Following a record-setting season, Level 5 Motorsports announced over the weekend their intention to field two Honda-powered Lola entries in the American Le Mans Series' LMP2 division for the 2011 season. The move comes after the team won five events en route to the overall LMPC title and woner / driver Scott Tucker being named Rookie of the Year.
“We took our time to evaluate who the best partners would be,” Tucker said. “Both Lola and Honda are very strong professional motorsports organisations that have proven winning traditions and goals that align very well with ours for the 2011 season.”
“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, havings won the Rolex 24 At Daytona (1995), the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1993) and the 24 Hours of Spa (2001 and 2002). Interestingly, Bouchut is also the only driver to be crowned triple FIA GT champion.
“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.”
