Level 5 Motorsports News - Daytona Prototype

Tucker Selected to Test New Prototype Ferrari 599XX

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:25:00 -0400

Scott Tucker, the most successful racer in Ferrari Challenge history, has been selected to assist Ferrari S.p.A. in the development of their next generation of supercars and road cars. Tucker was personally invited to be a factory test pilot by Ferrari's CEO, Amedeo Felisa on January 14th. "This is a tremendous honor," Tucker said. "As a long-time Ferrari driver, being asked to help develop the next-generation of Maranello supercars is truly a thrill. My experience behind the wheel of many Ferrari GT race cars should be a great asset to the process." Tucker will first put the 599XX, a racing derivative of the successful front engine 12-cylinder GT car, through its paces at North America's Homestead-Miami Speedway. When Mr. Amedeo invited Tucker he thanked him for "being among our most valuable clients." One of only seven drivers, and the sole worldwide Ferrari Challenge driver, he is testing the car in a private session and exhibition, the first ever to be held on American soil. Future test sessions will occur at notable race tracks on nearly every continent, providing Ferrari with valuable feedback which they will use to refine and develop next generation technologies for the company's race and road cars.

This latest round of testing among a select group of international drivers is yet another step in a complex process for the legendary manufacturer. Last month, at the Ricardo Tormo circuit outside of Valencia, Spain, the 599XX made its on-track debut with F1 driver Felipe Massa behind the wheel. This weekend's North American debut will feature another select group of experienced Ferrari drivers putting the car through its paces.

Tucker is in South Florida for the opening round of the 2010 Ferrari Challenge Series. In 2009, Tucker bested all other drivers finishing on the podium in every race and chalking up an unmatched 11 race victories.

"Last season was incredible," Tucker said. "We're excited to return to the track in the F430 Challenge car. But, I have to tell you, getting the chance to shake down the 599XX Prototype in 2010 is something I am really looking forward to as well." In addition to running in the Ferrari Challenge Championship, Tucker's Level 5 Motorsports competes in the Grand America Rolex Sports Car Series and the American Le Mans Series. This weekend's activities come during a hectic March for the team as the first three weekends in the month see Tucker and the team at the track in each respective series.

Level 5 Motorsports Has Strong Run in Homestead

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:05:00 -0400

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HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- The two-car team of Level 5 Motorsports battled a strong field and tough circuit in the Grand Prix of Miami Saturday and proved it was equal to the challenge. Both of the team's Crown Royal Cask No. 16 BMW Riley Daytona Prototype entries had strong runs, but were victims of racing misfortunes that put an end to their hopes of podium finish. Team owner and driver Scott Tucker started the race in the No. 55 entry and spent time in both of the team's cars, sharing the driving duties with IndyCar Series standout Ryan Hunter-Reay in the No. 95 and journeyman driver Christophe Bouchut in the No. 55. Both cars started strong and seemed poised to finish strong until a separate problems put them behind the eight ball.

After starting 6th and leading two laps early in the race, the No. 95, with Hunter-Reay behind the wheel, went off track in turn 1 as the car developed handling issues. That forced the team into the pits a little more than an hour into the race for repairs. Despite that setback, the team rallied as Tucker took over the badly-damaged car and regained many of the spots they lost while the team repaired the car. He brought the car home 14th in class and 19th overall, an impressive accomplishment given the shape of the car. But, that stellar performance came after Tucker was forced into the pits for a penalty as the No. 55 car was black-flagged for missing the Grand-Am mandated driver-change window due to an in-car radio failure. Tucker was embroiled in fierce racing and the crew was unable to direct him into the pits due the faulty radio. That penalty was enough to put the team a lap down, a deficit that they were unable to overcome.

"It was tough out there today," said Tucker. "You've got a tough track, tough competition and changing conditions as the day wore on. On top of that, we lose radio communication -- of all things -- and we paid a steep price for that. We're happy with the performance of both cars considering all of that. We had two cars that should have been in contention at the end." Bouchut, who competed in the entire 2009 season with Tucker in the No. 55, produced yet another steady performance posting lap times in that rivaled the leaders during the race. He took over driving duties in the car as Tucker moved to the No. 95. The sports car racing veteran has been a model of consistency and has helped the team remain a threat to win each time they take to the track. Coming into the Grand Prix of Miami, the Level 5 Motorsports team was riding high after a podium finish at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in January. A strong finish in the most prestigious sports car event in North America proved the team was prepared to rise to any challenge. "This team consistently brings strong equipment -- every race," said Tucker. "This team is as good as they come and I couldn't be more proud of them. We showed a lot of heart today."

Veteran racer Scott Pruett took his Chip Ganassi Racing BMW Riley to victory for his 23rd career Grand Am race win. Pruett was had to hold off a late race challenge by David Donohue after a late caution brought the field together for a restart. The Level 5 team and Tucker return to Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend to put his Ferrari F430 Challenge car to the test in the 2010 Ferrari Challenge Series. Tucker found Victory Lane more than any other driver in the series in 2009 and looks to continue his winning ways this year. The Level 5 team then leaves Homestead-Miami Speedway, but they don't have far to go as they compete in just two weeks in the American Le Mans Series 12 Hours of Sebring at nearby Sebring International Raceway. The team will field two entries in the Le Mans Prototype Challenge class in the historic race.

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 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED beginning at 10 a.m. ET. ABOUT CROWN ROYAL CANADIAN WHISKY Crown Royal Canadian whisky is the number one selling Canadian whisky brand in the United States by value, and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian whisky's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. For more information visit www.crownroyal.com. It's about quality, not quantity.

ABOUT DIAGEO Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines. Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.

Tucker, Level 5 Team Qualify in Top of Homestead Field

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:54:00 -0400

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- After a strong qualifying run at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Level 5 Motorsports team is ready to carry momentum into Saturday's Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The team is coming off a podium finish at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January and the two-car team has a strong track record on this challenging 2.3-mile road course. Owner/driver Scott Tucker qualified the No. 55 Daytona Prototype 14th, and it was IndyCar standout Ryan Hunter-Reay qualifying the No. 95 Daytona Prototype in sixth-place. Tucker will spend time in both cars as veteran Christophe Bouchut rounds out the driver line-up in the No. 55 DP. "We are thrilled with our qualifying run. Ryan did a great job landing at sixth," Tucker said. "We love racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Thanks to our run here last year, our drivers have a great deal of experience at this track. That will count when we get on the track Saturday. "We are out to prove something here this weekend and I think we're on our way." Tucker turned in a speed of 112.756 mph (1:13.433). Hunter-Reay set a best-lap speed of 114.45 mph (1:12.346) in the No. 95.

The Level 5 Motorsports team is looking forward to continuing their good luck at Homestead-Miami Speedway when the green flag waves Saturday. In 2009, with Tucker performung double-duty spending time behind the wheel in both cars the BMW Rileys ran consistently in the top of the field and finished exceptionally well. The team looked to have its first victory in sight when late-race challenges relegated the No. 55 and No. 95 to sixth- and 11th-place finishes respectively. Returning to the site of their first event as a two-car effort -- and near victory -- means great expectations for the team. "The team still has momentum from 2009," Tucker said. "What we did at Daytona just made us hungrier. We're ready to win a race, and we know we're capable of doing that at Homestead." This weekend's Grand Prix of Miami brings together an impressive array of sports car drivers with stars from all walks of racing. The challenging circuit offers great racing and a true test of driving skill -- a test that Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team have already proven they pass.

