Italian race wear specialists Sparco have begun their home event, the Italian Grand Prix, with a special presentation at the annual Confartigianato Motori event in Monza.

 

The company sponsored the popular event this year, held at the prestigious Villa Reale di Monza, and used the occasion to formally present the inaugural Sparco GP2 Award to British GP2 driver Jolyon Palmer.

 

The Award is the culmination of a season-long campaign which has seen a special jury of motorsport journalists vote for their favourite GP2 driver of the race weekend. Since Monaco, the votes have been coming in at each European event right up to the last round in Spa. 

 

Palmer won the majority of nominations over the period, thanks to some sublime performances and race wins, and he clinched the debut Sparco GP2 Award with 15 votes. He was presented the award, a mounted Sparco steering wheel, by company CEO Claudio Pastoris. 

 

Sparco had a fantastic audience with a vast number of media in attendance along with all GP2 teams and drivers, witnessing the presentation. 

 

The Italian Grand Prix represents a key event for Sparco as a company which prides itself on a Made in Italy philosophy. Sparco have long supported rising motorsport stars in GP2 Series and continue to offer its state of the art overalls and race wear. The company is also present in Formula One with McLaren Mercedes, Caterham F1 and Marussia F1 Team using the cutting edge EXTREMA RS-10 overalls.

 

Sparco CEO Claudio Pastoris commented: “It was an absolute delight for me to present Jolyon with the inaugural Sparco GP2 Award last night. It was a special occasion for Sparco to partner the 32nd Confartigianato Motori event and to mark our home Grand Prix in style. The GP2 Award has been a new initiative for us this year and we are thrilled with the response. I have to say many thanks to all of the journalists who have given their time to vote at each race weekend, which culminated in Jolyon winning the debut Award. The support of all the GP2 teams and drivers has been fantastic. Sparco is proud to support many GP2 drivers and follow their journey, so it has been especially nice to see a Sparco driver take this year’s Award. Well done to Jolyon and best of luck to all drivers for the rest of this year’s Championship.”

 

Sparco GP2 Award winner Jolyon Palmer said: “It is a real honour to win the first Sparco GP2 Award, so thanks firstly to Sparco for such a great prize. It is great to have been nominated so many times this season, especially when there has been such fierce competition. Sparco have supported us all season with their Superleggera overalls, and they have been a fantastic partner for us.”