Level 5 jumps to LMP Challenge

Christophe Bouchut

Level 5 Motorsports is the latest championship-winning team to confirm its entry into the American Le Mans Series’ Le Mans Prototype Challenge class for 2010. Based in Madison, Wis., Level 5 will compete in the full nine-round championship with ORECA’s FLM09 prototype.

Team owner Scott Tucker and former Le Mans 24 Hours winner Christophe Bouchut will compete for the full season . The pairing also is entered for the Series’ annual Winter Test on February 22-23 at Sebring International Raceway. Level 5 expects to take delivery of its FLM09 today and is the sixth team to purchase an ORECA-built racer.

“We are excited to be racing at Sebring this year in the new Le Mans Prototype Challenge class," said team manager David Stone, who has an extensive history of competing in the International Motor Sports Association, which sanctions the American Le Mans Series. “The new LMPC class has certainly been intriguing since it was announced last year. The number of cars continues to increase each week, which should make for some great competition."

New for 2010, the FLM09 has a minimum weight of 900 kilograms and produces approximately 430 hp. The FLM09 features a full carbon fiber chassis, carbon brakes, and an Xtrac sequential gearbox with paddle shifting. All LMPC cars will race on single-supply Michelin tires.

Already, Tucker has spent considerable time behind the wheel of an FLM09. He posted two second-place finishes at Paul Ricard in the Le Mans Winter Racing Series despite never having set foot inside the car.

“The car is an impressive proven racing package," Tucker said. “Carbon brakes, paddle shift Xtrac gearboxes … all the boxes are checked. Everyone on the team has been pleasantly surprised at the growing field of car and the job the American Le Mans Series’ management has done. We are looking forward to the strong competition at Sebring and throughout the year."

Level 5 brings an impressive pedigree of motorsports championships on a number of levels. Most recently, the team placed third overall at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Its Wisconsin headquarters houses a 60,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art racing, engineering and fabrication facility with a full time dedicated staff of over 20 professionals. In short, it is well-equipped to handle the start of its LMPC program.

“The aims of this season are to be as competitive as we can," Bouchut said. “With Scott, we make a very homogenous and solid team, which will be a vital factor."

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

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