The Level 5 cars will start up front with Darren Law and David Donohue in the No. 59 Porsche Riley. Rounding out the top five are John Fogarty and Alex Gurney in the No. 99, Brian Frisselle and Michael Valiante in the No. 6, Memo Rojas and Scott Pruett in the No. 01, and Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli in the No. 10. The Grand Prix of Miami will get under way Saturday, March 6, at Homestead-Miami Speedway and will be broadcast on SPEED starting at 5 p.m. EST. For more information and updates throughout the weekend, visit level5motorsports.com. ABOUT CROWN ROYAL CANADIAN WHISKY Crown Royal Canadian whisky is the number one selling Canadian whisky brand in the United States by value, and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian whisky's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. For more information visit www.crownroyal.com. It's about quality, not quantity.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines. Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.

No. 55 Level 5 Motorsports DP Team Seeks Redemption in Homestead

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:41:00 -0400

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - When the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series came to Homestead-Miami Speedway last October, the Level 5 Daytona Prototype team and owner / driver Scott Tucker were on a roll. In an impressive showing, the team's BMW-powered Riley had not finished outside the top 10 in any previous event during the 2009 season. The team entered two cars with strong driver rosters: Tucker and veteran Christophe Bouchut, in their familiar roles as the co-drivers of the No. 55 DP, were joined by IndyCar standout Ryan Hunter-Reay with the addition of the No. 95 to the stable. After the team qualified fifth and 13th with the two entries, an impressive run saw both cars atop the leaderboard during the race with the team's first race win in sight. However, an ill-timed caution flag and a challenging call in the pits relegated the No. 55 to a sixth-place finish and an 11th-place finish for the No. 95. "We were certainly pleased with that run," said Tucker of the season- ending performance at Homestead. "But the finish was not what that effort deserved. Running up top with both cars showed that we were the team to beat -- no doubt."

This weekend marks the return of the Rolex Series to South Florida and the Level 5 team is looking for redemption. Once again, the stellar line-up of Tucker, Bouchut and Hunter-Reay make the trip to Homestead- Miami while trying to continue a positive trend. The team is coming off yet another strong finish in the 2010 campaign's season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, the series' most prestigious event. Again, the BMW Rileys performed exceptionally well. With Tucker doing double- duty - taking shifts in both cars - it was the No. 95 this time enjoying the podium ceremony and a third-place finish. The No. 55 finished a respectable ninth despite engine troubles late in the event. "Obviously, we were thrilled to be on the podium at Daytona," said Tucker. "The team picked up where we left off last year and we're poised for more great things. But we're really feeling like we've got something to prove at Homestead. We focused right now on getting to the top of the podium and this weekend would be very fitting place to do that." Last fall's Grand Prix of Miami marked the first time the line-up of Tucker, Bouchut and Hunter-Reay competed and it has proven to be a great combination as Tucker splits his time between the two entries - both of which are to be considered contenders any given weekend. Returning to the site of their first event as a two-car effort - and near victory - means great expectations for the team.

"Everyone is determined to see these cars run up front," said Team Manger David Stone. "We've got drivers who have proven they can put the car in a position to win and we've got to ensure they have the equipment to keep them there." This weekend's Grand Prix of Miami will once again be a "Who's Who" of sports car racing with stars from all walks of racing competing on the 2.3-mile, 11-turn road course. The challenging circuit offers great racing and a true test of driving skill - a test that Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team have already proven they pass. "We come to the track to win. Period," said Tucker. "That's what is on our mind from the minute we unload the cars until the checkered flag flies. We're proud of our great record of strong finishes. But the top of the podium is the goal." The Grand Prix of Miami will be held Saturday, March 6, at Homestead- Miami Speedway. For more information and updates throughout the weekend, visit level5motorsports.com .

Level 5 Motorsports Drives to Podium Finish in Prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:28:00 -0400

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Level 5 Motorsports team, led by team owner and starting driver Scott Tucker, secured a solid third-place podium finish in the 48th edition of the grueling Rolex 24 At Daytona, to successfully kick off the 2010 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 season.

Tucker started the race in extreme conditions - a heavy downpour - and Ryan Hunter-Reay finished the round-the-clock event in the No. 95 Crown Royal Level 5 Motorsports BMW Riley, giving the team its second-ever visit to the podium. Its first came at Watkins Glen International in the Crown Royal 200 in August 2009.

Level 5 Motorsports' other car, the No. 55 Crown Royal BMW Riley co-driven by Tucker, came home ninth in DP competition. Tucker is the only driver in the illustrious history of the Rolex 24 At Daytona to race two different Daytona Prototypes during the endurance event.

The third-place finish at Daytona finish pleased Crown Royal executives.

"A podium finish in an epic sports car endurance race like the Rolex 24 at Daytona is certainly a moment worthy of toasting responsibly with Crown Royal," said Rob Mason, Senior Brand Manager for Crown Royal. "We congratulate Scott Tucker and the entire team on a stellar performance to start the season."

Only the second appearance for Level 5 Motorsports in Daytona Prototype competition, the Rolex 24 podium put the No. 95 team in third place overall in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series standings heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway in March.

Tucker, Christophe Bouchut, Hunter-Reay, Lucas Luhr and Richard Westbrook celebrated their podium finish in Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway, the "World Center of Racing," Sunday afternoon

"I am tremendously proud of the effort put forth by this Crown Royal Level 5 Motorsports team," Tucker said. "I've really got to take my hat off to all of the guys -- Ryan and all of the rest of the drivers did a fantastic job, as did the team and the organization. The competition here at Daytona is so tough. I'm really proud of everybody and all the work that they've done."

Bouchut, Tucker's regular teammate during the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season, relished the podium finish for the Crown Royal Level 5 Motorsports team.

"This was certainly a very good start to the season for this team," Bouchut said. "I'm very happy for the team."

During the television broadcast of the race, SPEED analysts continually praised Tucker for putting together an impressive lineup of talent for both Crown Royal Racing Level 5 Motorsports cars. Tucker, Bouchut, Sebastien Bourdais, Sascha Maassen and Emmanuel Collard co-piloted the No. 55 BMW Riley.

"Scott is obviously a visionary who wanted to win this race badly. That's why he put together such a great group of drivers," said Level 5 team manager David Stone. "He did a fantastic job in putting this team together for the biggest sports car race of the year."

The No. 95 BMW Riley led the race three times for 11 laps during the 24 hours.

Hunter-Reay took over for Westbrook for the final two hours of endurance event. He was able to make up one position and finished behind the No. 9 and the No. 01 BMW Riley of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.

"I feel great. I've been up for two days and I could still keep going," Hunter-Reay said after the race. "The team did an awesome job. We did what we could do, and the guys on the team did a great job. I'm really happy to finally be on the podium. Watching this in Victory Lane is what feeds your appetite to come back. I'm just happy to be here with the Level 5 guys, and I've got to thank Scott Tucker for making it all happen."

The ninth hour, however, proved to be the most interesting and competitive for the Crown Royal Level 5 team. On lap 277, Westbrook waged an intense battle with the No. 75 Krohn Racing Ford Lola and the No. 59 Brumos Porsche for the lead for approximately 20 laps.

