Driver Database News

Jono Lester will make this switch from Porsches to single seaters this summer as he prepares for his debut in the Toyota Racing Series with the ETEC Motorsport team.

The 22-year old Auckland based driver competed in the final round of the 2011 TRS championship at Taupo in March – finishing in fourth place overall – in preparation for the upcoming season; which is set to be the most competitive yet with a bumper international contingent and a tightly compressed series schedule.

“It’s a real pleasure to be a part of this championship and to be back behind the wheel again. The TRS Management and ETEC Motorsport have been a tremendous help in securing my place on the grid, and there’s nothing in this world more motivating for a driver than a simple opportunity. With the economy the way it is, each and every one of us is lucky to have one.”

Lester recently completed a successful two day pre-season test at Manfeild alongside fellow local drivers Mitch Evans, Nick Cassidy and Chris Vlok, as well as Malaysian ETEC team mate Melvin Moh, in preparation for the opening round of the Toyota Racing Series at Teretonga Park in Invercargill on January 12-15.

The move into single seater racing is somewhat of a career role-reversal for Lester, with many drivers taking the ‘wings and slicks’ path from a young age and progressing into GT & touring car racing later in their careers.

Lester insists however that this is an important part of his development as a driver;

“One of the first people to recommend the TRS to me was Chris Amon. His support and mentoring over the past 12 months has been terrific and I value his input as I work towards a sports prototype drive overseas.

“I’ve got to say that after tasting the TRS at Taupo in March, we couldn’t have made a better move.”

The 2012 Toyota Racing International Series is structured with five events over five consecutive weekends, with the championship working its way up country from Invercargill to Timaru, followed by events in Taupo, Hampton Downs and Manfeild.

Among many exciting new additions to the championship, the coveted New Zealand Grand Prix title will be decided in the final of the 15-race season, adding extra incentive and pressure on the large field of young drivers – something Lester hopes to take advantage of as the championship unfolds;

“I’m one of the old men of the series this year! While my recent experience behind the wheel has been limited, I pride myself on having a good race brain and a cool demeanour. These young guys are all blisteringly quick and have a lot of backing behind them, but consistency and experience is an area I hope to excel in over the course of the championship.”

“That motivation and the solid pre-season testing has my mind focussed on one thing and one thing only, and that is to win the championship and get my career back on the right track.”

Lester will compete with the support of championship winning Engineer Andy Neale, with ETEC’s five car line up also including Malaysian driver Melvin Moh, returning British rising star Josh Hill, Indian Shahaan Engineer and Victor Sendin of France.

Lester is supported in his campaign by the New Zealand Motorsport Trust and partnered with Counties Toyota, TradeZone Industrial, Ports of Auckland, Vortex Racewear, Hornet Nutrition, Opti-Flex, R Redpath Limited, Webdesign, iSign it, Sony Electronics, Loaded Sports Drink and Zero Water.

Jono Lester has finished in thirteenth position in the Team RevolutioNZ Mitsubishi Evo at the 2011 World Time Attack Challenge, held at Eastern Creek over the weekend.

Representing New Zealand, Lester and his all-Kiwi support team took on powerhouse teams from Japan, the USA and Australia in front of thousands of spectators over two days of competition.

With the format allowing four separate 15-minute sessions per class, per day; strategy played a key part as teams weighed up the weather, wind, track and air temperature, and of course tyre allocation and vehicle setup.

Lester used the first Time Attack session on Friday to learn the Eastern Creek circuit, recording a single flying lap of 1:34.8 to place the team in seventh overall at that point.

With a mysterious misfire developing at the start of the second session and worsening with every subsequent run, no further times were recorded until a broken rocker was discovered with just two runs remaining on Saturday afternoon.

“It was a mixture of relief, excitement and frustration,” Lester said.

“We thought we had a fuel delivery issue, and with such short turnaround time session to session, we couldn’t pull the car apart and look for every other possible problem. It was only when we had nowhere else to turn that we turned to the engine and there it was, staring right up at us!”

Conditions for the mid-afternoon Time Attack session were perfect, and Lester began his flying lap with the car running clean for the first time in over 24 hours.

