Fall-Line Motorsports announces Putman and Espenlaub for GTD

Buffalo Grove, IL - Just in time for the winter series test that begins today, Fall-Line Motorsports is pleased to announce another exciting confirmation, this time for their 2014 IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship team competing in the GT Daytona (GTD) category. Fall-Line veterans and fan favorites Charlie Putman and Charles Espenlaub will compete in a full-season in the team's Audi R8 LMS that they both drove during select events in 2013.

This exciting announcement comes just in time for the pre-season test that will take place at Sebring and Daytona November 16-20.

"The Charlie's" are known in the sportscar paddock for their big personalities and quick wit (and the occasional impromptu acoustic guitar jam session from Putman) and have been driving together for many years now. They won the 2010 Continental Tires Sports Car Challenge Series in GS together and have also competed overseas in endurance races in addition to racing in the GT category in the U.S.

Fall-Line and Audi Sport customer racing teamed up midway through the 2013 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season beginning with the 6-hour race at Watkins Glen in which both Putman and Espenlaub participated. The newly formed GT program is an addition to the Fall-Line team and competed in six races with a season-best 5th place result at Kansas Speedway.

Audi has a long history competing in sports car racing and their continued commitment to the IMSA TUDOR SportsCar Championship as a partner of the series shows this dedication. Audi won the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona and will be looking to defend that title with the Fall-Line crew come January.

Charlie Putman: "I am of course happy to be back with the Fall Line gang full-time. They worked very hard at making it possible for Charles and I to run the full 2014 TUDOR United Sportscar season. This first year of the series is going to be a special (and difficult) historic year. We wanted very much to be a part of it. Nathan, Dave, and JP, along with the full capabilities of the Fall Line shop have already been hard at work making sure that the Audi R8 is ready for a serious run at the 2014 Championship. All the Fall-Line guys as well as Charles and I are doubling down on our efforts at getting prepared to be the best of the new GTD class."

Charles Espenlaub: "I am beyond thrilled to be back racing full-time with Charlie, and in the Audi, no less. I had a blast driving the car this past season and getting the opportunity to race in the new series full-time with such an amazing machine is truly a gift."

Brad Kettler, Director of Technical Operations, Audi customer-racing: "We are excited to continue our relationship with Fall-Line Motorsports as we begin the first season of the new series. Fall-Line have been a great partner and we look forward to supporting them in the hunt for the podium."

Michael Harvey, Fall-Line Motorsports Team Manager: "We are extremely excited to welcome back Charlie (Putman) and Charles (Espenlaub) to the Fall-line Motorsports GTD program. We have previously enjoyed great success together and it is a privilege to continue our relationship as the TUDOR United Sportscar series enters its inaugural season. Both Fall-Line Motorsports and Audi Sport customer racing have worked tirelessly together over the past few months to continue to build upon the program we started in 2013 as we look forward to starting 2014 with the Sebring and Daytona tests."

Fall-Line Motorsports