When Westbrook came into the pits and Luhr jumped into the seat of the car, the team encountered a problem with the seat belt. The No. 95 BMW Riley lost a lap in the pits and dropped from second place to seventh place, from seconds off the lead to more than two minutes off the lead.

"The reason why we got two laps down was because of a seat belt," Hunter-Reay said. "We got some tape caught in the belt and it wouldn't close. It's amazing that something as simple as a belt can keep you from winning this race."

Westbrook concurred.

"We really deserved better than we got," Westbrook said. "If it weren't for the seat belt mishap, we could have stayed on the lead lap. I'm not sure if we could have won the race, but we certainly didn't disgrace ourselves. For me, I'm just unbelievably proud and happy and grateful to Scott Tucker and the team for giving me this chance. I loved every minute of it."

After making up three positions on the track, on lap 329, the No. 95 BMW Riley experienced another problem, a brake issue, that cost it more than four minutes in the pits. That dropped the No. 95 four laps down and into sixth place with 13 ½ hours remaining.

The team remained four laps down for the remainder of the race.

"You can't say enough about the effort of the guys in the pits and how they kept us out on the track," Tucker said. "This was a total team effort, from the drivers to pit crew, everybody. This is a really long race, and everybody performed at the highest level."

With the race beginning under downpour conditions, the No. 55 BMW Riley got off to a solid beginning after taking the green flag from the sixth position. Bouchut, in grand style, advanced to third by Lap 50, just 9.3 second behind the No. 01 of Scott Pruett.

After several pit stops and driver changes, the No. 55 made its way back to fourth in the race's eighth hour, on Lap 183, just 10.5 seconds off the lead. At the same time, Hunter-Reay stood seventh in the No. 95.

It was at lap 241, however, that the No. 55 dropped from contention when Bouchut pulled into the pits and then into garage after contact with the No. 75 Krohn Aviation Ford Proto-Auto Lola. The No. 55 BMW Riley lost numerous laps after a 67-minute stay in the garage area.

The No. 55 BMW Riley finally retired to the garage area during the race's final hour on lap 673 when its Dinan BMW engine failed, with Collard behind the wheel.

The No. 9 Action Express Racing Porsche Riley, driven by Joao Barbosa, Terry Borcheller, Ryan Dalziel and Mike Rockenfeller, won the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The No. 95 BMW Riley finished four laps behind the leaders.

The Crown Royal Level 5 Motorsports team returns to the track March 6 at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Grand Prix of Miami, the second of 12 races for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series in 2010.

"This was a very good start for this Crown Royal Level 5 Motorsports team," Tucker said. "It should give us a lot of steam and momentum heading to Homestead-Miami. We're looking forward to that race with great enthusiasm."

ABOUT CROWN ROYAL CANADIAN WHISKY

Crown Royal Canadian whisky is the number one selling Canadian whisky brand in the United States by value, and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian whisky's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. For more information visit www.crownroyal.com. It's about quality, not quantity.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.

LEVEL 5 MOTORSPORTS BRINGS TOP DRIVERS, SPONSORS TO THE ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:42:00 -0400

January 15, 2010 - Level 5 Motorsports has announced a star-studded driver and sponsor lineup for both of its cars it will field in the 48th Rolex 24 At Daytona January 30-31. The race kicks off the 2010 season for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.

Series regulars Scott Tucker and Christophe Bouchut, coming off a tremendously successful 2009 campaign, will co-pilot both the No. 55 and No. 95 BMW Riley Daytona Prototypes during the prestigious annual twice-around-the-clock endurance event at the "World Center of Racing."

In 2009, Tucker scored a single-season record 10 victories in the Ferrari Challenge Series and won the Ferrari Challenge Dealership Championship for Boardwalk Ferrari. In 2009, Tucker also won the Sports Car Club of America National Championship in a Ferrari 430. Bouchut, one of the winningest endurance drivers in the world, is a past winner of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Spa. He has also won three Porsche Carrera Cup France championships, three FIA GT titles and a FFSA GT championship. He is the only triple FIA GT champion in history.

Tucker and Bouchut will be joined at Daytona in the No. 55 BMW Riley by Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais, recently with the Red Bull Formula One team and one of the most successful drivers in the history of the Champ Car World Series. Bourdais won an unprecedented four consecutive championships in the Champ Car World Series from 2004 to 2007. Bourdais is also a winner of the 24 Hours of Spa in 2002 and finished second over all in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2007 and 2009.

Co-driving the No. 55 is veteran sports car driver Sascha Maassen and Frenchman Emmanuel Collard. Maassen, a past champion in the American Le Mans Series, finished fourth in the 2002 and 2006 Rolex 24. He is also a past American LeMans LMP2 co-champion, an ALMS GT champion and winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2003 and 2004. Collard is a past winner of the 2005 Rolex 24 in a Daytona Prototype, the 24 Hours of Spa and the Porsche Supercup Driver's championship.

Joining Tucker and Bouchut in the No. 95 BMW Riley is IZOD IndyCar Series standout Ryan Hunter-Reay, who scored an IndyCar Series victory at Watkins Glen International. Hunter-Reay won the GRAND-AM Rolex Series season finale at Miller Motorsports Park in 2007 and finished eighth overall in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2008.

Also co-piloting the No. 95 is Audi Factory driver German Lucas Luhr, who won the pole position for the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Luhr also won the GT class in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and an American LeMans LMP2 and GT championship.

Another addition to the Level 5 lineup for the No. 95 BMW Riley is Englishman Richard Westbrook, the 2006 and 2007 Porsche Supercup champion. In 2009, Westbrook won the FIA GT championship. He is also a past champion in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB class and the Porsche Supercup.

"We've assembled a tremendous amount of talent and experience for the Rolex 24," said Tucker, team owner of Level 5 Motorsports. "We've got drivers that know what this event is all about and have the experience to manage a good result. We're really looking forward to a great season opener."

Crown Royal and its Crown Royal Cask No. 16 brand will be featured as the primary sponsor on both the No. 55 and No. 95 BMW Rileys during the weekend. Crown Royal executives are pleased to hook their brand to the rising star of the Level 5 Motorsports team. The No. 55 Level 5 BMW Riley, with Tucker and Bouchut behind the wheel, is the only car in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series to have finished in the top 10 in every race (nine) it entered in 2009. "The Rolex 24 At Daytona is an iconic endurance event in the sport of motor racing and Crown Royal is proud to partner with such an organization as Level 5 Motorsports," said Rob Mason, Senior Brand Manager, Crown Royal.

Back with Level 5 Motorsports for the 2010 season is US Bank and SupercarLife, the Las Vegas-based driving experience. Additional partners include record label Bulldog Productions, SellingSource, Boardwalk Ferrari and Kennol Performance Oil.

