SUSPENSE AND PODIUM AT ROLEX 24!

After an amazing fight (more than 20 cars did not finish the race), after 24H of biblical dimension (53 leader changes!), after chasing the fastest drivers of the planet (3rd fastest DAYTONA 24 in 48 editions), KENNOL is proud to take the 3rd place on the podium, and opens its Grand-Am season with an amazing result in the most prestigious race. This epic event could be the milestone of a great season.

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. 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.

I am tremendously proud
of the effort put forth by this team.

Scott TUCKER
 

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.

A podium finish in an epic
sports car endurance race like Daytona is amazing!

Christophe BOUCHUT
 

▌THE TEAM HAS EXCELLENT WORK

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. « 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. » Let’s bet this simply is the kick-off of a great season of victories and podiums with KENNOL!