PICC Team StarChase Buoyed by Strong Pace in Singapore
Singapore (September 24, 2013) – A strong showing in free practice and qualifying at the showcase FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX at the weekend demonstrated the scorching form of reigning Porsche Carrera Cup Champions PICC Team StarChase.
The team were immediately on the pace as the 25-strong field took to the 5.073km Singapore street circuit, which is as unforgiving as it is picturesque, having nailed the ideal set-up.
After an intense 30-minute evening qualifying session under the lights, PICC Team StarChase driver Alexandre Imperatori was the third fastest man on track, securing the team’s place on the second row of the grid for the start of Sunday’s race. This was despite yellow flags preventing the team from improving on the time they set in the first half of the session to show their true pace.
Said Imperatori: “We definitely had the pace to potentially take pole but with the yellow flags we had no chance to improve our time. The car definitely had more to give.”
As the lights went out, Imperatori came under fierce attack off the grid and fought hard to hold his position. Side-by-side into the chicane the two cars made contact and, with his eye firmly on reaching the chequered flag, Imperatori lost two places as a result of the battle.
The Safety Car was called out after an incident which left a car stranded on track, closing up the field. When it pulled off, Imperatori was on a charge but once again, Lady Luck was not on his side. The car in front slid wide, hitting the barrier and spinning into the PICC Team StarChase Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
Imperatori pushed on, knowing the car had sustained damage but determined to reach the finish line, with one eye on the track ahead and another on the gauges. On the final lap, the water pressure gauge came on and Imperatori knew it was game over.
“The whole team did a great job, and morale is really high. The speed is there. There are a lot of different elements to a successful race weekend. The car, the driver, the team work, and the last part is a little bit of luck. To win you need it all.”
Said StarChase Chief Operations Officer Mr. Robby Niermann: “It was a positive weekend in that we definitely now have the pace to win. Everything within our control, from the technical aspects to having a talented, quick driver, is absolutely perfect. Unfortunately, such is the nature of the sport, fate plays its part and we weren’t the luckiest team at the weekend.”
PICC Team StarChase will be back on the hunt for race wins next month at the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season finale at the Sports Car Champions Festival in Shanghai October 25-27. Said Imperatori: “Shanghai is my home track, so it’s very special for me and it’s a track I really like. We want to finish the season on a high, so we need to get our mojo back!”
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. In 2011, operations began at Porsche Centers Qingdao and Zhengzhou, while Porsche Center Jinan commenced operations in June, 2012. StarChase has also been appointed to open Porsche Centers in Weifang and Chongqing, scheduled to open in the coming year.