ABOUT CROWN ROYAL CANADIAN WHISKY

ABOUT DIAGEO

TUCKER AND SUPERCAR LIFE TEAM DELIVER BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE DAYTONA PROTOTYPE SEASON

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:34:00 -0400

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- With driver Scott Tucker pulling rare double duty, Supercar Life Racing closed out the 2009 Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series with an impressive two-car effort. The pair of BMW Riley Daytona Prototypes finished sixth and 11th respectively. Tucker, who has campaigned the season with Christophe Bouchut in the No. 55 BMW Riley, joined IndyCar series competitor Ryan Hunter-Reay in the team's second entry. After setting the fastest times in qualifying sessions Thursday and Friday, the team earned fifth and 13th starting positions for Saturday's Grand Prix of Miami. The teams mounted very strong efforts -- at one point running first and second -- with Tucker taking turns behind the wheel of each car. The No. 55, with Bouchut, came home sixth after leading 12 laps, while the No. 95 with Reay finished an impressive 11th in that car's first on-track appearance. "What a great way to finish the Rolex season," Tucker said. "Christophe has shown all season what a talent he is and he proved it again here. It was great to watch what Ryan could do in the car." The pair of Bouchut and Tucker have not finished outside the top 10 in any Rolex Sports Car Series event this year as the team was the model of consistency. Their on-track performance and off-track professionalism is what attracted Hunter-Reay to the Supercar Life effort. "I saw the opportunity to team up with Scott and Christophe as a very unique challenge," Hunter-Reay said. "The opportunity was offered to do something that nobody has done at that track -- racing both the oval and the road course on the same day." Racing in 95-degree-plus heat, Tucker, in the No. 55 BMW Riley, jumped four spots in the first 10 laps and consistently posted lap times as faster or faster than the leaders. At one point, he passed former Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice after shadowing him for approximately five laps. Tucker posted his fastest lap time of the race, 1:13.885, which at the time was the fourth fastest lap in the field. The team was poised for its first victory of the season, but an ill-timed caution flag, along with a challenging call in the pits, kept Supercar Life Racing out of Victory Lane. Joao Barbosa and Hurley Haywood won Saturday's Grand Prix of Miami in their Brumos Porshe. The race ended under caution following a multi-car spin on a restart with six minutes remaining, when Jared Beyer was turned around in front of a pack of cars -- eliminating Beyer while damaging many of the GT contenders. That gave the Acxiom GT victory to Kelly Collins and Paul Edwards in the No. 07 Team Drinkin' Mate Pontiac GXP.R, while Leh Keen and Dirk Werner captured the championship with a third-place finish. Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney finished fourth to capture their second Daytona Prototype championship. Tucker came to Miami after recently winning the Sports Car Club of America's National Championship Runoffs, earning him his first national championship as a driver. Tucker piloted his Supercar Life F430 Challenge Ferrari to an impressive win less than two weeks ago. Next up for the journeyman driver, Tucker looks to take his winning ways to Valencia, Spain, in November in an attempt to solidify the championship in the Ferrari Challenge Series, where he currently has a 75-point lead the series point standings. Congratulations to the Supercar Life team for a job well done at Homestead-Miami Speedway!

SUPERCAR LIFE RACING TEAMS QUALIFY FIFTH, 13TH AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:09:00 -0400

During Friday's qualifying for the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series season finale, the No. 95 Supercar Life Racing team put itself in a strong position Friday to challenge for a victory in Saturday's Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series season finale Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The No. 95 Supercar Life BMW-Riley Daytona Prototype, with drivers Scott Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Ryan Hunter-Reay, qualified in the fifth position for Saturday's race with a fast lap of 112.774 mph (1:13.421) around the 2.3-mile, 11-turn road course. Supercar Life Racing's other entry in the Grand Prix of Miami, the No. 55 BMW-Riley DP, qualified in the 13th position Friday with a lap of 111.31 mph (1:14.387). Tucker, Bouchut and Hunter-Reay are mounting a history-making, two-car entrant for Supercar Life Racing in the 250-mile event. The Grand Prix of Miami is the eighth race for the Supercar Life team. In seven starts this season, Tucker and Bouchut saw their best result in the No. 55 Supercar Life Racing BMW-Riley DP at Watkins Glen International in July, when the duo drove to a third-place podium finish. The two drivers have never finished outside of the top 10 this season. "Fifth is not a bad place to start. We can certainly work our way to the front," Tucker said. "I'm proud to be part of this two-car effort this weekend. I certainly know what Christophe is capable of, and I'm really looking forward to racing with Ryan. I think we'll be able to get up there and challenge for a victory. It would be a great way to end the season." The No. 55 Supercar Life BMW Riley team was fastest in practice sessions on both Thursday and Friday. Bouchut ran the fastest lap in Thursday's opening practice, a lap of 113.242 mph (1:13.118). On Friday, Bouchut ran a fast practice lap of 113.136 mph (1:13.186). Hunter-Reay is an IndyCar Series regular who will pull double duty Saturday. He will drive the No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing entry in the IndyCar Series Firestone Indy 300, a race scheduled to begin at 4:45 p.m. "I saw the opportunity to team up with Scott and Christophe as a very unique challenge," Hunter-Reay said. "I was very interested in working with Bill Riley and the Supercar Life team and driving for A.J. Foyt on the same weekend. I drove with Bill in two SunTrust 24 Hour races at Daytona, and he is going to be running the second Supercar Life Racing DP car this weekend for Scott. "The opportunity was offered to do something that nobody has done at that track -- racing both the oval and the road course on the same day," he continued. "I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun this weekend. Hopefully we can come out with two great finishes." The GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing team, with drivers Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney, won the pole for Saturday's race with a fast lap of 113.613 mph (1:12.879) in their No. 99 Pontiac Riley. Fogarty and Gurney lead the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series standings with 309 points, while the Suntrust Racing team of Brian Frisselle and Max Angelelli, who qualified second with a lap of 113.172 mph [need time], come into the season finale just eight points behind. Rounding out the top five qualifiers are: the No. 12 Penske Racing team of Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard in third; the No. 61 AIM Autosport team of Mark Wilkins and Burt Frisselle in fourth; followed by the No. 95 Supercar Life team. The Supercar Life Racing team comes into the weekend's race fresh off a thrilling championship win in the Sept. 26 Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championship Runoffs at Road America, when Tucker drove the No. 55 Supercar Life F430 Challenge car to victory and a National Championship in the T1 race. The week before that, Tucker battled to reclaim the points lead in the Ferrari Challenge Series at New Jersey Motorsports Park; the team heads to Valencia, Spain, in November for the Series' International World Finals. Saturday's Grand Prix of Miami will be Tucker's first Daytona Prototype start on the Homestead course. His initial Grand-Am Rolex Series run at the south Florida course was in a GT Porsche GT3 in the 2007 Grand Prix of Miami, when he and teammate Ed Zabinski finished 11th in class. Saturday's Grand Prix of Miami is set for a 1 p.m. ET start.

