Video: YouTube - Level 5 Motorsports at 12 Hour of Sebring 2011
Am seriously considering going next year.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Level 5 Motorsports Wins at Sebring for Second Consecutive Year
For the second consecutive year, Level 5 Motorsports claimed victory in the historic 12 Hours of Sebring with an impressive debut for both Microsoft Office 2010 Honda-powered Lola LMP2 entries. The No. 055 Lola Spyder earned the top spot on the podium after a drama-filled run for the team of Scott Tucker, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Luis Diaz. The team's second car — a Lola Coupe — came home fourth with Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Joao Barbosa sharing the driving duties.
"This has been a great week for this whole Level 5 organization," said Tucker, winner of multiple series and national driving championships. "When we made this move up to the LMP2 class, we knew we had our work cut out for us. And to come out of the gate with a win and a strong run — we're thrilled. This is such a grueling race and it means so much to win here."
The solid finishes have given Level 5 a great start in the American Le Mans Series as well as the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. But the results did not come easily. After first getting the brand new cars on track just one week ago, the team worked tirelessly throughout the week of practice and qualifying to get ready for the notoriously challenging 12-hour race. But the experienced crew overcame each obstacle to keep the cars on track throughout the event.
"This morning I had a feeling we were going to win it," said IZOD IndyCar star Ryan Hunter-Reay who took the checkered flag in the No. 055. "To win at Sebring in the 12 Hours as a Florida kid is a dream come true. And especially to do it with Honda and Level 5 — this is really cool."
With the Level 5 Lolas running first and second at times during the race, it looked as though perhaps a sweep atop the podium was in store. But things are known to change quickly at Sebring. After getting to the front, the No. 055 lost its left rear wheel when the wheel nut came loose. A slow ride in to the pits compounded the problem putting the car two laps down. Not long after that, the No. 33 made contact on track with a slower car and suffered a suspension problem as a result. That forced the car off the track for repairs for an extended period of time.
"Apparently, it is not good to be leader in LMP2 in this race," said Bouchut, a three-time FIA GT winner, "because as soon as you take the lead you have problems."
The strong finishes mean the team has recorded points for both cars in the ALMS LMP2 class as it looks to back up its 2010 LMPC Championship. In addition, the No. 33 earned points in the ILMC where the team is competing for a World Championship this year.
"You put so much into it that it is good to know you are secure for those points," said Team Manager David Stone. "You really can't say enough about what this team has done here this week."
The team will begin immediately preparing for the next ALMS event at the famed street circuit in Long Beach, California, April 16. The next event on the ILMC calendar is the famed 24 Hours of Spa May 8.
World Championship status for ILMC?; Sebring videos, Australian GT Championship recap, news from Highcroft Racing and more...
DAGYS: World Of Sportscars, 3.25
Audi and Peugeot faced off for the first time in 2011 last weekend at Sebring. (Photo: John Dagys)
Last weekend’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring signaled a new era for sportscar racing with the launch of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. After a three-race pilot series in 2010, the Automobile de l’Ouest’s dream of returning Le Mans-style competition back to the global stage became a reality with the kickoff of its seven-race world tour.
With 20 ILMC entries supporting the already solid ALMS field, it made the Florida endurance classic one of the largest and strongest fields in the race’s 59-year history. While it was no doubt an entertaining once-around-the-clock battle, that went in favor of the underdog Team ORECA Matmut squad, the weekend was filled with question on what the future could hold for the budding global sportscar championship.
Despite the first race being hardly in the books, there was talk among manufacturers, teams and drivers over the long-term vision of the ACO’s new project, and what the next step could be in helping raise visibility and awareness to the ILMC. One of the most popular suggestions was on elevating the ILMC to World Championship status.
“It’s a great target the ACO has launched with this new championship, but we have to be careful at the beginning because ILMC means nothing outside of this room,” said ORECA team principal Hugues de Chaunac. “I think it should be a World Championship because it’s something that we need to sell to the public, the car manufacturers and the sponsors. We need to sell something which is easy to understand.”
It sounds simple. Why not call the ILMC the World Sports Car Championship? It already features seven rounds on three continents, which theoretically qualifies it for such status by the FIA. Well, there are a few challenges in making it happen with immediate effect.
One of the biggest comes with the FIA GT1 World Championship, a sportscar series which already has the World Championship label and is governed directly by the FIA. Although working in concert with the FIA in various activities, including various safety and homologation aspects, the ILMC is more or less organized entirely by the ACO.
“The championships in endurance has always been very much led by the ACO with the blessing from the FIA, so I don’t see a reason why that would change,” said ILMC director Frederic Henry-Biabaud. “There is a very strong work being done between the FIA, the car makers and the ACO from a regulations point of view.
“Endurance [racing] is very much a series that’s technology oriented. So you need the three actors: the ACO, the FIA and of course the car makers.”
There are varying opinions on how a World Championship label could affect the ILMC. Some think adding it just for the sake of the name might not have too much of an impact if all of the events are not yet world-renowned.
“You’ve got to give it time to grow,” said Audi’s Allan McNish. “If I look at Petit Le Mans, I was there in the first one in 1998. And you look at it today. Sebring stands on its own two feet and Petit now also stands on its own two feet.
“Any event that gets over 100,000 people to come to it, which is more than any Formula One Grand Prix I can think of, then it’s obviously a big race. I think with the championship, you have to allow it to find its feet and grow in that respect.
“But I wouldn’t necessarily say at this stage that putting FIA on the front of it, making it a World Championship, would make it better exposure. I think that’s down to the people that are involved.”
As Henry-Biabaud explains, there’s no reason to make a rash decision without carefully analyzing the situation from all angles and gaining the feedback from manufacturers and teams.
