Fall-Line Motorsports Expanding Championship Pedigree

Subtitle:Young Standout Longe To Drive In Team's Initial Season In Series

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2015) – Fall-Line Motorsports has been an elite, title-winning team in North American sports car racing for nearly a decade, but the team is entering a new era in 2015 by adding another championship to its impressive calendar of competition.

Fall-Line recently brought a new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car to its shop in the northern Chicago suburbs, ready to prepare it for its first year in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama. The 2015 season starts March 18-20 at Sebring International Raceway.

Chicago-area team Fall-Line is new to the series, but it brings an extensive, successful resume in professional motorsports and automotive performance to the single-make Porsche series.

Fall-Line won a Team, Driver and Manufacturer title in the Grand Sport class of the International Motor Sport Association (IMSA) Continental Tire SportsCar Championship (CTSC) in 2014, adding to its CTSC title in 2010. The team also fields six Porsche GT3 Cup cars in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) events, with young driver Andrew Longe winning an SCCA GT2 National Championship in a Fall-Line car.

Longe, 19, from Naples, Florida, will enter his third season with Fall-Line by climbing to the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama. Longe, who aspires to become a professional driver, has experience in CTSC and SCCA competition at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Road Atlanta, Road America, Circuit of the Americas and VIRginia International Raceway – all venues on the 2015 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama schedule.

“There are many factors that played into my decision to compete in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA,” Longe said. “Having developed a love for the marque at an early age and continuing my passion for the brand through my work at The REVS Institute for Automotive Research have allowed myself not only to work on, but also to drive and learn the history of the greatest models that Porsche has produced since its inception.

“This year I hope to gain the knowledge and experience of running with a top team in the top one-make racing series in the world and be in contention for the championship honors. Being able to compete in a car and series from a marque with such rich racing history is an honor for myself. With my eyes set on the top step of the podium, I look forward to being a front-running competitor in this year’s championship.”

Driver development and meticulous preparation have been at the core of Fall-Line since Mark Boden formed the company. The team has graduated its drivers to top-level sports car series in North America by competing in a variety of championships, and Fall-Line’s preparation shop has built more than 160 race cars for customers since opening in 2004.

Team Manager Michael Harvey saw the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama as a natural progression for his clients interested in progressing their career and providing a higher level of competition. Longe and Harvey have eyed the championship since last November, shortly after Longe sealed the SCCA National title.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Porsche,” Harvey said. “We’ve worked with Porsche’s since 2007, so it is very much a part of our team’s heritage. We haven’t worked with the new 911 yet. But a Porsche is a Porsche: Our team knows the fundamentals.

“However, it is a new toy. So it is extremely exciting to get the new car. We can’t wait to get to work. We know we’re a bit behind the competition that has had time with the car, but this is the perfect category for us to be in. We can’t wait.”

That familiarity with Porsche led Fall-Line and Longe into the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama. Plus the investment in an iconic 911 GT3 Cup car for that series is a worthwhile investment for the team because it can lead to more business in club racing.

“Porsche does a great job on providing a reliable product,” Harvey said. “Andrew knows how to drive a Porsche. Going into the series is a competitive step that will prepare him well as he looks to move up the ladder.

“It’s one of the premier manufacturers in the world because they provide a great car and stepping stones to the professional level. For us, acquiring the new car is a wise investment, and I would like to extend a big thank you to Trianon Hotels for having faith in us and helping to make this happen. These cars always retain their value and will become a great club racing car in the future, just like the 996 and 997 have today.”

While Fall-Line is preparing its new 911 GT3 Cup car for the season debut at Sebring, the team already aspires to expand to two cars for the 2016 season.

In the meantime, Longe will rely on sharing data during technical debriefs with his teammates in CTSC. Fall-Line attributes its success to the engineering-driven synergy between drivers, crew and management. Longe’s Fall-Line teammates will include 2014 CTSC Grand Sport champion Trent Hindman and former Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama standout and race winner Ashley Freiberg.