SUPERCAR LIFE RACING SECURES ANOTHER TOP 10 ROLEX SERIES FINISH IN SLICK WEATHER CONDITIONS

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:26:00 -0400

Despite constantly-changing weather conditions during the Montreal 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the Supercar Life Racing team fought their way to ninth position and posted the second-fastest lap time (01:33.269) in another tight Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series battle. With a no-mistakes-allowed configuration, Circuit Gilles Villenueve's deep history as Canada's premiere motorsports venue made Saturday's event one of the most hotly contested in Daytona Prototype racing. "No matter the venue, the challenge is always the same: fight for every position while keeping the car in one piece," Tucker said. "From start to finish, this team found the right balance between aggressive and defensive driving in both wet and dry track conditions, allowing us to complete the race in another Top 10 finish." Montreal's dreary skies delayed the 2:15 p.m. EST start. As cars took warm-up turns around the track before lining themselves on the grid, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards crashed Doran Racing's No. 77 Aflac/iRacing/Australian Wines Ford Dallara in turn 11. The car was removed from the track; Edwards and teammate Marcos Ambrose stood by in disappointment. The incident set the tone for the day. As the green flag dropped, pole-winner Jon Fogarty of the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing team led the Daytona Prototype class heading into turn one. Supercar Life Racing's Scott Tucker, having qualified with a time of 01:35.953, pushed the No. 55 Supercar Life BMW-Riley ahead from its seventh row starting position. David Donohue of the Brumos Porsche Racing team had been penalized after Friday's qualifying and was forced to move from his No. 4 starting position to the back of the field, allowing Tucker's No. 55 to advance one spot on the grid. In the opening laps, Tucker quickly charged through the field to move into tenth position. Entering turn 10's hairpin on lap five, the No. 55 DP was knocked wide-t-boned by John Farano in the No. 51 Ford Riley. The collision punctured the No. 55's left rear tire, but, ever the tough competitor, Tucker's skillful handling kept the car on track; he headed into the pit and-after the crew switched the tires from wets to dry slicks-handed over the refueled car to teammate Christophe Bouchut. By lap seven, Brumos Porsche's JC France had claimed the lead in his No. 59 Porsche Riley. His position was shortlived, however; Penske Racing's Romain Dumas took over one lap later. Powering his way through the field, Bouchut quickly drove into the No. 10 spot. The Frenchman then set his sights on Beyer Racing's Mike Forest in ninth position. One lap later, Bouchut passed Forest, then slipped by Spirit of Daytona Racing's Buddy Rice in the No. 90 Porsche Coyote to take over eighth position. Just getting started, Bouchut forced his way to the inside of Mark Wilkins' No. 61 Ford Riley and drove into seventh. Setting a fastest lap time of 01:34.599, Bouchut was running four seconds faster than leader Dumas. Six laps later, the Supercar Life Racing team moved into sixth position, just behind Donohue, who had flown up from his penalized, back-of-the-pack position in the No. 58 Porsche Riley. On lap 25, it was a head-to-head fight at the front of the field as Fogarty again took the lead. Dumas moved into second with TELMEX's Scott Pruett in third. SunTrust Racing's Brian Frisselle and Donohue rounded out the Top Five. As Wilkins was wrestling with Bouchut for sixth position, Dumas once again claimed the lead for the Penske Racing team as Fogarty turned into the pits for a driver change with teammate Alex Gurney. Bouchut, meanwhile, was putting on his own show, setting a fastest lap of 1:33.269 on lap 28; by lap 34, he had broken away from Wilkins' reach and cracked his way into fifth position. Fogarty's absence gave Bouchut the opportunity to move the No. 55 car one step closer to a podium finish. Donohue moved into third; Bouchut followed close behind in fourth. By lap 36, the Supercar Life Racing driver had set his next plan of attack into motion. It was perfect timing: Bouchut mastered his way into third position as now fifth-place Frisselle drove into the pits to give the No. 10 Ford Dallara over to co-driver Max Angelelli. Just as the track had begun to dry, a light drizzle began to fall again. Many teams had cycled through the pits to change tires, rolling the dice in anticipation of the track conditions ahead. One lap later Gurney who had been in fifth on dry-weather slicks, pushed past Bouchut and Donohue who were still on rain tires, landing his No. 99 DP in second. Following Gurney's gamble, CEO of Riley Technologies Bill Riley ordered Bouchut to the pits for yet another tire change; the No. 55 switched out its rain tires in favor of dry-weather slicks. Most of the field would do the same. On lap 41, Michael Shank Racing's No. 60 Ford Riley spun out in turn three, causing the first and only caution of the race. Bouchut, in an attempt to avoid a collision with the No. 60 DP, severely flat-spotted a tire and drove into the pits for a quick change. Four laps later, the field went green and Timo Bernhard, who had taken over for teammate Dumas, took the lead, with Bouchut charging hard in sixth place. By lap 49 Bernhard's lead had evaporated as the Penske Racing team fell to fifth; Gurney took over first. Bouchut's strategic thinking gave the Supercar Life Racing team the leverage it needed to pull ahead and propel the No. 55 into second position. Bernhard reclaimed his lead one lap later, pushing Gurney to third. Gurney wasted no time closing in on the Frenchman and took over second, as Bouchut fell behind. As the skies opened up again on lap 56, Bernhard drove into the pits for yet another change back to wet-weather tires. This allowed Suntrust Racing's Angelelli, who had been in third after passing Bouchut, to take over first-he had never changed out his wet-track tires. Michael Shank Racing's Michael Valiante followed in second. The track's slick conditions proved to be too much for the Daytona Prototype cars, most of which had cycled through the pits continuously throughout the race to change their tires. Bouchut, along with other drivers, slipped back from the leaders. With one lap to go, Gurney, who was now in fourth, found himself taking a podium position as he powered by Beyer Racing's Ricky Taylor. The Supercar Life Racing team made a power play of its own on that last lap, passing Memo Rojas of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and locking in a ninth-position finish (01:33.269) when the checkered flag dropped. It was the seventh Top Ten Rolex finish for Supercar Life Racing so far this season. Class leader Angelelli (01:34.108) led the SunTrust Racing team to its second victory of the 2009 season, winning by more than a minute over second-place Penske Racing's 01:33.676. The teams of GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing (01:32.795), Beyer Racing (01:35.992) and Brumos Porsche (01:34.128) rounded out the Top Five. "This team fought hard today," Bouchut said. "The track's conditions made for a very difficult race. We were so close to getting another podium finish, and I am so impressed with how we came together to overcome many obstacles along the way. We took a gamble switching to slicks when the track started to dry out. In a race like this, those kind of decisions can go either way. The car was fast. We had the speed. I couldn't be more proud to be a part of the Supercar Life Racing team." Traveling to Millville, N.J., the team will next compete at New Jersey Motorsports Park, as Tucker and the No. 55 Boardwalk Ferrari Supercar Life F430 take on races 11 and 12 of the Ferrari Challenge Series, September 19 and 20. Just 30 points behind Mark McKenzie (1605), Tucker (1575) is only one race away from taking over first in the Ferrari Challenge Series standings, and there's a good chance he'll do it in New Jersey: Last season at the Motorsports Park under extremly difficult driving conditions, Tucker took the field by storm, winning race one and taking second in race two. The Supercar Life Racing team will again hit the pavement in the Rolex Series season finale October 10 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla, where the team has also met with great success. In prepping for April's Bosch Engineering 250, Bouchut broke Homestead's unofficial Daytona Prototype track record, ripping a flyer of 01:12.421 in the No. 55 during the last day of testing.