“Eventually, if it’s what the car makers want, we need to have a strong look at that,” Henry-Biabaud said. “A championship always needs to grow. Would a World Championship title bring more sponsors and so on? We hope so. Do we have all of the ingredients to see success? No. So do we work in 2011 to make it a success? Yes.”
But not everyone appears to be on-board with the ILMC’s rapid growth plan. Patrick Peter, organizer of the European-based Le Mans Series, said earlier this month at the series’ official test day that the LMS and ILMC races would be separate in 2012, unlike this year’s partnership of three shared events.
While Henry-Biabaud dismissed those reports, saying that there are normal discussions ongoing, he did reiterate the importance of the ALMS, LMS, as well as the Asian Le Mans Series, in helping complete the endurance racing ladder.
“What will be important will be to make sure that even though we keep climbing all the way up to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, we make sure that we keep the strong basis of the pyramid of the continental series,” Henry-Biabaud said. “Whether it’s the Le Mans Series or American Le Mans Series or the Asian Le Mans Series of tomorrow.
“Lots of people who race in the series want to go to the next step. They need to be at the basis at the beginning and work their way up. If you take people like OAK or Krohn or Level 5, these are the people that wanted to go from a continental series to international. And you need these teams without any doubt.”
With the ACO having a vested interest in the LMS, the situation may well work itself out over the coming months. But if it doesn’t, it could leave the European sportscar racing scene in a bit of a sticky situation. With three of the five LMS rounds this year also doubling as ILMC races, a number of teams have opted to contest both championships.
But if the ILMC and LMS run separately next year, and the ILMC is forced to hold standalone events in Europe, teams like Rebellion Racing, which is represented in both championships this year, would likely have to choose between one or the other.
“The ILMC appeals to manufacturers immensely because it gives them the world precedence,” said Rebellion team manager Bart Hayden. “For private teams, it’s exciting because we’re competing on that same stage.
“But I think there’s a risk of diluting the local series and I think there’s a risk that those local series will become a second class or a second division. And that’s a bit unfair on them, really.”
While there’s no doubt growing pains in any new championship, if the ACO is able to work out some of the early hurdles, the ILMC could become the next big thing in motorsports, even with or without a World Championship title.
Question of the Week
Do you think the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup should be elevated to FIA World Championship status? Does the name mean anything to you? What are your thoughts about the ILMC season ahead and its long term future? Tell me what you think: askdagys@gmail.com The best responses will be included in the next column.
Video Showcase - Level 5, Highcroft and Peugeot at Sebring
This week, we take a look back at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring through the eyes of thee different teams, which all achieved varying levels of success. First up is Level 5 Motorsports, which scored the LMP2 win in its class debut.
Next is Highcroft Racing, which put in a stellar performance in its brand-new HPD ARX-01e to finish a surprising second overall. Finally, enjoy a look at the race from Team Peugeot Total, the French factory squad which ran into minor issues throughout the once-around-the-clock classic.
Race Recap: Australian GT Championship, Adelaide
SPEED.com welcomes Australian sportscar expert Sam Tickell, of FeedMeSportscars, as a new contributor to ‘World of Sportscars.’ Sam will be submitting reports from each of the Australian GT Championship events this year.
The 2011 Vodka 0 Australian GT Championship season got underway last weekend with two races at the Adelaide street circuit, supporting the V8 Supercar Championship.
The weekend also represented three firsts – the first time the Championship raced into the night, the inaugural Murray Walker GT Tourist Trophy was also on offer and the Championship introduced to a two class format (GT3 and GT4/Cup Car/Production cars).
The first race of the weekend was a one-hour affair starting at dusk. Two drivers per car were able to drive and name drivers like Allan Simonsen and Jason Richards were nominated to drive but most opted for just one driver. Twenty-one cars took to the grid and when night fell, the only lights were from the cars and the TV screens.
Right from the start of the race it was a three-way affair with Klark Quinn (Mosler GT3), Mark Eddy (Audi R8 LMS) and Greg Crick (Dodge Viper GT3) streaking away from the field. They battled throughout the race and as they came to lap fifth-placed Ash Samadi.
Samadi’s radio had failed and in the dark, did not realize he was being lapped. He battled the leaders allowing some daring moves amongst the top three but Quinn was able to hold off Eddy and Crick to win the inaugural Murray Walker GT Tourist Trophy.
“It was perfect weekend – you can’t get a better start than this,” Quinn said. “Winning the Murray Walker GT Tourist Trophy was an extra bonus. Winning a race is great and winning something like that is an extra bonus, really fantastic. It is a real honor to be the first on the trophy.”
Simonsen and Richards were out of luck as their cars (both in Ferrari 430 GT3s) retired with mechanical issues early in the race.
The GT Challenge was Flack family affair with Damien (Porsche 997 Cup Car) winning from Adrian in his new Ginetta G50 HC. It was not all clear sailing as Damien was lucky to escape a late race spin with only minor damage.
The second race was a 20-minute sprint held in overcast conditions. This race allowed for only one driver, but despite the different conditions, the script was the same.
The fight at the front of the Championship class was between Quinn, Eddy and Crick – although Crick was able to beat Eddy to the line.
The comeback story in race two was Tony Quinn (father of Klark) who fought from the back of the grid to finish fourth in an Aston Martin DBRS9.
Damein Flack again led home brother Adrian in the GT Challenge class.
“It was a great start for me – winning the class in the two races. The track was very bumpy but the event was awesome,” Damien Flack said.
Round two of seven for the Vodka 0 Australian GT Championship will be held on May 20-22 at Winton Raceway in Victoria.
