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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Level 5 Targeting LMP2 Return
Back-to-back American Le Mans Series class champions confirm 24 Hours of Le Mans program, new HPD ARX-03b prototypes for 2012...
Level 5 Motorsports is poised to return to the ALMS LMP2 ranks next year with updated versions of its HPD prototypes. (Photo: John Dagys)
With a dual prototype campaign in the American Le Mans Series and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, coupled with a mid-season chassis switch and class victories in two of sportscar racing's biggest races, the 2011 season proved to be an action-packed, yet successful year for Level 5 Motorsports.
But as 2012 beckons, plans are quickly falling into place for the Scott Tucker owned squad, which could see a more centralized focus, yet sights still set on conquering the 24-hour French endurance classic.
SPEED.com has learned that Level 5 will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year, thanks to its recently awarded auto-invite earned by Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Joao Barbosa’s Petit Le Mans victory, while also being in closing stages of finalizing a two-car LMP2 program in the ALMS.
Level 5 had been also weighing options in the new FIA World Endurance Championship, but with no drivers’ title expected to be offered in LMP2, combined with the challenging logistics required for a U.S.-based team, team manager David Stone said a full-season commitment in the ALMS would be a more likely outcome.
“I have a feeling there will be more LMP2 cars [in the ALMS] next year,” Stone told SPEED.com. “I'm feeling a little bit better about that every day and I think there will be some things coming to light in the next week or two.”
Having run uncontested for the majority of the season in the States, there appears to be multiple teams looking to join Level 5 in the ALMS LMP2 ranks next year. The most likely could come from French constructor/team OAK Racing, which will be holding a demonstration test of its Oak-Pescarolo next week at Sebring for prospective clients.
SPEED.com believes there could be another team eyeing a move to LMP2 as well, possibly with a never-before seen chassis-engine combination, as well as persistent talk of Ian Dawson’s Libra Racing returning with its Radical SR9.
While there’s a potential of four to five full-season cars, Stone confirmed both of Level 5’s prospective entries would be evolutions of its Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Petit Le Mans-winning HPD’s, as the team is set to take delivery of two new HPD ARX-03b’s for 2012.
Designed around the success of the ARX-01 series of prototypes, the ARX-03b will feature an all-new Wirth Research-built tub, identical to its new LMP1 car, the ARX-03a, which Strakka Racing will run in the WEC.
Stone said many of the same components from their ARX-01g’s will be transferred over to the new generation HPD, which should ensure improved aerodynamics and efficiency over its predecessor.
“We'll have the new chassis and anticipate it being more efficient,” Stone explained. “Our guys would have had a few races under their belts already with the car, so the team should know the cars even better. We'll take what we learned from the moment we first got them at Sonoma through Laguna and Petit and make in-house improvements as well.”
Stone is hopeful that one of the new ARX-03b’s will be ready in time for the Sebring Winter Test on Feb. 8-9, with both of Level 5’s new cars out testing by the end of February before the big season-opener at Sebring in March.
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
But as 2012 beckons, plans are quickly falling into place for the Scott Tucker owned squad, which could see a more centralized focus, yet sights still set on conquering the 24-hour French endurance classic.
SPEED.com has learned that Level 5 will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year, thanks to its recently awarded auto-invite earned by Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Joao Barbosa’s Petit Le Mans victory, while also being in closing stages of finalizing a two-car LMP2 program in the ALMS.
Level 5 had been also weighing options in the new FIA World Endurance Championship, but with no drivers’ title expected to be offered in LMP2, combined with the challenging logistics required for a U.S.-based team, team manager David Stone said a full-season commitment in the ALMS would be a more likely outcome.
“I have a feeling there will be more LMP2 cars [in the ALMS] next year,” Stone told SPEED.com. “I'm feeling a little bit better about that every day and I think there will be some things coming to light in the next week or two.”
Having run uncontested for the majority of the season in the States, there appears to be multiple teams looking to join Level 5 in the ALMS LMP2 ranks next year. The most likely could come from French constructor/team OAK Racing, which will be holding a demonstration test of its Oak-Pescarolo next week at Sebring for prospective clients.
SPEED.com believes there could be another team eyeing a move to LMP2 as well, possibly with a never-before seen chassis-engine combination, as well as persistent talk of Ian Dawson’s Libra Racing returning with its Radical SR9.
While there’s a potential of four to five full-season cars, Stone confirmed both of Level 5’s prospective entries would be evolutions of its Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Petit Le Mans-winning HPD’s, as the team is set to take delivery of two new HPD ARX-03b’s for 2012.
Designed around the success of the ARX-01 series of prototypes, the ARX-03b will feature an all-new Wirth Research-built tub, identical to its new LMP1 car, the ARX-03a, which Strakka Racing will run in the WEC.
Stone said many of the same components from their ARX-01g’s will be transferred over to the new generation HPD, which should ensure improved aerodynamics and efficiency over its predecessor.
“We'll have the new chassis and anticipate it being more efficient,” Stone explained. “Our guys would have had a few races under their belts already with the car, so the team should know the cars even better. We'll take what we learned from the moment we first got them at Sonoma through Laguna and Petit and make in-house improvements as well.”
Stone is hopeful that one of the new ARX-03b’s will be ready in time for the Sebring Winter Test on Feb. 8-9, with both of Level 5’s new cars out testing by the end of February before the big season-opener at Sebring in March.
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
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