Andrew Palmer wins Lamborghini World Title in Rome for the USA
19-year old rookie beats the world’s best in Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo World Finals
Vallelunga, Rome, November 23, 2013. Andrew Palmer, a 19-year old student at Pomona College in Claremont, CA, today won Lamborghini’s most prestigious motorsports World Title in Rome, Italy, racing against the top drivers from the European, Asian and North American Super Trofeo series.
The native of Chicago, who only started motor racing in October this year, shot to prominence at Virginia International Raceway by claiming a race win on his debut weekend.
At the conclusion of the championships that span races from Kansas to Shanghai, the best drivers from three regional championships were invited to Rome for Lamborghini’s first ever World Final, comprising two 50 minute races at the Vallelunga Circuit, north of Rome. The races featured 23 drivers from Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Ukraine, South Africa and across Europe, with Palmer emerging as champion.
The first race was won by the reigning European Champion, Andrea Amici from Italy, but Palmer, representing Lamborghini Beverly Hills, drove strongly in testing wet conditions to finish in second place to stay in the hunt for the title.
Race two was also run in wet conditions, but in spite of his lack of experience, Andrew delivered a faultless performance to beat the best drivers from Europe, Asia and his native US and take a maximum points finish.
His two podiums earned him sufficient points to be crowned as Lamborghini’s first ever World Champion, a remarkable story of achievement which has seen him progress from rookie, to race winner and World Champion in seven short weeks. However, there is not much opportunity to reflect on his accomplishments as Andrew is due back in class on Monday!
Andrew Palmer #114, GMG Racing (NORTH AMERCIA) Race 1 – P2/Race 2 – P1
Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo World Champion
“It's such a surreal feeling to be Champion – I am not sure that the reality has sunk in just yet! What happened today was the best possible outcome we could have hoped for and I am thrilled with what we have achieved here together with GMG Racing & Lamborghini Beverly Hills. I hope it will be a springboard for more racing with Lamborghini in the US and all over the world, but I must also remember that on Monday, I have to go back to school! That’s going to be quite weird after this unbelievable finish to the season.”
Andrew Palmer Q&A, Friday November 22
Andrew Palmer is a 19 year-old Mathematical Economics student at Pomona College in Claremont, CA. Besides representing his college as a track and field athlete, he recently graduated from karting to racing and in only his second race, he claimed a debut victory at VIR late in the North American series.
How does it feel to be taking part in the first Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo World Final?
It's definitely a special honour to be here representing the United States and learning so much these talented drivers. It's definitely a really cool environment, being over here in Europe. The racing is very different, the track feels very differen and you’re really aware of the history and the ‘old school’ parts as well as the modern aspect of racing in Europe. And it’s interesting for me to be here in Italy, as this is where my Grandparents originated from – we were ‘Palmeris’ before they dropped the ‘i’.
Are you an ambassador for your series here at the World Finals?
Yes I guess so. It's very unique, especially as it is first ever World Final for Super Trofeo. All of us from North America are very capable drivers, so I hope we can prove to the Europeans that we can stand up and compete with them, man for man.
What would it mean to you win a race or even the World Title here this weekend?
It would be so special. Winning at the World Final would be tremendous, especially given with the calibre of the competition here. Some of these guys are accomplished, professional drivers. I'd love to win here, for the US and take it back home.
Are there any notable differences in approach that you have identified from competitors from other series?
You're always going to see an obvious sort of aggression from the European drivers, which we ourselves try to emulate in the US. Coming from Karting, you see this all the time. Last week I was at the Karting World Finals, and there are a lot of Europeans out there. They're going to do their thing, being very aggressive and you've got to work with it. The Asian style is a little harder to define. They like to go very deep into breaking zones and sometimes miss the corners, but there are equally fast guys out there too. It's pretty cool being able to race with all these different approaches, with talent from around the world.
What does the World Final say about Lamborghini’s growing commitment to motorsport?
I think it totally furthers the brand, makes people get really, really excited about the Super Trofoe series, something which they really look forward to every year. And don’t forget, it pushes all the teams to be more competitive.
Let’s imagine it’s your choice, where would you host the World Final next year?
I think it would be really cool to host it in Abu Dhabi. I have friends racing in GP3 and GP2 and European F3 and they say it's just spectacular. Stunning space-like buildings, the desert, I am sure it’d make for a great atmosphere.
- Ends -
Media Assets & Further Information
For editorially cleared photography of Andrew’s North American race season, click here and use password ‘lamborghini’
For editorially cleared photography from the World Finals in Vallelunga, click here and use password ‘Trofeo13’
