Lamborghini Squadra-Corse factory driver and part of their Junior development program – reigning Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia champion – Edoardo Liberati will make the move into a GT3-specification Huracan for this year’s hotly contested GT Asia Series, the Italian joining former round winners FFF Racing Team by ACM alongside fellow factory driver Andrea Amici.
Just 23-years of age, the former open-wheel star will form part of a formidable team that has two drivers with experience in the Huracan GT3, and also some experience on the circuits of Asia, promising a strong challenge to the established stars when the Series gets underway in South Korea on the 13th of May.
“I am really looking forward to returning to Asia, and to representing Lamborghini Squadra Corse in the new Huracan GT3,” Liberati admitted.
“I enjoyed my time in Super Trofeo Asia last year [alongside China’s Yuan Bo], and was actually quite surprised at the high level of competition compared to the European and American series’.”
Unlike many of his peers, Liberati – who was a standout in season 2015 – contested all three regional Super Trofeo championships, claiming the win in Asia, and second outright in PRO-AM at the World Final in Sebring [USA] late in the year, making him one of the leading contenders to join the GT3 program in 2016.
“I am very proud to represent Lamborghini Squadra Corse in the 2016 GT Asia Series – being part of this factory is amazing and gives you motivation to be 100% every time.
“The Lamborghini brand has developed a lot over the last few years, so to be part of this group and represent them around the world is something that every driver would like to do in his career.”
Whilst Liberati has seen some of his 2016 competition on track, and competed on a some of the region’s circuits, he admitted that he and team-mate Amici still have some big hurdles ahead of them.
“I watched many of the GT Asia Series races last year, in part because I was racing in the Super Trofeo and some of the teams and drivers were also racing there. I know Davide Rizzo and Anthony Liu, they were title contenders in the Asian Series until the last race in Sebring, and I saw also many factory drivers racing in GT Asia are supported by the official teams, so I know the competition will be strong.
“Many of the tracks in Asia are similar to those in Europe – big open Formula 1 style circuits – but I have only competed on Shanghai. All the rest will be new, but nowadays with the simulators, onboard video and data, that doesn’t really create any kind of difficulties.
“We are both new drivers in this Series, but we can fully trust in our team – FFF Racing Team by ACM already has race winning experience in GT Asia and the crew is of a very high level and very professional. With a top team supported by the factory, the last element we have to deal with is a new track, and that will be up to us to learn.”
As for the car, whilst it is yet to make it’s Asian series debut, Liberati is confident that the Huracan GT3 will be up to the task.
“The Huracan GT3 has a great chassis and a very sophisticated aerodynamic package. That allows us to carry more speed into the corners and to brake later in comparison with the Super Trofeo. It s a very well balanced car and should be adaptable to every different circuit that GT Asia competes on.
“Our target this year – for drivers, the team and Lamborghini – is to give our best in every single race and I am sure as a result, we will be fighting for the top positions.”
Liberati, Amici and the FFF Racing Team by ACM operation will have just a few short weeks to wait to get themselves prepared for the opening round of the 2016 season, with a two-day official test at Korea International Circuit on 9-10 May, just days ahead of the opening round of the championship which begins on Friday, 13 May.
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For more information on the GT Asia Series, please visit www.gtasiaseries.com
