Crew

Charles Espenlaub - Driver

Chief Driving Instructor, Panoz Racing School, Sebring, Florida

Charles ran his first race with Protomotive in 1996 in the IMSA Endurance Championship. In 1997, Charles set 2 lap records, finished in the top 10 in the Drivers Championship, and was selected Rising Star of the Endurance Championship. In '98, Charles finished on the Podium in 2/3rds of the races, and led Protomotive to second in the team championship in the Speedvision Cup Compact Class. His lap records at Pikes Peak Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway still stand. Charles will be driving the Protomotive Mazda Protégé in the 2002 Speed World Challenge Touring Car with the goal of winning races and championships while also serving as a spokesperson for Protomotive's marketing partners. In 2001 Charles drove the Protomotive Protegé in the development season, winning the BORLA award and 9th place finish at Atlanta. Charles also ran in the Grand Am Cup in a Pontiac Firebird where he qualified on the pole four times in two years.

Charles grew up in the Tampa, Florida area and started drag racing a VW. He graduated from Emery Riddle Aeronautical University, and worked for several Porsche race teams on the IMSA GT series. During his time with Protomotive, he has been featured in both TV and print media, and has made personal appearances for both Mazda and Ford at both promotional and training events. He is well spoken, good looking, and fits the demographics of the Sports Compact Market very well.

More Info...