Race 1 Results:
1. Klark Quinn - Mosler MT900 GT3 40
2. Mark Eddy - Audi R8 LMS 40
3. Greg Crick - Dodge Viper GT3 40
4. D.Grant/D.Gaunt Porsche GT3 997 Cup 40
5. Ash Samadi - Mosler MT900 GT3 39
Race 2 Results:
1. Klark Quinn - Mosler MT900 GT3 12
2. Greg Crick - Dodge Viper GT3 12
3. Mark Eddy - Audi R8 LMS 12
4. Tony Quinn - Aston Martin DBRS9 12
5. Ash Samadi - Mosler MT900 GT3 12
Timo Bernhard Back in Penske Porsche
Yes, you read that correctly. Timo Bernhard has strapped back behind the wheel of a Penske-prepared Porsche. This time, though, it’s a 2008-spec 911 GT3 Cup car, that will see the reigning Le Mans champion compete in this weekend’s German Rally Championship season-opening ADAC Wikinger-Rallye in Schleswig.
“I’ve always been interested in rally,” Bernhard said. “I did it as a hobby in the past, and it still remains a hobby, just on a little different level now. In the past, it was a VW Golf and now it’s a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup converted to rally.”
Run by his father’s ‘Rallye Team 75’ outfit, Bernhard will compete in the majority of the six-round season of the prestigious national championship. Two of the rallies conflict with his road racing commitments with Audi and Porsche in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and various other endurance events, which obviously takes priority.
What’s the affiliation with Penske, you may ask? Well, Penske Group acquired Bernhard’s local Porsche dealership in Mannheim three years ago and have continued to work with the two-time ALMS LMP2 champion with various driving events.
The opportunity then came up to go rallying, with the support of the dealership, which helped convert the 911 GT3 Cup car to rally specification. It obviously made for a perfect fit.
“At the end of last year, we sat down together and thought about doing something new,” he said. “Then the rally came idea came up. To see the name ‘Penske Sportwagenzentrum’ on the side of the car is very nice. A lot of people in Germany are excited about that.”
While Bernhard will have Marco Glasen as his trusty navigator, long-time endurance racing co-driver Romain Dumas will also be trying his hand at Rally this year, competing in the French Rally Championship with a similar Porsche 911 GT3.
It would sure be interesting to see Bernhard and Dumas some day contesting a rally together. But that’s unlikely to happen considering either wouldn't want to be sitting shotgun reading the pace-notes!
SPEED.com welcomes Australian sportscar expert Sam Tickell, of FeedMeSportscars, as a new contributor to ‘World of Sportscars.’ Sam will be submitting reports from each of the Australian GT Championship events this year.
The 2011 Vodka 0 Australian GT Championship season got underway last weekend with two races at the Adelaide street circuit, supporting the V8 Supercar Championship.
The weekend also represented three firsts – the first time the Championship raced into the night, the inaugural Murray Walker GT Tourist Trophy was also on offer and the Championship introduced to a two class format (GT3 and GT4/Cup Car/Production cars).
The first race of the weekend was a one-hour affair starting at dusk. Two drivers per car were able to drive and name drivers like Allan Simonsen and Jason Richards were nominated to drive but most opted for just one driver. Twenty-one cars took to the grid and when night fell, the only lights were from the cars and the TV screens.
Right from the start of the race it was a three-way affair with Klark Quinn (Mosler GT3), Mark Eddy (Audi R8 LMS) and Greg Crick (Dodge Viper GT3) streaking away from the field. They battled throughout the race and as they came to lap fifth-placed Ash Samadi.
Samadi’s radio had failed and in the dark, did not realize he was being lapped. He battled the leaders allowing some daring moves amongst the top three but Quinn was able to hold off Eddy and Crick to win the inaugural Murray Walker GT Tourist Trophy.
“It was perfect weekend – you can’t get a better start than this,” Quinn said. “Winning the Murray Walker GT Tourist Trophy was an extra bonus. Winning a race is great and winning something like that is an extra bonus, really fantastic. It is a real honor to be the first on the trophy.”
Simonsen and Richards were out of luck as their cars (both in Ferrari 430 GT3s) retired with mechanical issues early in the race.
The GT Challenge was Flack family affair with Damien (Porsche 997 Cup Car) winning from Adrian in his new Ginetta G50 HC. It was not all clear sailing as Damien was lucky to escape a late race spin with only minor damage.
The second race was a 20-minute sprint held in overcast conditions. This race allowed for only one driver, but despite the different conditions, the script was the same.
The fight at the front of the Championship class was between Quinn, Eddy and Crick – although Crick was able to beat Eddy to the line.
The comeback story in race two was Tony Quinn (father of Klark) who fought from the back of the grid to finish fourth in an Aston Martin DBRS9.
Damein Flack again led home brother Adrian in the GT Challenge class.
“It was a great start for me – winning the class in the two races. The track was very bumpy but the event was awesome,” Damien Flack said.
Round two of seven for the Vodka 0 Australian GT Championship will be held on May 20-22 at Winton Raceway in Victoria.
Race 1 Results:
1. Klark Quinn - Mosler MT900 GT3 40
2. Mark Eddy - Audi R8 LMS 40
3. Greg Crick - Dodge Viper GT3 40
4. D.Grant/D.Gaunt Porsche GT3 997 Cup 40
5. Ash Samadi - Mosler MT900 GT3 39
Race 2 Results:
1. Klark Quinn - Mosler MT900 GT3 12
2. Greg Crick - Dodge Viper GT3 12
3. Mark Eddy - Audi R8 LMS 12
4. Tony Quinn - Aston Martin DBRS9 12
5. Ash Samadi - Mosler MT900 GT3 12
Timo Bernhard Back in Penske Porsche
Yes, you read that correctly. Timo Bernhard has strapped back behind the wheel of a Penske-prepared Porsche. This time, though, it’s a 2008-spec 911 GT3 Cup car, that will see the reigning Le Mans champion compete in this weekend’s German Rally Championship season-opening ADAC Wikinger-Rallye in Schleswig.