SUPERCAR LIFE RACING QUALIFIES IN SEVENTH ROW FOR MONTREAL 200 AFTER BLACK FLAG CUTS SESSION SHORT

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:20:00 -0400

Despite a black flag that abruptly ended a promising qualifying session and landed the Supercar Life Racing team in the seventh row for Saturday's Montreal 200, confidence reigns as the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series bursts back into action at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec. Two weeks ago, the team celebrated their first podium finish of the Rolex season, securing third place at Watkins Glen International's Crown Royal 200. Team owner and driver Scott Tucker shares the No. 55 Supercar Life BMW-Riley Daytona Prototype with teammate Christophe Bouchut, and the on-form duo are looking to continue their streak after the Glen's history-making finish. Today at Circuit Gilles, the team principal grabbed 14th position (01:35.953) out of a 29-car field for Saturday's main event, which will be staged on the scenic Ile Notre-Dame surrounding the St. Lawrence River. After Tucker's first attempt at a flyer was thwarted by Brumos Porsche Racing's JC France, Tucker had a clear track for his second attempt. He was about to let loose when AIM Autosport's Mark Wilkins spun his No. 61 Ford Riley DP into the gravel trap in turn 6, bringing out the black flag and leaving a three-and-a-half minute window for all the competitors to finish qualifying. Practice went much more smoothly for the team. Posting a fastest lap of 1:35.577, Tucker was in third position in the day's final session before qualifying. "This was definitely an interesting session," Tucker said. "It's always a pleasure to battle with the talented drivers of the Rolex Series. We made a few changes to the No. 55 before qualifying. The Supercar Life Racing team did a great job in setting up the car so that we would be able to qualify well." "It was good to be back on track, even if the session did end early," confirmed Bouchut. "After the last race at Watkins Glen, this team is ready to do it all over again. As always, our engineers did fantastic work. We're ready to rip a flyer at tomorrow's start and regain the position we were headed for in qualifying." Pole-winner Jon Fogarty of the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing team posted a time of 01:32.235. The teams of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (01:32.247), Penske Racing (01:32.442), Brumos Racing (01:32.588) and SunTrust Racing (01:32.874) followed, rounding out the Top Five on the grid. Tucker, Bouchut and the rest of the Supercar Life Racing team are ready for tomorrow's spectacular, two-hour showdown on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's challenging, 2.708-mile road course. The sports car action gets underway at 2:15 p.m. EST with live television coverage on the SPEED channel beginning at 2:00 p.m. EST.

SUPERCAR LIFE RACING IS MONTREAL BOUND

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:50:00 -0400

Supercar Life Racing heads to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, August 29, hoping to secure the team's second-consecutive podium finish in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series' Daytona Prototype class. Circuit Gilles promises to be the perfect capstone on a successful month: On August 7, team owner Scott Tucker and co-driver Christophe Bouchut drove their No. 55 Supercar Life Racing BMW-Riley DP to a third-place class finish at Watkins Glen International-their first podium finish of the Rolex season. "Overwhelming-that would be the word I would use to describe our last race," Tucker said. "I couldn't be happier for this team. We've all worked so hard this season, and standing on top of that podium was incredible; none of us will ever forget that moment." With the Montreal 200 a major summer attraction, large crowds are expected to descend upon Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve to watch their favorite Rolex Series drivers charge around the 2.708-mile road course. It is the Series' first stop in Canada this season; with only two races to go until the championship, stakes are high and the excitement is palpable. "I am very excited to go to Canada for our next race," said native Frenchman Bouchut. "The Canadian fans are always supportive. After the last race, this team is pumped up. I think our chances are good for another podium." But Team Manager David Stone is keeping his team focused on the task at hand-preparation. "After our last performance, this team is more determined than ever to take first on the podium. Montréal's circuit is fast. The roads were designed for automobile racing, but are used as public roads for the rest of the year, so it is similar to a street circuit with some very distinctive characteristics, such as the low grip, long straights and hard braking. Whoever is behind the wheel first will need to concentrate solely on the initial laps and get a feel for how best to drive the track to get the fast times we will need." Located on the man-made Ile Notre-Dame in the middle of the St. Lawrence river, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has 15 official turns and offers many challenges along the way to the checkered flag. In 1999, the well-known wall that bears the greeting "Bienvenue au Quebec" ended the race of three Formula One World Champions-Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve-and also sidelined FIA GT champion Ricardo Zonta. Since then, that wall has been nicknamed "The Wall of Champions"; its tricky turn continues to claim victims race after race. But it's not Tucker's first time at the infamous Montreal track. The expert driver pulled double duty there during the 2008 Ferrari Challenge Series season. He and the No. 55 F430 were well on their way to a podium finish when a serious crash between two other competitors ended the race early, forcing Tucker to settle for ninth. That same afternoon, Tucker competed in the IMSA Challenge Porsche GT3 SuperCup, driving the Kelly-Moss Motorsports Porsche 911. Yet again, Circuit Gilles' tough track foiled the ace driver's plans for a podium finish; he was making his way to second place when another competitor caused him to spin out. Tucker's level head and superior handling nevertheless secured a hard-fought, fifth-place SuperCup finish. "The most important thing for Scott and Christophe as they drive through this weekend's turns is to be able to take those bumps and hits well, so it doesn't disrupt the car too much. In general the No. 55 needs to remain as steady as possible. If the guys stay focused, that podium will be ours," Stone said. Their eyes on the prize, the Supercar Life Racing team will be ready when the green flag drops at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, August 29. For live coverage of the race, tune into SPEED TV at 2:00 p.m. EST.

Supercar Life up with the major players

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:39:00 -0400

In the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series, the young Supercar Life team, led by David Stone and Scott Tucker, will never again be seen in quite the same light. In early August, on the legendary Watkins Glen circuit, it claimed its first podium after a tremendous effort from the whole team. On Sunday, at the 'Glen', the Frenchman won his first bet, with a fine podium finish. Their next ambition is victory! First Podium Christophe Bouchut had not driven in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series since the last 6-hour race at Watkins Glen, which took place just before the 24 Hours of Le Mans in early June. A two month gap due to Scott Tucker's calendar in the Ferrari Challenge. However, although Supercar Life Racing was not busy at the racetrack, the team did not stop working, even acquiring a second car. "We were not satisfied with our settings during the last '6 Hours' of Watkins Glen and it was with great satisfaction that we arrived with a good compromise this time," the Frenchman noted. "Setup is the key to this Championship where everyone has almost the same chassis, engine and tyre combinations. The cars are quite precise, and need a good setup in order to be competitive. The major teams like Ganassi, Penske, Brumos and other less well-known teams have been competing in this category for a number of years, and have a technical basis that Supercar Life Racing lacks. We are starting off with a blank sheet at each new track, and that is why the team has opted to invest in a second car, in order to double our ability to test, with Scott in one car and me in the other, which is quite extraordinary." A heavy decision from a financial point of view, but which paid off immediately, as Christophe was fastest in free practice. "As usual, it was Scott who qualified the car and took the start," the Frenchman continued. "This is a strategic choice, which allows me to stay behind the wheel during the refuelling and finish the race. It is the best solution to optimise our hopes of victory." Tucker did quite well during qualifying, as he placed the team's Riley-BMW on the 6th row, after a very close qualifying session, to the delight of the many spectators. "We were sharing the Watkins Glen with the prestigious NASCAR series, which allowed me to discover this series," Christophe enthused. "It was really interesting to see the cars in action. What an engine! But as far as the chassis is concerned, they are really basic. The NASCAR cars are five seconds a lap slower than our DP cars around this track. But the show is there, and the spectators too. It is quite extraordinary. I have been interested in this series for many years." The next day, Scott Tucker took the start, with the aim of staying on the same lap as the leaders. "On a short track like the Glen, it's easy to drop back," Christophe continued. "At the front they were pushing hard, and it was thanks to an excellent strategy from David and Bill which left Scott out on the track while the leaders were pitting to refuel during a safety car period that meant I was able to rejoin the track in an excellent position, on the same lap as the leader after our first stop. As the car was competitive, I started to push and overtook a number of our rivals. When I found myself second, I really thought we could win, and began to take car. But when the team told me I had to make another splash and dash, I realised that it would be more difficult than I had imagined. Zonta (Krohn Racing) took a risk and got past thanks to the intervention of the Safety Car towards the end of the race. After my lightening pit stop, I found myself in 7th position and pushed very hard again. It was really a battle to get up to third. At one point, I had to put two wheels in the grass to avoid a GT car, while I was right behind Pruett (Ganassi Racing). Angelelli (Sun Trust Racing) hit me slightly, while he gathered up a Porsche in his manoevre, trying to take advantage of the situation. Cars were going in all directions. And the safety car came out again." The re-start was very busy. Bouchut lost a place in the confusion, with just 20 minutes remaining. Pushing hard, the Frenchman managed to get ahead of Angelelli again, at the end of the straight, under heavy braking, and then overtook the Penske car, with Dumas at the wheel, to take third. "A very satisfactory result for all sorts of reasons," Christophe underlined. "Although we were not able to do the last three rounds due to clashes with the Ferrari Challenge, the whole team had prepared very seriously for this race. I had been back to the States to drive at Kansas City, a circuit close to Scott's home, where he has installed a test basis, allowing him to drive as often as possible." Optimal conditions for the duo of Tucker and Bouchut, whose aim is, more than ever, to claim a win before the end of the season. "I have announced it, because after so many years racing it is something that you can feel coming, but this series is so close that no one can say when or where it will take place. Our last race at the Glen showed our potential," Christophe explained. "If I could have overtaken Angelelli and Dumas sooner, I would have caught up with the leaders, but when I got past, there were only three laps left." However, when Bouchut crossed the finish line in 3rd place, the whole team was celebrating on the pit wall. "A real day of glory for this young team," the Frenchman commented, delighted. "The next race will take place at Montreal, in Canada, at the Ile Notre Dame circuit, which is new to me, once again, it will be a matter of finding the right set-up. However, I have great hopes for the final race of the season, at the Homestead circuit in Miami, where I set the best time in the test sessions at the start of the season. Florida will be the opportunity to show what we are able to do, up against the prestigious teams which compete in NASCAR and IRL. For the close-knit Supercar Life team members, this third place finish means a lot, and they are working harder than ever to get an even better result: Victory!" Next meeting: 28th-29th August: Montreal (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve), 10th round of the Grand Am Sportscar Series

