It was not enough for Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker to simply dominate their category in Baltimore. On the most difficult circuit on the American Le Mans Series calendar, they claimed overall victory, to which the Frenchman added the bonus of pole position and the fastest race lap in the LMP2 category. In order to maximize Level 5 Motorsports’ chances in the battle for the Team and Drivers titles, Christophe will be heading to the UK this week to take part in a simulator session with the Honda Performance Development engineers. Finally, to finish the season, he has promised to make an emotional return to the place where he had his first major karting success, thirty years ago…
The American Le Mans Series had already raced in Baltimore last year. Due to their participation in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, Level 5 Motorsports had not been able to take part in the event. With some modifications since the first edition, the circuit saw further evolutions… during the meeting ! «I had never raced in Baltimore» Christophe explained, after discovering this strange circuit during free practice. «The track includes a very long, bumpy straight. From the first session, it was noticed that the cars were taking off on a number of occasions, especially those from the Indycar Series, with whom we were sharing the event. A chicane was therefore installed on the straight in between the free practice sessions. The second session was reduced in length due to the work, which only left Scott 30 minutes to learn the track. I therefore went into qualifying never having tried the modified layout.»
Due to these circumstances, it was not easy to find the right set-up ! «Our rivals were confident as their «pro» driver Martin Plowman took part in the Indycar race here last year. The Honda engineers did a super job on our engine and turbo throughout the weekend, but here, the Morgan has an advantage due to their normally aspired Nissan engine, which gives a better boost coming out of tight corners. There was quite a risk of losing the P2 pole, or even of being slower than some of the LMPC (Le Mans Prototype Cup) cars, which were very much at ease on this track.»
Christophe decided to take the bull by the horns. «None of the four drivers from the two Level 5 cars were happy with the set-up for free practice, due to lack of time to test various solutions. So, just before qualifying, I asked for some changes, especially with the anti-roll bars and the springs. The team accepted this gamble.» For much of the session, Christophe was fastest in LMP2, but Martin Plowman improved three laps from the end, while an LMP1 car was in the tyres at the start of the back straight. «I got pole position by eight hundredths of a second in the very last lap. This was very satisfying both for me and for the team, as this meant that Scott could take the start in the best conditions, with only the three LMP1 cars ahead of him.»
This proved to be lucky, as the two-hour race started with a pile-up worthy of the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix ! Behind the wheel of his nr 55 Honda-Level 5 Motorsports, Scott Tucker avoided the chaos and continued his race with his usual clear-thinking. The calculations and care were totally justified as there were more potential traps than usual. The Morgan-Conquest received a one-minute penalty after contact, but remained a threat for the two Honda-Level 5 Motorsports cars. A number of leading prototypes were delayed, some due to going off, others with mechanical problems. Slowly, the fight for the lead of the LMP2 category turned into a fight for overall victory. In the first part of his stint, Christophe was lying third overall, and was fighting to catch Ryan Dalziel in the LMPC, in second, who was following the nr 95 Honda-Level 5 in the hands of Luis Diaz. «I was gaining a second a lap on Luis, and leaving Martin Plowman behind. The race was neutralized thirty minutes from the end, and I took the lead shortly after the restart. I continued to attack, but six laps from the goal, the Morgan broke a shock absorber. The team told me of the incident and I was able to manage my race until the chequered flag, avoiding the kerbs.»
No LMP2 cars had won overall in the ALMS for quite some time… discounting the victory of the same Level 5 Motorsports pair in the 12 Hours of Sebring ! Last March, Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker had finished behind three cars from the FIA World Endurance Championship, but ahead of all the other American Le Mans Series competitors. « I am extremely proud to have given Level 5 Motorsport another win, as I have put a lot of myself into the team. This long-term work, which started back in 2008, is bearing fruit. We work well together and have allowed us to reach another dimension in this Championship. This double win is a true illustration of what we have achieved. The cherry on the cake is our lead in the classification, where we now lead Heinemeier-Hansson and Plowman by 12 points.»
From the track to the simulator
At the end of the Baltimore Sports Car Challenge, Level 5 Motorsport’s management decided to send Christophe to the UK for a series of tests in the Wirth Research simulator. «I will be at Bicester on September 5th and 6th, shortly before leaving for the US for the next race. This will allow us to work in depth with the engineers who designed the car. We will be able to gather data that will allow us to define the aerodynamic and chassis set-up for a circuit where the ALMS has never driven previously. At the moment, we only know that the Virginia International Speedway is not very different from that in Mid Ohio, which was quite successful for me.» The next event on the ALMS calendar will take place on September 15th.
Passion and a return to where it all began
In 1982, Christophe won the first of his seven official titles of French Champion. This was in Karting, in the Blue class, at the circuit of Douvrin, Pas-de-Calais. «I realised that this event, a turning point for the rest of my career, took place 30 years ago, and that it was important to mark the occasion. It is one of my best memories in motorsport. I was 14 years old, and I won this title in a promotion category with no upper age limit. I was therefore fighting drivers with much more experience. I remember starting from the front row alongside Jean Alesi… As Douvrin remains a fine circuit, I will return there with the aim of beating the lap record. It would have been better to take advantage of the more favourable track conditions in the summer, but the neverending trips across the Atlantic since the 24 Hours of Le Mans meant that was not possible. Also, I didn’t want to take any risks with the aims of Level 5 Motorsports. The date is therefore set for the end of October, or early November, when the season is over. I can already announce that Dunlop, who supplies tyres for our cars in the ALMS will be a partner in the event, and I will be using the brand-new RS1 tyres. As far as the kart is concerned, a KZ (125 with gearbox), this will be a return to old relationships, as José Banchieri will be in charge of running it, as he was in 1987, the year I won the French Intercontinental A title.”
Source : Level 5 Motorsports