The cheers from the team in the pits were short-lived, however, when the sub-frame snapped under the significant torque of the engine, dropping the rear axle and driveshaft out of their housing and snapping a half-shaft in the process.

With no parts available to repair the damage, the weekend was over for Lester and Team RevolutioNZ.

“It was just one of those weekends really, what can I say! I’m just really gutted that we didn’t get a chance to prove our worth. I know, I just know that we had a whole lot more juice in the tank.

“And that goes for me as well as the car, I only had one lap at speed to learn the circuit and as a driver it eats away at you when you have a carrot dangling in front of you like that!”

The support offered to the kiwi Team RevolutioNZ by V-Sport Australia and the wider Australian performance car industry; as well as second-placed finishers Sierra Sierra Enterprises from the USA, was well received and appreciated.

“These people just blew us away. We can’t thank them enough. They were all so eager to help us, and so open with their information and advice. You just don’t get that in normal circuit racing, and I think that’s part of why Time Attack is growing so rapidly around the world.

“You literally couldn’t move in the pits, there were people everywhere. It was an amazing experience.”

The Japanese CyberEvo team were the winners for the second time with a lap time of 1:28.8 on D.O.T rated road tyres; 1.3 seconds quicker than Craig Lowndes’ chart-topping pre-season test time for the V8 Supercar Series in March this year.

A testament to the increased competition at this year’s World Time Attack Challenge, CyberEvo’s winning time was around two seconds quicker than in 2010.

For Lester and Team RevolutioNZ, their attention now turns to the 2012 WTAC, and a full summer programme in New Zealand with Time Attack racing and the GT1/GT2 racing series.

“If anything, the result in Australia has only given us more motivation to come back bigger and better next year. We’ve caught the bug now, and we want to show the Time Attack world what we can really do!”

Jono is supported at the World Time Attack Challenge by Vortex Racewear, Hornet Performance Nutrition, Opti-Flex, R Redpaths, Loaded, Zero Water and Massif Clothing Inc.

For more information on Team RevolutioNZ and the team supporters, visit www.teamrevolutionz.co.nz or follow the team’s regular updates via Facebook and Twitter.

Photo by Jeff Naeyaert / MotoIQ.com

New Zealand motor racing driver Jono Lester will represent New Zealand at the World Time Attack Challenge, to be contested at Sydney’s Eastern Creek circuit this coming weekend.

Lester will compete at the event in the Team RevolutioNZ Mitsubishi Evo VIII, pitted against 20 other teams from Japan, the USA and Australia in the Pro Class category.

Lester is no stranger to Time Attack racing, having competed in numerous New Zealand events over the last three years, however the concept is still yet to gain a credible profile locally, despite its size and popularity in Japan and the United States in particular.

“I really enjoy this form of racing,” Lester said.

“Any qualifying lap is a high pressure environment, and Time Attack is all about racing against the clock. The winner is determined by the fastest lap time, and with the budgets and professionalism of some of our competition at the WTAC, it’s going to be even more critical to hunt for that ‘perfect’ lap that every driver strives for.”

The competition in the Invitational Pro Class will be strong, with big-budget international teams, CFD and wind tunnel developed cars and quality drivers from Japanese Super GT, FIA GT (now FIA GT1) and Formula Atlantic. Fellow kiwi Earl Bamber will also compete in an Australian built Nissan Silvia S13.

Lester’s machine packs a punch with over 700 horsepower at the wheels, and has undergone significant upgrades and development in preparation for representing the country at the World Time Attack.

“To represent New Zealand is an honour for all of us, and the team have worked incredibly hard to get the car to a high standard for the WTAC, both mechanically and visually. It looks brilliant.

“Realistically we won’t be in a position to challenge for the victory this time around. The team is run on a very small budget and we lack any significant aero, but I’d be really pleased if we could challenge for a top 6 or 8 finish.”

With an additional 100 entries in the Open and Clubsport classes, and a Trans-Tasman drift showdown held under lights each evening, the second inaugural World Time Attack Challenge has attracted widespread media and fan interest from all over the world.

The 2011 World Time Attack Challenge takes place on August 5-6. Tickets and more information are available at www.worldtimeattack.com.