SUPERCAR LIFE RACING CELEBRATES FIRST PODIUM FINISH OF ROLEX SEASON AT WATKINS GLEN

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:50:00 -0400

The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series traveled to upstate New York's Watkins Glen International for the second time this season to compete in the ninth round of the 2009 championship battle. While the Supercar Life Racing team had prepared for an epic crusade, Friday's Crown Royal 200 turned into one of team's most thrilling sprint's for the finish line yet. After fighting their way through a demanding, two-hour race, the team secured third position at the finish--their first podium win of the Rolex season and a momentous achievement. There was good reason to hope for such a history-making outcome in Friday's race. After team owner Scott Tucker secured a solid, sixth-row start in Thursday's qualifying (01:06.894), Supercar Life Racing co-driver Christophe Bouchut ripped a flyer during the evening's final practice, posting a fastest lap time of 01:05.486. Bouchut's time beat the Series-leading No. 01 TELMEX Chip Ganassi entry by a mere six-one thousandth of a second and earned the No. 55 Supercar Life BMW-Riley Daytona Prototype position one for that practice. Just before the green flag dropped on Friday at 6:30 p.m. EST, the Supercar Life Racing team caught another break: Drivers Buddy Rice and JC France, who had qualified in the No. 5 and No. 14 positions, were penalized and forced to start at the back of the 33-car field. This allowed the No. 55 to advance one spot on the grid. Tucker took the first turn behind the wheel, quickly launching the DP from its 11th place starting position to begin his assault on the hard-charging machines ahead. Pole winner Jon Fogarty (01:05.069), meanwhile, pushed his No. 99 GAINSCO Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototype ahead of the rest of the DPs to gain a comfortable lead for the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing team in the opening minutes. Catching up with the GT cars that had started behind the Daytona Prototype entries, Fogarty quickly lost his lead attempting to negotiate his way through the pack; second position Memo Rojas took over the lead on lap six in his No. 01 TELMEX Lexus Riley. By this time, the penalized France had made his way back through the pack and began to battle with Tucker for the No. 11 spot. But Tucker's skillful handling of the No. 55 DP was too quick for the No. 59 Brumos Porsche; Tucker surged ahead, leaving France behind in his rearview. The Supercar Life Racing crew's expert communication and Tucker's strategic decision-making catapulted Tucker into second position on lap 24. It was then that the first full-course caution waved: Debris from Farnbacher Loles Racing's No. 84 GT had fallen onto the track. The field went green again on lap 28, only to find itself again under the yellow just one lap later. Rob Finlay's No. 2 Gentleman Jack DP had flown across the track, ripping the front fender from the car. Finlay turned into the pits and parked the car for the remainder of the race. This second caution presented a good opportunity for Tucker to make the first pit stop for the Supercar Life Racing team. With fresh tires and more fuel, Tucker handed off the No. 55 to teammate Bouchut. The Frenchman reentered the race in the No. 12 position. "I'm very comfortable with how the car is running so far," Tucker said. "We are exactly where we need to be and a Top 5 finish is in our sights. I have all the faith in the world that Christophe will take us across that finish line in prime position." By lap 33, SunTrust Racing's Brian Frisselle had taken the lead. Beyer Racing's No. 13 Lennox DP, driven by Ricky Taylor, followed in second with Ricardo Zonta, Joao Barbosa and Romain Dumas rouding out the Top Five. Seconds after Frisselle took over, another caution flag waved due to Jared Beyer's No. 5 Lennox DP having stopped on track. During the caution, Bouchut came into the pits to top off his fuel, which ultimately extended the time he could stay out on track. At the restart, Bouchut wasted no time diving into the Top 10, turning in a fastest lap time of 01:06.021 on lap 42-the fastest lap of the race thus far-and taking over ninth position. The next laps moved quickly: Frisselle continued to lead the DP class, but fifth place Dumas fell far back into the field. Bouchut advanced one spot to eighth position. Frisselle's lead then evaporated on lap 45, as Taylor made a daring pass to move into first. Bouchut then set off after AIM Autosport's Mark Wilkins, who was now in fifth position, and the No. 55 cracked back into the Top Five two laps later. Hungry for more, Bouchut then disposed of Ryan Dalziel in the No. 45 Orbit BMW-Riley, who had been in fourth. The No. 55 machine's balance of power and handling persevered, climbing next to third position. A podium finish within reach, the Frenchman passed Wilkins, who had also advanced, leveraging his way to second position-the same spot Tucker had achieved when he'd handed off the car. Three-time FIA GT champion and winner of both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Bouchut began to work on reeling in leader Taylor. Seven laps later, Wilkins reclaimed second position, pushing Bouchut back into third. As the No. 55 temporarily lost ground falling to eighth during the next lap, the chase for the leader board remained intense: the Top Five drivers--Taylor, Wilkins, Zonta, Memo Gidley and Dumas--all were within mere seconds of each other. On lap 67, Wilkins made a flying pass over Taylor's No. 13 car. Taylor continued to drop behind, as Zonta took over second with Scott Pruett, Dumas and Alex Gurney following. Bouchut, meanwhile, had pitted for fuel and returned to the race in seventh-an excellent position for a podium push. Lap 73's fourth and final caution, caused by Kevin Roush's No. 48 GT, gave the Frenchman the chance he needed to work his way back into the Top Five. Under the yellow, Bouchut mastered his way into third. Though he slipped into fourth when Dumas passed the No. 55 car, he remained in prime position for a hard-charging sprint once the field went green. Zonta also took advantage of the caution and claimed first position in his No. 76 Ford-Lola. Only six minutes remained in the sprint to the finish line when the race restarted for the fourth time. On lap 81, Bouchut clocked in yet another fastest lap time of 01:05.859, beating his previous fastest time. Six laps later he executed a perfect pass over Penske Racing's No. 12 to reclaim third, effectively denying that team its first podium finish. As the checkered flag dropped on lap 93, the Supercar Life Racing team celebrated its top-three finish of the season in the No. 55 Supercar Life BMW-Riley. Crew and sponsors cheered as Tucker and Bouchut made their way to the podium. Bouchut had turned in a fastest lap time of 01:05.859; first-place Krohn Racing clocked in at 01:05.613. The second-place podium spot was earned by TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (01:05.634). Teams GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing (01:06.073) and Orbit Racing (01:06.286) took fourth and fifth place. "We are a strong team," Bouchut said. "We are not fighting for championship points. We are fighting for the win. Today, we accomplished a great deal, and now we're sure the paddock knows that the Supercar Life team is very competitive. I am so proud of this team. Everyone has worked so hard and I can't thank them enough for all their efforts." "To start from the sixth row and finish in third position in a race like this is incredible," Supercar Life CEO Brian Weaver said. "As a sponsor, I couldn't be more pleased. We've had a great weekend at Watkins Glen, and I can't wait to watch as this streak continues." The Supercar Life Racing team will next compete in their No. 55 Supercar Life BMW-Riley Daytona Prototype during the Rolex Series' tenth round, August 29 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec.

