When you think of the leaders of different car companies the typical thought is of a stodgy stuffed suit type that have made their way to the top but might not be in touch with the fun of driving a car on the roads and tracks. Even though many automotive CEOs will tell you they love the cars that are produced by their brands, most of them won’t be the first to get in and take the wheel of a race car that can be driven on a track, they would rather leave this to those professional drivers.
While it’s not a knock on the rest of the CEO in the automotive industry, the fact is, Andy Palmer is the coolest CEO in the world. Elon Musk can have his flamboyance and thumb his nose at the status quo of the automotive world, but Andy Palmer has done and continues to do something that makes him the coolest CEO in the world. As the leader of the Aston Martin brand, he is a CEO that’s truly in touch with what his brand should produce to make it easier for you to know and trust what you see when presented with an Aston Martin model.
What Makes Andy Palmer Cool?
Palmer is not only a fairly young CEO of one of the most admired automotive companies in the world and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, but he’s also a race driver. This year alone, Palmer has competed in four Aston Martin Owners Club races at Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Rockingham, and Silverstone. With these and other races under his belt, Palmer is about to drive in one of the toughest races yet and be part of a team that will take on the challenge of driving for a full day of racing.
The race that Andy Palmer will compete in is the 24 hours of the Circuit of the Americas which is the final round of the Creventic 24H Series. The car he will be driving for this race is a GT4-spec Vantage GT8 that is ready to ride and able to offer a fantastic run on the track. In order to be prepared, Palmer has asked for some pointers from Aston Martin drivers Darren Turner, Jonny Adam, and Daniel Serra who were able to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year.
While the goal is to win the race at COTA, Palmer will split the driving duties with the Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood, racing driver Peter Cate, and the Radio Le Mans commentator John Hindhaugh. With this team, Palmer looks to show off at the track and while he has accomplished many things in his life, this is one way that certainly makes him the coolest CEO in the automotive industry. Don’t expect to see other automotive CEOs get behind the wheel anytime soon, but maybe Palmer will start a movement to have a CEO race in the future; even if it’s just for fun.
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