SCC: Automatic Racing news 2010-11-15

Automatic Racing Congratulates Alumni on Personal Successes

ORLANDO, Fla.--Automatic Racing alumni have a lot to celebrate following a stellar 2010 season. The team extends congratulations to Charlie Putman, Charles Espenlaub, Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato: four Automatic alumni who earned championships this season.

Charlie Putman and Charles Espenlaub won their first GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge championship, while earning a top-ten finish in the BMW Sports Trophy competition.

In addition, Automatic Racing alumni Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato won the GT championship in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

Putman and Espenlaub are longtime co-drivers, and they drove together in the No. 91 Automatic Racing BMW M3 for two years. In addition to the Grand Sport class championship in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series, Putman and Espenlaub also have the honor of a top-ten finish in the BMW Sports Trophy. The trophy competition includes BMW drivers from more than twenty countries, racing in a wide variety of series.

"We thought we'd hit the top of the line at the GRAND-AM awards ceremony," says Putman. "It's like finishing Christmas, and then finding out you get to celebrate again the next week. To be recognized internationally brought home to us what a big accomplishment this is."

Segal won the Grand Sport championship with Automatic Racing team owner Jep Thornton in 2007. Segal also teamed up with other co-drivers during his tenure at Automatic Racing, including Assentato. The two have proven to be a solid pairing, as evidenced by their GT championship.

"I'm proud to see the growth of these drivers," says Automatic Racing's David Russell. "It's exciting to see Automatic Racing's legacy really taking shape, and I'm happy we've been able to be a part of the process that develops drivers into champions."

Automatic Racing is busy preparing for the 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series. "Seeing our alumni earn this kind of success is an inspiration," says Russell. "We look forward to a successful season so we can continue developing winning drivers."

-source: ar