SUPERCAR LIFE RACING RIPS A FLYER IN PRACTICE FOUR AFTER LOCKING IN SIXTH ROW START IN WATKINS GLEN

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:06:00 -0400

Speed reigned supreme at Watkins Glen International today, as the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series returned to New York for the second time this season. Supercar Life Racing team owner Scott Tucker and co-driver Christophe Bouchut ran strong in Thursday's practice sessions, posting times within fractions of seconds of each other. After Tucker qualified in twelfth for Friday's race, Bouchut went on to rip a flyer in practice four. Posting a fastest lap time 01:06.488, Bouchut beat TELMEX Chip Ganassi's entry by a mere six-one thousandth of a second, earning position one. It was a thrilling end to an exciting day. In a well-strategized move, the team had brought out their backup car to use as a setup and practice tool, effectively doubling the data and time on the track for the drivers. The No. 55 Supercar Life BMW-Riley Daytona Prototype held second position for most of the morning's practice session. Then, during one of the last runs before qualifying, Tucker not only bested his fastest time of the day on well-worn tires, he found himself less than a second behind the fastest practice lap record of the day, held by the Michael Shank Racing team (01:05.338). During qualifying Tucker clocked the twelfth fastest lap time (01:06.894) out of the 32-car field at The Glen's 2.45-mile track and claimed a sixth row starting position for Friday's Crown Royal 200, the ninth round in the Series' schedule. Pole-winners Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney of the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing team, who posted a time of 01:05.069. The teams of TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (01:05.315), SunTrust Racing (01:05.326), AIM Autosport (01:05.336) and Spirit of Daytona Racing (01:05.712) followed, rounding out the Top Five on the grid. Looking ahead to tomorrow's main event, the Supercar Life Racing team is well prepared for the grueling two hour and 45-minute race to the finish line. Just two weeks ago, Tucker dominated the Ferrari Challenge Series, sweeping races nine and ten at Quebec's Circuit Mont-Tremblant. With only three races left in the 2009 Rolex season, the Supercar Life Racing team is still aiming for their ultimate goal: their first victory in the No. 55 DP car. This weekend's return to the New York track could give them that chance. The No. 55 DP led its first race of the year for two laps during June's Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen-and has continued to post Top 10 finishes in every race since. "As a team, you need to build a strong foundation before you can win; we've already established that," Bouchut said. "Scott and I are confident in our abilities as drivers, so given a competitive car I know we can deliver the results our team and our fans are looking for. Driving to first during the Sahlen's Six Hours event was incredible. I only hope we can build on that progress this weekend and maintain that kind of position all the way to the checkered flag." It's a reachable goal, especially after Bouchut's nail-biting finish in Thursday's final practice. For live coverage of the Crown Royal 200 tune into SPEED TV Friday night, August 7, at 8:00 p.m. EST.

SUPERCAR LIFE RACING RETURNS TO WATKINS GLEN IN PURSUIT OF FIRST GRAND-AM VICTORY

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:45:00 -0400

For the second time this season, the stars of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series will head to picturesque upstate New York's Watkins Glen for the Crown Royal 200 at The Glen, Friday, August 7. The first Rolex battle at the track was in early June during the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen, when drivers competed in a six-hour-long race, rather than the usual Series' race length of two hours and 45 minutes. At the Glen and beyond, the 2009 season has been a successful one for the Supercar Life Racing team, which is coming off its strongest cycle of consecutive races so far this year. The No. 55 Supercar Life BMW-Riley Daytona Prototype led its first race of the year during the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen-a good omen for this weekend's return to the New York track--and has continued to post Top 10 finishes in every race since. Looking ahead to the Crown Royal 200, the team is working to realize their ultimate goal: their first victory in the Daytona Prototype car. Drivers Scott Tucker and Christophe Bouchut are both familiar with the track's shorter, 2.45-mile configuration on which Series' athletes will compete this weekend. The Glen's shorter circuit shares its straights with the longer, 3.4-mile circuit, and this has its advantages: Drivers will be able to produce faster lap times and faster top speeds, allowing for even tighter competition. The team and its No. 55 DP excelled in an open test session on the short course following the Sahlen's Six Hour event, posting a fastest lap time of 01:05.253. With all of these ingredients in place, the Crown Royal 200 is sure to serve up success for Supercar Life Racing with its best Rolex Series finish so far this year. "The short race at Watkins Glen is a bigger challenge than most would expect," Tucker said. "Because of the configuration, results are more car dependant than driver dependant on the short course. It is one of the faster tracks we run on, so a properly set up car is a must for this race." "Returning to The Glen for the second time this season, I will know immediately what I need from the No. 55 and can concentrate solely on that," Bouchut added. "While we've had a series of great Top 10 successes, I feel that our team is capable of much more than that. We've come so close each race; I know we will see a checkered flag in the very near future." Watch the Supercar Life Racing team and its competitors Friday on the SPEED television network Friday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m. EST as the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series continues its battle in the next race for the championship. Catch Supercar Life Racing on SPEED TV at the following dates and times: Ferrari Challenge Series: Saturday, August 22 at 1:30 a.m. EST (Race 7 at Road America) Friday, August 28 at 9:30 a.m. EST (Race 8 at Road America) Rolex Series: Friday, August 7 at 8 p.m. EST (Race 9 at Watkins Glen) Saturday, August 29 at 2 p.m. EST (Race 10 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve)