TransAsia Airways and Team StarChase Fly High in Macau
Macau (November 20, 2012) – The successful pairing of TransAsia Airways and Team StarChase continued its winning ways today as the team celebrated a superb podium finish at the Macau Grand Prix.
Amongst the strongest international field ever assembled for the Macau GT Cup, 25-year-old talent Alexandre Imperatori, newly crowned Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Champion, powered his Porsche 911 GT3 R to a storming second place in the 12-lap race around the notorious Guia street circuit.
Making his debut there in a GT car, Imperatori was thrilled with the result: “I’m very satisfied and happy with second place, and it’s a fantastic result for the team and our partners TransAsia Airways. We had a lot to learn so this result is fantastic. Yesterday I had a pretty big shunt and the team had to work overnight to make sure we could go out and get the result today. I want to come back next year and I hope I can stand on the top step and bring the fight to Edoardo (Mortara).”
The hard-won podium result tasted all the sweeter after the team had to call on all its expertise to repair the car in time for race day. Driving to the limit of the challenging track during the second of two qualifying sessions, an error by Imperatori saw him hit the wall hard. While the damage appeared to be restricted to the bodywork, a closer inspection revealed it to be extensive and the team had to work frantically to get the car into race trim again.
Imperatori had done enough though, to put Team StarChase and TransAsia Airways on the second row of the grid and on a track which offers so few opportunities to overtake, the team were delighted with his performance.
Says TransAsia Airways Chairman Mr. Vincent Lin: “Our collaboration for the Macau Grand Prix has been a resounding success, and we congratulate both Alex and Team StarChase on a job very well done. Alex had never raced a GT at Macau before, but was quick from the start, demonstrating yet again what an intelligent – as well as fast – driver he is.
For Team StarChase, the result to an end a superb 2012 season. Said StarChase Chief Operations Officer Mr. Robby Niermann: “We achieved so much this weekend, and Alexandre did an excellent job on what is the most challenging and unforgiving race tracks in Asia. We are thrilled to have brought home a trophy for TransAsia Airways.”
As the champagne flowed on the podium at Macau, Team StarChase looked back on a winning 2012 season.
StarChase Holdings was established in 2006, and opened the first of its Porsche Centers in China, in Nanjing, in 2007. The following year saw the establishment of its corporate office, StarChase Consulting, as well as the debut of Team StarChase in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. Last year saw operations begin at the Porsche Centers Qingdao and Zhengzhou, while the Porsche Center Jinan commenced operations in June this year.