“I’ve always been interested in rally,” Bernhard said. “I did it as a hobby in the past, and it still remains a hobby, just on a little different level now. In the past, it was a VW Golf and now it’s a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup converted to rally.”
Run by his father’s ‘Rallye Team 75’ outfit, Bernhard will compete in the majority of the six-round season of the prestigious national championship. Two of the rallies conflict with his road racing commitments with Audi and Porsche in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and various other endurance events, which obviously takes priority.
What’s the affiliation with Penske, you may ask? Well, Penske Group acquired Bernhard’s local Porsche dealership in Mannheim three years ago and have continued to work with the two-time ALMS LMP2 champion with various driving events.
The opportunity then came up to go rallying, with the support of the dealership, which helped convert the 911 GT3 Cup car to rally specification. It obviously made for a perfect fit.
“At the end of last year, we sat down together and thought about doing something new,” he said. “Then the rally came idea came up. To see the name ‘Penske Sportwagenzentrum’ on the side of the car is very nice. A lot of people in Germany are excited about that.”
While Bernhard will have Marco Glasen as his trusty navigator, long-time endurance racing co-driver Romain Dumas will also be trying his hand at Rally this year, competing in the French Rally Championship with a similar Porsche 911 GT3.
It would sure be interesting to see Bernhard and Dumas some day contesting a rally together. But that’s unlikely to happen considering either wouldn't want to be sitting shotgun reading the pace-notes!
Highcroft Hoping for Additional Outings in U.S., Europe
There was no denying the spectacular performance put in by Highcroft Racing in last weekend’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
With a relatively untested car, only having been assembled less than a week prior to the drop of the green flag, the driving trio of Simon Pagenaud, David Brabham and Marino Franchitti drove to an impressive runner-up result, ahead of the factory Audi and Peugeots.
For the Duncan Dayton-led team, the result almost came as a victory in itself after proving that its new HPD ARX-01e has the speed and strength to fight with the diesel-powered prototypes.
“If somebody had said a week out we could have locked in second place, we would have grabbed it - but we’re all hard core racers and in the thick of the battle we really wanted to win,” Dayton said.
“But considering the time scale involved, to beat both factory cars from Audi and Peugeot with a five day old car and only be beaten by a proven Le Mans winner with five years of development under its belt is really incredible.”
So what’s next for Dayton and company? With Highcroft continuing its search for funding to complete the American Le Mans Series season, Dayton hasn’t also ruled out participation in additional European races to go along with its already-confirmed attack on the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The clock is ticking, though, with Long Beach less than three weeks away. A preliminary entry list for the April 15-16 event shows only two LMP1 cars, with no sign of Highcroft’s HPD.
“Before the green flag even flew at Sebring there was quite a lot of activity happening to ensure additional appearances for the car, both in the U.S. and Europe,” Dayton said. “The result in the 12 Hour has certainly not hurt that at all. The fantastic result reinforced the potential of the car and we look forward to showcasing its potential again soon.”
A perfect warm-up to Le Mans would be the Spa 1000km in May, where Audi, Peugeot and Aston Martin will all be present with their Le Mans 24 Hours contenders. It’s unknown whether the race is on Dayton’s radar screen and if it could fit into the team’s plans if funding is found.
Nonetheless, development of the Nick Wirth-designed LMP1 contender continued this week at Sebring, where Marino Franchitti and Strakka Racing's Jonny Kane put the ARX-01e through its paces following the 12-hour marathon.
With Audi also running its new R18, set to debut next month at the Le Mans Test, Dayton knows the level of competition they’ll be up against in Europe. In fact, he reported that the German diesel was clocked turning 1:45:00 lap times, which would have crushed pole-sitter Stephane Sarrazin’s time by over a second.
“The guys at Wirth are going to try to take even more drag out of the car for the 24 Hours in June,” Dayton said. “We need to continue to develop the HPD ARX-01e so that we gain a better understanding of its strengths and weaknesses, in order to make performance gains in the car.
“I know the fans are very keen to see a lot more of this car and we’re certainly working around the clock to make that happen.”
FIA GT1 World Championship Spotter’s Guide
With the stars and cars of the GT1 World Championship kicking off its 2011 season this weekend in Abu Dhabi, motorsports graphics guru Andy Blackmore has surprised us all with a Spotter’s Guide for the second-year championship.
Featuring all 18 starters for Saturday’s double-header at the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit, Andy’s guide is a must-have for anyone following the season on television, or those lucky few that will see the action in person this year.
There was no denying the spectacular performance put in by Highcroft Racing in last weekend’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
With a relatively untested car, only having been assembled less than a week prior to the drop of the green flag, the driving trio of Simon Pagenaud, David Brabham and Marino Franchitti drove to an impressive runner-up result, ahead of the factory Audi and Peugeots.
For the Duncan Dayton-led team, the result almost came as a victory in itself after proving that its new HPD ARX-01e has the speed and strength to fight with the diesel-powered prototypes.
“If somebody had said a week out we could have locked in second place, we would have grabbed it - but we’re all hard core racers and in the thick of the battle we really wanted to win,” Dayton said.
“But considering the time scale involved, to beat both factory cars from Audi and Peugeot with a five day old car and only be beaten by a proven Le Mans winner with five years of development under its belt is really incredible.”
