Back-to-back wins for HPD and Wirth Research with latest cost capped sports prototype

Cup. Despite the strength of the LMP1 and LMP2 opposition and minimal pre-event track testing, the Level 5 Motorsports HPD ARX-01g raced by Tucker, Bouchut and Joao Barbosa won its class for the second time in as many races (this time by eight laps) and finished a notable sixth overall - a result that once again demonstrates the strength of the HPD package even in the early stages of its development in its latest cost-capped configuration.

"The competition was real tough and we knew this was going to be a real big battle for us," said team owner Tucker. "We still have a lot of work to do on the car but we did a great job with it. Joao and Christophe drove a great race. We didn't miss a beat. With the car being just three weeks old and having gone through a six-hour race and now a 1,000-mile race as well with no problems, we're real fortunate with that."

Nick Wirth, President of Wirth Research, was quick to praise Level 5 for its achievements as well as to re-emphasise the ground-breaking technology maximised to produce such a strong showing on debut.

"Hats off to all of those at Level 5 and HPD for this latest victory in what has been an incredibly successful international ARX sports prototype programme," said Wirth. "The unrivalled combination of speed and stamina displayed with so little track running once again speak for themselves and underline the heights we have achieved with our unique all-digital development process. By maximising the potential of Computational Fluid Dynamics aerodynamic technology as well as the other key digital elements, we can avoid the costs of wind-tunnel and track testing - not to mention environmental costs - and offer our customers a value-orientated state-of-the-art prototype that's capable of immediate race-winning performance at the very highest level. 

"Not only were Honda Performance Development capable of being one of the first to respond to the ACO's new cost-cutting LMP2 engine regulations but have now, in partnership with Wirth Research, produced a new cost-cutting chassis evolution of the HPD-ARX that's already adding to the car's remarkable record of international success. By our calculations the HPD-ARX is the world's most victorious sports prototype of its generation. To date it has chalked up no fewer than 33 class wins and 14 of these were outright victories," enthused Wirth.

With two wins already under its belt, Level 5 Motorsports will be aiming to give the HPD ARX-01g a hat-trick of victories in next month's Six Hours of Zhuhai in China, the seventh and final round of the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup season.