TUSC: Audi teams assault on 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship

By Tarek Ramchani

The Audi brand will be very well represented in the newly formed TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Following the latest announcement from GMG Racing, there will be no less than four teams who will be fielding the Audi R8 LMS in the GT Daytona class.

Here is a quick round-up of what Audi fans can expect to see in TUSC next year.

Flying Lizard Motorsports

The Californian team recently switched to Audi, after being a long-time Porsche team in the American Le Mans Le Mans Series. The Sonoma based team will enter two Audi R8 LMS cars in the GT Daytona class next year. The names of the drivers have not been announced yet, however it can be expected to see the same drivers from their 2013 ALMS GTC campaign continuing next year. Spencer Pumpelly, Dion von Moltke, Nelson Canache and team owner Seth Neiman.

Fall-Line Motorsports

The team has already raced the Audi R8 in the Grand-Am Rolex Series this year. The team took part in the second half of the 2013 season with some positive performances. Fall-Line Motorsports will enter at least one Audi R8 LMS for drivers Charlie Putman and Charles Espenlaub. The team is still evaluating a possible second Audi R8 LMS entry in TUSC. The blue liveried Audi R8 LMS performed very well in the Florida tests days at both Sebring and Daytona.

Paul Miller Racing

Same as Flying Lizard Motorsports, Paul Miller Racing was a regular ALMS team and has switched from Porsche to Audi. For their 2014 effort a single Audi R8 LMS will be entered within the GTD class. For now only the team's regular driver, Bryce Miller, has been announced. During the Florida's tests, Audi works driver Benoit Trelyuer helped the team and the French driver talked about possible selected rounds with the team. The second driver will be announced later.

GMG Racing

They are the latest team to join the GTD class with Audi. GMG Racing had a fantastic 2013 season with the Audi R8 LMS in the Pirelli World Challenge, with a multiple car effort. Only one Audi R8 LMS car from GMG Racing will take part in the TUSC. The drivers will be team owner James Sofronas and Alex Welch, both of whom raced in the Pirelli World Challenge this year. The full extent of their plans for the 2014 TUSC will still be announced



Photo credit: 
IMSA
GMG Racing