So what’s next for Dayton and company? With Highcroft continuing its search for funding to complete the American Le Mans Series season, Dayton hasn’t also ruled out participation in additional European races to go along with its already-confirmed attack on the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The clock is ticking, though, with Long Beach less than three weeks away. A preliminary entry list for the April 15-16 event shows only two LMP1 cars, with no sign of Highcroft’s HPD.
“Before the green flag even flew at Sebring there was quite a lot of activity happening to ensure additional appearances for the car, both in the U.S. and Europe,” Dayton said. “The result in the 12 Hour has certainly not hurt that at all. The fantastic result reinforced the potential of the car and we look forward to showcasing its potential again soon.”
A perfect warm-up to Le Mans would be the Spa 1000km in May, where Audi, Peugeot and Aston Martin will all be present with their Le Mans 24 Hours contenders. It’s unknown whether the race is on Dayton’s radar screen and if it could fit into the team’s plans if funding is found.
Nonetheless, development of the Nick Wirth-designed LMP1 contender continued this week at Sebring, where Marino Franchitti and Strakka Racing's Jonny Kane put the ARX-01e through its paces following the 12-hour marathon.
With Audi also running its new R18, set to debut next month at the Le Mans Test, Dayton knows the level of competition they’ll be up against in Europe. In fact, he reported that the German diesel was clocked turning 1:45:00 lap times, which would have crushed pole-sitter Stephane Sarrazin’s time by over a second.
“The guys at Wirth are going to try to take even more drag out of the car for the 24 Hours in June,” Dayton said. “We need to continue to develop the HPD ARX-01e so that we gain a better understanding of its strengths and weaknesses, in order to make performance gains in the car.
“I know the fans are very keen to see a lot more of this car and we’re certainly working around the clock to make that happen.”
FIA GT1 World Championship Spotter’s Guide
With the stars and cars of the GT1 World Championship kicking off its 2011 season this weekend in Abu Dhabi, motorsports graphics guru Andy Blackmore has surprised us all with a Spotter’s Guide for the second-year championship.
Featuring all 18 starters for Saturday’s double-header at the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit, Andy’s guide is a must-have for anyone following the season on television, or those lucky few that will see the action in person this year.
Download Andy’s FIA GT1 World Championship Spotter’s Guide here: http://spotterguides.com/fia-gt1-2011-guide
Super GT Season-Opener Postponed
While it comes as no surprise, the GT Association, organizers of the popular Super GT Championship, have postponed the season-opening round in Okayama, Japan, which was scheduled for next weekend.
With Japanese citizens still reeling from the effects of the devastation caused by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami and radiation fallout from the country’s nuclear power plants, it came as the sensible choice, despite the southern region of Japan, where Okayama Circuit is located, being less affected.
“I pray sincerely for the victims who lost their lives in the earthquake,” said GTA representative director Masaaki Bandoh. “My thoughts are with those who suffered from the disaster and their families, and I would like to extend my hope for quick recovery.
“I am fully committed to continue the discussion and take action on what SUPER GT and the motorsports industry as a whole can do to maximize our support. As a first step, we have decided to dedicate all events of this season as "Eastern Japan Great Earthquake Relief Event" to provide support to the affected areas and sufferers of the disaster.”
Officials are planning for the season to kick off on April 30-May 1 at Fuji Speedway, which was originally scheduled as Round 2 of the eight-race season.
Photo Focus: Twelve Hours of Sebring Race Week Gallery
Take a look back at some of my favorite images from race week at the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
World of Sportscars Live! Chat
Join us for our now-regular World of Sportscars Live! Chat every Monday at 7 p.m. on SPEED.com. With topics ranging from GRAND-AM to World Challenge and the GT1 World Championship, there’s always something for everyone each week.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at askdagys@gmail.com
Super GT Season-Opener Postponed
While it comes as no surprise, the GT Association, organizers of the popular Super GT Championship, have postponed the season-opening round in Okayama, Japan, which was scheduled for next weekend.
With Japanese citizens still reeling from the effects of the devastation caused by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami and radiation fallout from the country’s nuclear power plants, it came as the sensible choice, despite the southern region of Japan, where Okayama Circuit is located, being less affected.
“I pray sincerely for the victims who lost their lives in the earthquake,” said GTA representative director Masaaki Bandoh. “My thoughts are with those who suffered from the disaster and their families, and I would like to extend my hope for quick recovery.
“I am fully committed to continue the discussion and take action on what SUPER GT and the motorsports industry as a whole can do to maximize our support. As a first step, we have decided to dedicate all events of this season as "Eastern Japan Great Earthquake Relief Event" to provide support to the affected areas and sufferers of the disaster.”
Officials are planning for the season to kick off on April 30-May 1 at Fuji Speedway, which was originally scheduled as Round 2 of the eight-race season.
Photo Focus: Twelve Hours of Sebring Race Week Gallery
Take a look back at some of my favorite images from race week at the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
World of Sportscars Live! Chat
Join us for our now-regular World of Sportscars Live! Chat every Monday at 7 p.m. on SPEED.com. With topics ranging from GRAND-AM to World Challenge and the GT1 World Championship, there’s always something for everyone each week.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at askdagys@gmail.com
Lola customers enjoy successful start to 2011
Lola scored a memorable class win in the LMP2 category and its customer cars finished 6th and 7th overall at the 59th running of the Sebring 12 hours this weekend. On the tough, bumpy airfield circuit in central Florida, temperatures reached up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and with 55 cars on the grid, the Lola entered prototype sports cars showed they had the pace and durability to start the season with a victory.
