Soon after the announcement from Level 5 Motorsports about doubling up their chassis for the Rolex 24 At Daytona attempt, the team has gone on to announce its complete star lineup. The robust lineup previously included Scott Tucker, Christophe Bouchut, Mark Wilkins and Luis Diaz, while it now also boasts of Ryan Hunter-Reay, Rafa Matos and Richard Westbrook. The pair of BMW-powered Riley Daytona Prototypes will be brought onto the tracks with hopes to improve the team’s 2010 podium finish. The Rolex 24 At Daytona is scheduled to be flagged off on the 29th of January, 2011.

The entire lineup boasts of considerable experience in sports car racing. While the No. 55 BMW-powered Riley Daytona Prototype will have Scott Tucker, Christophe Bouchut, Mark Wilkins and Luis Diaz sharing driving duties, the No. 95 will have Scott Tucker joined behind the wheel by Richard Westbrook, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Raphael Matos. The teams will, for the first time, be sponsored by the software giant Microsoft 2010. Both the BMWs will be seen bearing the Microsoft logo.

The team and its owner Scott Tucker have left no stone unturned to secure their position in the endurance race. With seven drivers and two robust chassis taking on the twice-round-the-clock challenge, the team looks stronger than ever in the competition. The team is well aware that the race is unlike any other, as it not only tests the speed and skills of the drivers, but also their ability to stay in control even in the face of extreme conditions such as lack of sleep and overdose of adrenalin. This is why the drivers will be approaching the competition with a strategy like no other.

The endurance race sponsored by Rolex is touted as the most challenging race in the United States. As it is also the season opener for the Rolex Sports Car Series, it attracts the attention of race car drivers, fans and media alike. The Roar Before the Rolex 24 is especially awaited by drivers as they get a chance to experience the conditions they will be required to race under, first-hand. It proves to be a great practice session that mimics the atmosphere of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, which helps teams further solidify and fine tune their strategies. The endurance race is known to bring out the best from all the teams, which makes it all the more exciting to watch.

The Roar Before the Rolex 24 practice sessions will be sort of christening the newly paved Daytona International Speedway for the rumble it can expect in the New Year. The official practice session before the Rolex 24 At Daytona is scheduled to take place on the 7th of January. It will be a first for most of the drivers to try out the newly smoothed out surface of the Daytona International Speedway. This will not only see most teams thinking about how to use the added grip on the tracks to their advantage, but also sorting out their driving roster.

Tags: Christophe Bouchut, Level 5 Motorsports, Luis Diaz, Mark Wilkins, Raphael Matos, Richard Westbrook, Rolex, Rolex 24 at Daytona, Rolex Sports Car Series, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Scott Tucker

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 26th, 2010 at 5:00 am and is filed under Culture, Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.