Shanghai, China (May 25, 2012) – With two victories in two races plus a pole position already under their belts as they head to Southern China’s Zhuhai International Circuit, 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship leaders PICC Team StarChase are both confident and cautious as they prepare to again take on the most competitive field in the series’ history.

With new series regulations seeing the top eight in the first race of the weekend reversed on the grid for the second, PICC Team StarChase star Alexandre Imperatori pulled off a miracle to claim victory in Round 2, storming past seven drivers to take the flag.

Imperatori, 24, readily admits that new rule, plus a record field all desperate to beat him, have forced him to dig a little deeper:  “The reverse grid calls for extra, different skills.  You need to be quick and work your way through the pack without damage.  Championship points are so important, but you can’t afford not to push hard to the front, so it’s a tricky balance between caution and attack.  Racing drivers are hardwired to fight and settle for no less than the win, but that’s when I have to remind myself about the bigger picture and think carefully before making a move.”

“In Shanghai, it was a dream I hadn’t dared hope would come true to come from 8th to take the victory, and I don’t expect it to happen very often this year, particularly at tracks where overtaking opportunities are limited.  It was a hard fight, but no pain, no gain!”

Imperatori joins team mate Tung Ho-Pin, racing the Budweiser Team StarChase Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, for the Zhuhai double-header.  A newcomer to both GT and Porsche racing, Tung is a fast learner, claiming a podium finish in just his second Porsche Carrera Cup Asia outing.

Said StarChase Chief Operations Officer Mr. Robby Niermann:  “Lying first and third on the leaderboard is a fantastic way to open the season, and we fully intend to strengthen our position during what are bound to be two incredibly tough races in Zhuhai.  Team StarChase is well aware of the increasing competition, and the number of drivers who are becoming quicker with every outing, so we’re expecting to keep digging deep into our two superb drivers’ talents and further reinforcing our team work.”

Rounds 3 and 4 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will be held at the 4.3km Zhuhai International Circuit, the longest-established race track in China, from June 1-3.

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 will commence operations in 2012.

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