The Level 5 Motorsports team celebrated a class triumph after a near faultless drive by Scott Tucker, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Luis Diaz, who finished ten laps clear of the second-placed car. The team, in conjunction with the Lola factory worked day and night to get the HPD powered cars to the season opening race. With no testing the Level 5 team quickly got to grips with the open cockpit and Coupe cars and had a reliable run to the flag. The winning car was delayed only by a minor wheel nut problem early in the race. The sister Level 5 Lola-HPD Coupe of Scott Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Joao Barbosa finished in 4th place.
"We kept the Lola clean and never had a scratch on it. The team and all the Lola guys did a fantastic job. This victory tastes very sweet and is the start we all dreamed of," said team driver Ryan Hunter Reay.
Lola saw two of its teams finishing in the top ten overall. Chris Dyson, Guy Smith and Jay Cochran had a strong, clean race, and made good use of the yellow flags to improve their positions before finishing sixth in the LMP1 class with their Lola-Mazda LMP1. The result puts Dyson 2nd in the ALMS points standings and puts them in a good position for a title campaign in 2011.
Rebellion Racing finished 7th overall despite being delayed by contact during the race, which saw them having to change the rear bodywork of the Lola. The Swiss team also took a conservative approach to the set up in order to achieve a top finish.
The Rebellion Lola-Toyota team put more than 26 hours on their new Toyota engine without fault during the Sebring week, an encouraging sign for the Le Mans 24 Hours in June and the forthcoming Le Mans Series.
Rebellion Racing, along with all of the other Sebring runners sported a special tribute message to the Japanese nation after the natural disasters in the country last week. Click here to find out how you can help -
www.jrc.or.jp/english
The Cytosport Lola Aston Martin retired after 151 laps after a bearing failure caused the oil temperatures in the gearbox to rise, and the team retired the car in the seventh hour.
Lola Executive Chairman, Martin Birrane said of the weekend's performance. "All our teams ran extremely well this weekend within a very competitive field. Level 5 deserved their LMP2 class win after joining the Lola engineers over the last 6 weeks in getting the cars ready within a very tight timeframe. This result is the perfect platform for another successful campaign in 2011."
The Level 5 Motorsports team celebrated a class triumph after a near faultless drive by Scott Tucker, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Luis Diaz, who finished ten laps clear of the second-placed car. The team, in conjunction with the Lola factory worked day and night to get the HPD powered cars to the season opening race. With no testing the Level 5 team quickly got to grips with the open cockpit and Coupe cars and had a reliable run to the flag. The winning car was delayed only by a minor wheel nut problem early in the race. The sister Level 5 Lola-HPD Coupe of Scott Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Joao Barbosa finished in 4th place.
"We kept the Lola clean and never had a scratch on it. The team and all the Lola guys did a fantastic job. This victory tastes very sweet and is the start we all dreamed of," said team driver Ryan Hunter Reay.
Lola saw two of its teams finishing in the top ten overall. Chris Dyson, Guy Smith and Jay Cochran had a strong, clean race, and made good use of the yellow flags to improve their positions before finishing sixth in the LMP1 class with their Lola-Mazda LMP1. The result puts Dyson 2nd in the ALMS points standings and puts them in a good position for a title campaign in 2011.
Rebellion Racing finished 7th overall despite being delayed by contact during the race, which saw them having to change the rear bodywork of the Lola. The Swiss team also took a conservative approach to the set up in order to achieve a top finish.
The Rebellion Lola-Toyota team put more than 26 hours on their new Toyota engine without fault during the Sebring week, an encouraging sign for the Le Mans 24 Hours in June and the forthcoming Le Mans Series.
Rebellion Racing, along with all of the other Sebring runners sported a special tribute message to the Japanese nation after the natural disasters in the country last week. Click here to find out how you can help -
www.jrc.or.jp/english
The Cytosport Lola Aston Martin retired after 151 laps after a bearing failure caused the oil temperatures in the gearbox to rise, and the team retired the car in the seventh hour.
Lola Executive Chairman, Martin Birrane said of the weekend's performance. "All our teams ran extremely well this weekend within a very competitive field. Level 5 deserved their LMP2 class win after joining the Lola engineers over the last 6 weeks in getting the cars ready within a very tight timeframe. This result is the perfect platform for another successful campaign in 2011."
Level 5 Motorsports Wins at Sebring for Second Consecutive Year
For the second consecutive year, Level 5 Motorsports claimed victory in the historic 12 Hours of Sebring with an impressive debut for both Microsoft Office 2010 Honda-powered Lola LMP2 entries. The No. 055 Lola Spyder earned the top spot on the podium after a drama-filled run for the team of Scott Tucker, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Luis Diaz. The team's second car - a Lola Coupe - came home fourth with Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Joao Barbosa sharing the driving duties.
"This has been a great week for this whole Level 5 organization," said Tucker, winner of multiple series and national driving championships. "When we made this move up to the LMP2 class, we knew we had our work cut out for us. And to come out of the gate with a win and a strong run - we're thrilled. This is such a grueling race and it means so much to win here."
The solid finishes have given Level 5 a great start in the American Le Mans Series as well as the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. But the results did not come easily. After first getting the brand new cars on track just one week ago, the team worked tirelessly throughout the week of practice and qualifying to get ready for the notoriously challenging 12-hour race. But the experienced crew overcame each obstacle to keep the cars on track throughout the event.
"This morning I had a feeling we were going to win it," said IZOD IndyCar star Ryan Hunter-Reay who took the checkered flag in the No. 055. "To win at Sebring in the 12 Hours as a Florida kid is a dream come true. And especially to do it with Honda and Level 5 - this is really cool."
