Andrew Palmer (racing driver)

Andrew Palmer (born July 10, 1994) is an American racing driver from Chicago, Illinois. He is a former official Lamborghini GT3 Junior driver and is currently contracted to Bentley Team Absolute.[1] He is most known for winning the inaugural Lamborghini World Championship in 2013.[2] He is also the youngest ever winner in the Pirelli World-Challenge, class winner of the 2015 24 Hours of Daytona, 2015 12 Hours of Sebring, and 2015 Petit Le Mans. With Lamborghini, he recorded their first ever overall win as a manufacturer at Monza in 2015.[3]

This article is about the race car driver. For the business executive, see Andy Palmer. For the musician, see N. A. Palmer. For other people, see Andrew Palmer.

Andrew Palmer
Palmer at Watkins Glen 2015
NationalityAmerican
Born (1994-07-10) July 10, 1994
Chicago, Illinois
Pirelli World Challenge
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship career
Debut season2013
Current teamBentley Team Absolute
Former teamsGMG Racing
Grasser Racing
Flying Lizard Motorsports
PR1 Motorsports
Starts34
Championships2013 Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Championship
2015 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship NAEC
Wins10
Poles4

Early life and education

Palmer was born on July 10, 1994 in Chicago, USA. He started his career in motorsports at age 10 racing at Chicago Indoor Racing before joining the outdoor team. He is the oldest of three children. He graduated from Pomona College in 2015 with a degree in Mathematical Economics. He currently resides in Los Angeles.[4]

Racing career

Karting

Palmer began karting at the age of 10 years in 2004. He quickly began to win national races before securing his first Rotax National Championship in 2010. He went on to be a Team USA member 3 times (2010, 2012, 2013) competing at the Rotax World Finals with a best finish of 13th. He also secured a World Karting Association National title in 2012.[5]

Lamborghini Super Trofeo

In 2013, Palmer was given the opportunity with GMG Racing to compete in the final rounds of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship in North America. He qualified on pole and won in his inaugural weekend at Virginia International Raceway. A few months later, Palmer was invited to the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Championships in Rome, Italy. After winning the event at the age of 19, he was crowned the first ever Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Champion.[6]

Sports Cars

In 2014, Palmer signed with Audi Sport Customer Racing team GMG Racing to compete in the Pirelli World Challenge. He became the youngest overall race winner in only his 4th start. He eventually finished 5th in the driver standings.[7]

Also in 2014, Palmer filled in for an injured Seth Neiman and drove for Flying Lizard Motorsports in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Road America round. Later in the year he returned to the team to compete in Petit Le Mans with co-drivers Spencer Pumpelly and Nelson Canache.[8]

Throughout 2014, Palmer was one of the lead drivers involved in the development of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 car. His involvement was a result of being part of the Lamborghini Young Driver program. In January 2015 he was offered an official contract from Lamborghini to drive one of the factory cars in the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series.[9]

In addition to driving for the factory supported Lamborghini program in Europe, Palmer also competed in the endurance races in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for PR1 Motorsport alongside Tom Kimber-Smith and Mike Guasch where they had an almost perfect season winning their class in the 2015 24 Hours of Daytona, 2015 12 Hours of Sebring, and 2015 Petit Le Mans.[10]

Palmer was contracted to Bentley to drive in the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge season driving the Bentley Continental GT3, finishing in the top ten on many occasions. During May 2016 Palmer was injured in a major accident during warm up in the Pirelli World Challenge at Lime Rock Park, suffering a head injury. It is not known when he will return to racing.[11]

Racing record

US Endurance results
Year Race Team Co-Drivers Car Class Pos. Class
Pos.
2015 Daytona 24 Hours PR1 Motorsports Tom Kimber-Smith
Mike Guasch
Andrew Novich		 Oreca FLM09 LMPC 8th 1st
2015 Sebring 12 Hours PR1 Motorsports Tom Kimber-Smith
Mike Guasch		 Oreca FLM09 LMPC 6th 1st
2015 Six Hours of The Glen PR1 Motorsports Tom Kimber-Smith
Mike Guasch		 Oreca FLM09 LMPC 5th 2nd
2015 Petit Le Mans PR1 Motorsports Tom Kimber-Smith
Mike Guasch		 Oreca FLM09 LMPC 14th 1st

Blancpain Endurance Series results
Year Race Team Co-Drivers Car Class Race Pos.
2015 Blancpain Endurance Series at Monza (Autodromo Nazionale Monza) Grasser Racing Fabio Babini
Jeroen Mul		 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 PRO 1st
2015 Blancpain Endurance Series at Silverstone (Silverstone Circuit) Grasser Racing Fabio Babini
Jeroen Mul		 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 PRO 14th
2015 Blancpain Endurance Series at Paul Ricard (Paul Ricard Circuit) Grasser Racing Fabio Babini
Jeroen Mul		 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 PRO DNF
2015 Blancpain Endurance Series at Spa Francorchamps (Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps) Grasser Racing Fabio Babini
Jeroen Mul		 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 PRO DNF
2015 Blancpain Endurance Series at Nurburgring (Nurburgring) Grasser Racing Fabio Babini
Jeroen Mul		 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 PRO 13th
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References
  1. DiZinno, Tony. "Bentley Team Absolute Confirms Two-Car PWC Program". Sportscar 365. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  2. Garrett, Jerry. "Monday Motorsports: Vettel Closes Out History-Making Formula One Season". NY Times. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  3. Hope, Fred. "Lamborghini Win Reinstated". The Sports Car Guys. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  4. "Andrew Palmer '16 to Race in 24 Hours at Daytona This Weekend". Pomona College. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  5. "About Andrew Palmer". Andrew Palmer Racing. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  6. "Andrew Palmer Wins Lamborghini World Title in Rome for the USA". PR Newswire. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  7. Heckman, Sean. "GMG's Andrew Palmer takes victory in Pirelli World Challenge debut". Motorsports. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  8. "Flying Lizard Motorsports looks to rebound at Road America race showcase". Motorsport. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  9. Allyn, Matt. "What You Need to Know About the New Lamborghini Supercar". Men's Journal.
  10. Dagys, John. "Chip Ganassi Racing wins drama-filled Rolex 24". Fox Sports. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  11. http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/palmer-de-la-torre-transported-to-hospital-after-major-accident/
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