 season on double duty. Not only has he consistently driven both the Level 5 Motorsports Honda entries in ALMS and ILMC competition, but also his role as both owner and driver has him equally focused on delivering outstanding results this season while building a solid development program for seasons to come. And he's been largely successful at both tasks-the 2011 season is the team's winningest yet, and there's no sign of them slowing down, especially with some late-season additions.
The biggest accomplishment Tucker made as an owner was acquiring two brand new, cost-capped Honda LMP2 class cars to replace the team's former Lola Honda Nos. 055 and 95 entries. The new cars feature modified fuel injectors, allowing for increased speeds at a lighter weight. While he was busy racing in five series this season, Tucker kept his eye on the development of the new cars, which were a collaboration of Honda Performance Development and Wirth Research. In July, Tucker concluded that the new prototypes were the best in class and reserved two right off the line, changing Level 5's entries mid-season. Although by the time the cars were finally finished, they only have had a few opportunities to prove themselves, they were clearly a good decision based on the track time they've gotten. Tucker won the ModSpace American Le Mans Series Monterey at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway last month in the first of the new prototypes, which performed without a hiccup for the duration of the race. When the double threat of both entries premiered at Petit Le Mans earlier this month, it was another flawless performance a win for Tucker and Level 5.
Tucker also made a smart move as team owner by picking up LMP2 class veteran Marino Franchitti just in time for Petit Le Mans. Franchitti makes a valuable addition to the team not only because he's experienced in the LMP2 competition field but he's also intimately familiar with the HPD ARX-01 prototypes, having driven nearly every version beginning with the HPD ARX-01a. If Tucker and team are to continue up the ALMS and ILMC ranks, focusing on Le Mans Prototype competition, Franchitti will add significant depth to the team in the coming season.
As a driver, Tucker was no slouch this year, either. The team began at a decent pace, delivering a podium finish at the Roar Before the Daytona 24 and ultimately finishing 8th at the Daytona 24 itself. After that, the drivers lit a fire and never looked back. Level 5 Motorsports finished on top at the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Long Beach circuit and at Road America and Road Atlanta. But Tucker drove single-entries in the Ferrari Challenge Series, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the IMSA GT3 Challenge series, as well, and was regularly at the top of the podium there, too. In September, Tucker finished first at the Sports Car Club of America's National Championship Runoffs, his third consecutive win at the race, making history alongside only a select few other drivers to ever manage the same feat.
Tucker's track record alone would place him comfortably in an elite class of motorsports drivers. But his calculated, shrewd decisions as Level 5 Motorsports owner add even more depth to his motorsports skill set. Tucker didn't even enter the motorsports industry until 2008, when he was a 44-year-old private equity investor from Kansas with a passion for competitive motorsports. He virtually exploded onto the scene and has spent the past three years cultivating a super team of talented, experienced race car drivers. The team next heads to the 6 Hours of Zhuhai, the pinnacle of the ILMC competition. Last weekend, Level 5 got some integral ILMC points with their class victory at Petit Le Mans, and they'll seek a vice championship next month in China.
The biggest accomplishment Tucker made as an owner was acquiring two brand new, cost-capped Honda LMP2 class cars to replace the team's former Lola Honda Nos. 055 and 95 entries. The new cars feature modified fuel injectors, allowing for increased speeds at a lighter weight. While he was busy racing in five series this season, Tucker kept his eye on the development of the new cars, which were a collaboration of Honda Performance Development and Wirth Research. In July, Tucker concluded that the new prototypes were the best in class and reserved two right off the line, changing Level 5's entries mid-season. Although by the time the cars were finally finished, they only have had a few opportunities to prove themselves, they were clearly a good decision based on the track time they've gotten. Tucker won the ModSpace American Le Mans Series Monterey at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway last month in the first of the new prototypes, which performed without a hiccup for the duration of the race. When the double threat of both entries premiered at Petit Le Mans earlier this month, it was another flawless performance a win for Tucker and Level 5.
Tucker also made a smart move as team owner by picking up LMP2 class veteran Marino Franchitti just in time for Petit Le Mans. Franchitti makes a valuable addition to the team not only because he's experienced in the LMP2 competition field but he's also intimately familiar with the HPD ARX-01 prototypes, having driven nearly every version beginning with the HPD ARX-01a. If Tucker and team are to continue up the ALMS and ILMC ranks, focusing on Le Mans Prototype competition, Franchitti will add significant depth to the team in the coming season.
As a driver, Tucker was no slouch this year, either. The team began at a decent pace, delivering a podium finish at the Roar Before the Daytona 24 and ultimately finishing 8th at the Daytona 24 itself. After that, the drivers lit a fire and never looked back. Level 5 Motorsports finished on top at the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Long Beach circuit and at Road America and Road Atlanta. But Tucker drove single-entries in the Ferrari Challenge Series, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the IMSA GT3 Challenge series, as well, and was regularly at the top of the podium there, too. In September, Tucker finished first at the Sports Car Club of America's National Championship Runoffs, his third consecutive win at the race, making history alongside only a select few other drivers to ever manage the same feat.
Tucker's track record alone would place him comfortably in an elite class of motorsports drivers. But his calculated, shrewd decisions as Level 5 Motorsports owner add even more depth to his motorsports skill set. Tucker didn't even enter the motorsports industry until 2008, when he was a 44-year-old private equity investor from Kansas with a passion for competitive motorsports. He virtually exploded onto the scene and has spent the past three years cultivating a super team of talented, experienced race car drivers. The team next heads to the 6 Hours of Zhuhai, the pinnacle of the ILMC competition. Last weekend, Level 5 got some integral ILMC points with their class victory at Petit Le Mans, and they'll seek a vice championship next month in China.
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