With the Level 5 Lolas running first and second at times during the race, it looked as though perhaps a sweep atop the podium was in store. But things are known to change quickly at Sebring. After getting to the front, the No. 055 lost its left rear wheel when the wheel nut came loose. A slow ride in to the pits compounded the problem putting the car two laps down. Not long after that, the No. 33 made contact on track with a slower car and suffered a suspension problem as a result. That forced the car off the track for repairs for an extended period of time.
"Apparently, it is not good to be leader in LMP2 in this race," said Bouchut, a three-time FIA GT winner, "because as soon as you take the lead you have problems."
The strong finishes mean the team has recorded points for both cars in the ALMS LMP2 class as it looks to back up its 2010 LMPC Championship. In addition, the No. 33 earned points in the ILMC where the team is competing for a World Championship this year.
"You put so much into it that it is good to know you are secure for those points," said Team Manager David Stone. "You really can't say enough about what this team has done here this week."
The team will begin immediately preparing for the next ALMS event at the famed street circuit in Long Beach, California, April 16. The next event on the ILMC calendar is the famed 24 Hours of Spa May 8.
"This has been a great week for this whole Level 5 organization," said Tucker, winner of multiple series and national driving championships. "When we made this move up to the LMP2 class, we knew we had our work cut out for us. And to come out of the gate with a win and a strong run - we're thrilled. This is such a grueling race and it means so much to win here."
The solid finishes have given Level 5 a great start in the American Le Mans Series as well as the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. But the results did not come easily. After first getting the brand new cars on track just one week ago, the team worked tirelessly throughout the week of practice and qualifying to get ready for the notoriously challenging 12-hour race. But the experienced crew overcame each obstacle to keep the cars on track throughout the event.
"This morning I had a feeling we were going to win it," said IZOD IndyCar star Ryan Hunter-Reay who took the checkered flag in the No. 055. "To win at Sebring in the 12 Hours as a Florida kid is a dream come true. And especially to do it with Honda and Level 5 - this is really cool."
With the Level 5 Lolas running first and second at times during the race, it looked as though perhaps a sweep atop the podium was in store. But things are known to change quickly at Sebring. After getting to the front, the No. 055 lost its left rear wheel when the wheel nut came loose. A slow ride in to the pits compounded the problem putting the car two laps down. Not long after that, the No. 33 made contact on track with a slower car and suffered a suspension problem as a result. That forced the car off the track for repairs for an extended period of time.
"Apparently, it is not good to be leader in LMP2 in this race," said Bouchut, a three-time FIA GT winner, "because as soon as you take the lead you have problems."
The strong finishes mean the team has recorded points for both cars in the ALMS LMP2 class as it looks to back up its 2010 LMPC Championship. In addition, the No. 33 earned points in the ILMC where the team is competing for a World Championship this year.
"You put so much into it that it is good to know you are secure for those points," said Team Manager David Stone. "You really can't say enough about what this team has done here this week."
The team will begin immediately preparing for the next ALMS event at the famed street circuit in Long Beach, California, April 16. The next event on the ILMC calendar is the famed 24 Hours of Spa May 8.
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great team, fun times! “@funnjenn: @pops28 Check this video out -- Level 5 Motorsports at 12 Hour of Sebring 2011 http://t.co/EADW5DN” pops28
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RT @EquipoTelmex: Chapu /Tucker/ Hunter en el # 055 del Level 5 Motorsports califican P2 en la LMP2 #ALMS #Sebring12
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Chilling now after Sebring. Congratulations to Level 5 Motorsports winning the LMP2 Class. An amazing team, a pleasure to work with them.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Level 5 Lola's for 2011 ALMS
Saturday 11th December 2010
Tucker makes the leap to LMP2 after a remarkable 2010 season in which he competed in four major sports car racing series, won two national titles and 10 races, set numerous track records, became a test driver for Ferrari and was the subject of a documentary film.
“We had an ambitious plan for 2010 and I was very pleased with how things turned out,” he said. “But we’re not going to slow down now. We’ve got just as much ambition for 2011.”
Returning as Tucker’s Level 5 Motorsports teammate in 2011 is Frenchman Christophe Bouchut. Last season, Bouchut teamed with Tucker in the ALMS LMP Challenge class and finished fourth in the
standings. Bouchut is one of the most successful endurance drivers
in the world. He has won the Rolex 24 At Daytona (1995), the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1993) and the 24 Hours of Spa (2001 and 2002. Bouchut is also the only triple FIA GT champion in history.
“I’m excited once again to be driving for Level 5 Motorsports and Scott Tucker,” Bouchut said. “We enjoyed a great deal of success in our first season in the American Le Mans Series last year. We’ve really come together as a team and I expect more good things in 2011.”
A new addition to the Level 5 Motorsports lineup this season is Luis Diaz of Mexico. A veteran of the American Le Mans Series since 2007, Diaz won the LMP2 championship in 2009 with a whopping eight victories.
In 2010, Diaz scored four podium finishes in the GTC class and three pole positions and three podium finishes in the LMPC class. Diaz is also a former team champion in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, having won five Daytona Prototype races and scoring eight podium finishes in 2006.
“It’s an honor to join Scott Tucker and his Level 5 Motorsports organization,” Diaz said. “They have proven they are a championship team. With my experience in ALMS, I hope I can help Scott and the team win a championship in another class this season.”
Tucker is looking forward to racing again with an old friend and a new teammate.
“Christophe’s credentials speak for themselves,” Tucker said. “He is a big part of the success we have had over the past few years. I have raced against Luis and he is a great driver. It will be great to race with him instead of against him.”
