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Andrea Palma Backs Gtsprint - 2012 Champion Praises Series' Excitement, Visibility
After having scored nine win, four poles, two second places and a third place over 7 rounds, Andrea Palma is still celebrating an incredibly successful 2012 season. The Black Team-powered racer has held the Ferrari banner high by driving a Ferrari 458 GTS2 to the overall GTSPRINT INTERNATIONAL SERIES honours with still 4 races to spare, and the Maranello-based constructor showed the brand’s support by awarding him during the Ferrari world finals at Valencia.
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Although he’s still undecided about his 2013 plans, Palma has no doubt that winning the SWR-promoted series has been an huge breakthrough...
«In addition to the title, GTSPRINT provided me with some great visibility and the success experienced in 2012 is paying its dividends in terms of my career. The choice I made to line-up in 2012 has been crucial and also overturned the disappointment suffered in 2011, when I fought until the last race together with Max Mugelli only to end up in 4th. I felt I was ready to face a season as a single driver by relying on the car, the team and a top-notch championship. These have been the pillars of my success».
The team was new, but only on paper as it's made of some really experienced people, how did your relationship work out?
«The personnel of Black Team was almost the same of my former rivals of Edil Cris. Their quality and technical capabilities are undisputed and although I was working with Enio Bolsieri for the first time, I already had a good relationship with him. We put together a winning squad and receiving his praises has been a pleasure. After a tough break, it feels good to rely on people to get back on the right track…».
What was the meaning of winning GTSPRINT with a Ferrari?
«It’s been an extraordinary experience and, on top of that, I was also invited to their official awards ceremony!».
GTSPRINT will be changing this season, with two, 60-minute races per weekend with a mandatory pit-stop, up from the 30-minute ones seen in 2012. There will be eight rounds, five of them outside Italy and five different classes. Do you like these changes?
«I believe that the new format for GTSPRINT, in this particular moment, is definitely the most appropriate one. With longer races, more drivers can share the same ride and the costs as well. As I previously said, GTSPRINT provides a lot of visibility in Italy and in the rest of Europe. Racing is great, interesting and the SUPERSTARS frame is sensational. In addition to that, I fully trust the series' promoters as they are the same people that created the Superbike World Championship. I'm convinced that GTSPRINT will soon become a absolute benchmark series».
PaddockTalk Perspective
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