Scott Tucker is certainly a fantastic race car driver, but when you add the fact he competes not just in the ALMS and the ILMS but also the Ferrari Challenge series, Tucker becomes an incredible race car driver-unbelievable not simply a result of the schedule he keeps, but because of his continual success on the track. The first FC race of the 2011 year for Tucker and his Level 5 Motorsports team was the debut of the Ferrari 458 Challenge-the 5th model to be utilized since the series began in early 90s-at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

The 458 model was a newcomer to the race, but Tucker plus the car were old friends. He tested the automobile exclusively in Spain the previous fall and again at the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend in the spring of 2011. The Ferrari 458 model is lighter and quicker in comparison with its Italia 458 counterpart. The vehicle boasts 570 horsepower; 9,000 RPM direct injection V8 engine, and its gearbox is modified to raise torque at lower revolutions. The vehicle is also designed with a top-quality traction control system that was manufactured by Ferrari. The device is based on logic and techniques from Ferrari’s experience in the Formula One series.

Tucker entered this year’s FC season with four wins on the Infineon course, which covers approximately 2.5 miles with 12 turns. Overall, the Level 5 team fared well in the weekend’s set of FC races. “We came out with two cars, but because we were trying a new product with a new seat, it caused some issues with technical people here, so we pulled out one car,” said team manager David Stone. “The car we were able to run didn’t get the new gearbox update, so we’ve been tentative about that.”

But a race car is as nice as the sum of all its parts-and one of those parts is the driver. Tucker started the first race in fifth place. After some contact around the first corner, he bunkered down and worked his way up the rankings. His smart driving earned Level 5 a first-place ranking. “We extremely happy we got the win here with our 458 car,” said one engineer.

“I was trying to get up as fast as I could without making contact or being too aggressive,” said Tucker. “We had a good car, and fortunately it worked out for us in the end.”

Another of the FC pair wasn’t as seamless as its predecessor; Level 5 decided not to qualify because of a first-lap penalty the previous day. “We have a double whammy where we started in the back and we had another penalty,” Stone said. “Scott will have his work cut out for him. Getting on the podium is a tall order on this track.”

Along with the penalties and race placement, Tucker and the Level 5 team had to face the challenge of a shorter race-the clock ran approximately 10 minutes short in 2011 compared to previous years. “There will be a little less time to work toward the front, but it is what it is, and the goal will be to come out of here with as many points as we can,” Stone said.

Tucker delivered a stellar performance despite the hiccups, weaving through traffic efficiently with the front of the line his unwavering goal. While the 458 car started last, Tucker brought it over the line sixth, no small feat considering the circumstances. “It was a good race; we started last and finished sixth with no damage to the car,” Tucker said. “It’s about as good as you can do.”

With a solid performance again in May at the first FC series race of the year, Tucker continued on his whirlwind race schedule with an ILMC stop in Belgium for the Spa.

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Tucker and his Level 5 Motorsports teammates recently began the final quarter of a racing year that has included numerous podium appearances, multiple car changes, incredible accomplishments and yet still room for improvement. Tucker, owner and driver for Level 5, has been a leader for the team despite the rookie status he maintained merely months ago. His tight, balanced driving has earned him top honors in the American Le Mans Series as Rookie of the Year and Champion Driver in 2010. His races often end with stints on the podium, and his career has only just begun.

As Tucker, his co-drivers Christophe Bouchut and Luis Diaz and team manager David Stone prepare to close the calendar year with the all-important Petit Le Mans and the Ferrari International Finals, the stakes are high-the team has woven itself a reputation of excellence that is best understood by looking back at what has made 2011 a stunning year for Level 5.

Fresh off a mind-blowing victory at their 24 Hours of Le Mans debut, the Level 5 team, owned by driver Scott Tucker and comprising also Christophe Bouchut and Joao Barbosa, headed to Bologna, Italy with their Microsoft Office-sponsored Lola Honda. What seemed to be another handy victory for the team turned into a bittersweet day after some late-race malfunctions prevented yet another historic victory for the Wisconsin-based team.

All three drivers delivered again impressive performances behind the wheel. At first maintaining a 6th place spot on the grid of LMP2 competitors, they moved to the lead with less than two hours remaining. Bouchut manned the final leg of the race, taking the wheel with just more than an hour to go. The victory was theirs, just an official checkered flag from being official. But 25 minutes before the end, Bouchut’s voice crackled over the radio to announce gear selection problems.

The car was stuck in fourth gear because of a gear actuator malfunction. Bouchut, a veteran in the motorsports industry and one of the most successful endurance drivers in the world, managed to persevere through to the checkered flag using only 3 gears. Ultimately, the team gained a third-place finish. Where they first enjoyed a 15-second lead, they now faced the reality that the win they nearly grasped was no more-and it was taking a while to sink in. “That’s racing,” Tucker said. “Still, ending up on the podium with this level of competition is incredible. Unfortunately, it isn’t sinking in right now because we were so close to a win here.”

Although victory eluded them, the team gained great experience in a tough field of competitors, and they experienced a significant performance increase driving the Spyder, the car they switched to from the 2010 Lola Coupe after the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “It was the first time we drove the Lola-Honda Spyder and it definitely proved to be the right choice,” Barbosa said. “We were much more competitive than in the previous races. We still have to work on speed and qualifying pace, but we were strong heading into the race. That took us to the lead. There’s a few more races to go, so hopefully we can continue to improve this package.”

Improvement seems hardly a possibility when you consider the podium standing the team had already done at this point in the year. With any losses being less due to driver performance than mechanical issues, a clean car seemingly guaranteed Level 5 top finishes. With the win ever-present in their minds, the team looked ahead to continuing the ALMS season with races at Lime Rock Park and Mosport International Raceway in Ontario.

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