As the premier sports car racing league in North America, the American Le Mans Series has a rich history of prototype racing. The addition of the Level 5 Motorsports LMP2s adds to an already impressive field taking shape for 2011.
“Scott Tucker, (team manager) David Stone and the entire Level 5 team established their credentials as a top-level professional prototype race team with their LMPC championship run this season,” said Scott Atherton, President and CEO, American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. “The announcement today of a two-car LMP2 program for 2011 is great news for the ALMS and our fans.”
With more than 50 years of history building championship winning race cars in Formula One, CART / IndyCar, USAC, and IMSA. The list of champions who have taken Lola machines to victory is a Who’s Who of international motorsports.
"We are delighted to welcome Level 5 Motorsports to our expanding portfolio of LMP customers for 2011,” said Lola owner and Executive Chairman Martin Birrane. “After an excellent first year in ALMS this year, they have proved they are a very professionally run team and I am sure they will be in the hunt for more honors next season.”
Lola earned podium finishes in nine events last season in the ALMS, including overall victories at Road America and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Paired with a Honda power plant, the Lola B11/40 promises to be a force next season.
Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD), the Honda racing company within North America, provides technical support for high-performance racing programs. HPD is the single engine supplier to the IndyCar Series and provides engines for prototype sportscar racing in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and European Le Mans Series (LMS). Honda earned a win in their inaugural attempt at the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as the LMP1 and LMP2 Championship in ALMS in 2009 and the ALMS LMP Championship in 2010.
"Honda Performance Development is very pleased to have been selected by championship-winning Level 5 Motorsports as its 2011 ALMS engine partner, as the team moves up from the Le Mans Challenge class to the LMP2 class. We look forward to working closely with the team to develop a well-integrated, competitive, and reliable package that will allow Level 5 Motorsports to continue to excel in the sports-car arena."
Back on board for 2011 will be Microsoft Office 2010 as primary sponsor of the Level 5 entries. Since the opening round of the 2010 ALMS campaign, Microsoft Office 2010 has been enjoying their one-of-a- kind relationship with one of racing’s most prolific and successful teams.
“Certainly we were attracted to this sponsorship for the traditional reasons: great exposure for our products. But, we also saw that we could do something rather unique with this opportunity,” said Chris Barry, Director in Microsoft Office. “We wanted to show how Office 2010 could help even the highly technical, fast-paced business of racing be more productive.”
The 2011 American Le Mans Series gets underway with the Winter Test, Feb. 8-10, 2011, at Sebring International Raceway in Florida. The first race of the year will be the famed 12 Hours of Sebring, March 16-19. Television details have not yet been announced.
About Level 5 Motorsports
Level 5 Motorsports has fielded successful entries in the American Le Mans Series, NASCAR Grand Am Series, Ferrari Challenge Series and the Sports Car Club of America since 2007. Owner and driver Scott Tucker has earned three national championships and has over 40 wins and 60 podium finishes in his driving career.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. www.microsoft.com
About Honda Performance Development
Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993, and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for American Honda high- performance racing cars and engines. In addition to its role as single engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series, HPD is active in a variety of motorsports activities from pinnacle through grassroots, including this year’s class win in its inaugural attempt at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Level 5 Motorsports Earns Second Consecutive Sebring Win
24th March 2011
For the second consecutive year, Level 5 Motorsports claimed victory in the historic 12 Hours of Sebring with an impressive debut for both Microsoft Office 2010 Honda-powered Lola LMP2 entries. The No. 055 Lola Spyder earned the top spot on the podium after a drama-filled run for the team of Scott Tucker, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Luis Diaz. The team's second car — a Lola Coupe — came home fourth with Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Joao Barbosa sharing the driving duties.
"This has been a great week for this whole Level 5 organization," said Tucker, winner of multiple series and national driving championships. "When we made this move up to the LMP2 class, we knew we had our work cut out for us. And to come out of the gate with a win and a strong run — we're thrilled. This is such a grueling race and it means so much to win here."
The solid finishes have given Level 5 a great start in the American Le Mans Series as well as the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. But the results did not come easily. After first getting the brand new cars on track just one week ago, the team worked tirelessly throughout the week of practice and qualifying to get ready for the notoriously challenging 12-hour race. But the experienced crew overcame each obstacle to keep the cars on track throughout the event.
"This morning I had a feeling we were going to win it," said IZOD IndyCar star Ryan Hunter-Reay who took the checkered flag in the No. 055. "To win at Sebring in the 12 Hours as a Florida kid is a dream come true. And especially to do it with Honda and Level 5 — this is really cool."
With the Level 5 Lolas running first and second at times during the race, it looked as though perhaps a sweep atop the podium was in store. But things are known to change quickly at Sebring. After getting to the front, the No. 055 lost its left rear wheel when the wheel nut came loose. A slow ride in to the pits compounded the problem putting the car two laps down. Not long after that, the No. 33 made contact on track with a slower car and suffered a suspension problem as a result. That forced the car off the track for repairs for an extended period of time.
"Apparently, it is not good to be leader in LMP2 in this race," said Bouchut, a three-time FIA GT winner, "because as soon as you take the lead you have problems."
The strong finishes mean the team has recorded points for both cars in the ALMS LMP2 class as it looks to back up its 2010 LMPC Championship. In addition, the No. 33 earned points in the ILMC where the team is competing for a World Championship this year.
"You put so much into it that it is good to know you are secure for those points," said Team Manager David Stone. "You really can't say enough about what this team has done here this week."
The team will begin immediately preparing for the next ALMS event at the famed street circuit in Long Beach, California, April 16. The next event on the ILMC calendar is the famed 24 Hours of Spa May 8.
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