Jono is supported at the World Time Attack Challenge by Vortex Racewear, Hornet Performance Nutrition, Opti-Flex, R Redpaths, Loaded, Zero Water and Massif Clothing Inc.

For more information on Team RevolutioNZ, visit www.teamrevolutionz.co.nz or follow the team’s regular updates via Facebook and Twitter.

Jono Lester has finished his Toyota Racing Series debut in fourth overall, driving for ETEC Motorsport at the Battery Town 200 at the Taupo Motorsport Park over the weekend.

In what was his first appearance in a ‘wings and slicks’ single seater, Lester scored fifth, fourth and fourth place finishes over the weekend’s three races, after qualifying in seventh position.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience on and off the track. The team, the organisation, the competition, and of course the racing, which was pure excitement!” Lester said.

With the opportunity presented to Lester by ETEC Motorsport and Barrie Thomlinson of the Toyota Racing Series just days before the event, the 21-year old put together a support package from a number of loyal supporters and arrived at Taupo with a clear and open mind.

“The intention was never to go out there and be a hero, as we knew how tough the competition in TRS is. Right from Thursday’s first run in the car, we improved steadily, chipped away at the lap times, and came to grips with the car and how it needs to be driven.

As you can imagine, it’s quite a lot different to a Porsche, but I didn’t realise just how much until official testing. I felt like I was on the limit and Mitch [Evans] was still streaks ahead. He provided a terrific benchmark all weekend. It was just a pleasure to be out there doing it again, I must say!”

The event was Lester’s first on New Zealand soil in two years, but the lack of recent racing impacted little on his hunger on the track. Three close and competitive races saw a number of passing manouvres and high pressure situations, on both offence and defence.

“They were three of the most exciting races I’ve ever experienced. I was learning on the go, picking up tips from the other drivers every lap and getting my first feel for using aero effectively when you’re tucked up under somebody’s gearbox. But at the same time, it was clean and respectful racing.”

Lester and his supporters are now looking ahead to the rest of the 2011 season and into the future.

“My career intentions remain clear – I want to pursue a career in sports car endurance racing overseas. As much as I’ve loved my single seater debut, and as much as I’m learning and will continue to learn, I’m not going to reinvent the wheel. These young guys are just as hungry as me and they have age on their side.

“But for the 2012 Toyota Racing Series season, we will be pushing hard to be on the grid. For my development as a driver, it would be a great championship to compete in.”

Jono Lester was supported in his Toyota Racing Series debut at Taupo by Radiance “Supplements for Life”, Gourmet Direct “100% NZ Grown Meat”, Opti Flex, Vortex Racewear, Hornet Performance Nutrition, AAA Roofing and iSign It.

New Zealand motor racing driver Jono Lester will make his first start in the Toyota Racing Series at the final round of the 2011 championship, to be contested at the Taupo Motorsport Park this coming weekend.

Lester will compete in the Tatuus chassis campaigned by Australian driver Scott Pye in the 2011 TRS International Series, with Trevor Sheumack’s ETEC Motorsport team.

Formula racing is the blood of the Lester family, with Jono’s grandfather, father and aunt having competed in Formula Vee, Formula Ford, Formula Pacific and Formula Holden.

However, Jono Lester has never competed in a ‘wings and slicks’ single seater; instead choosing a career path in sports and GT racing cars, having raced in Porsche GT3s in New Zealand, Australia and Europe since 2006.

“Ever since watching the very first TRS race at Timaru in 2005, I’ve always had a keen interest in driving one,” Lester said.

“It’s never really been an option until now as we’ve been focussed on the Porsche racing, but the opportunity presented to me at Barrie Thomlinson of Toyota Racing and ETEC Motorsport was too good to pass up.”

The 2011 Toyota Racing Series is regarded as being the most competitive in the championship’s six year history. Defending champion Mitch Evans will return from GP3 testing in Europe for the final round at Taupo, alongside Lester and a grid full of highly regarded young drivers from both New Zealand and Australia.

“There is some real talent out there, Mitch and Nick [Cassidy] in particular. It’s a highly competitive grid and this event will put me outside of my comfort zone, but I’m confident that I have the aptitude to adapt quickly to the single seater driving style and be competitive at Taupo.”

Lester will have his first test of a Toyota Racing Series car on Thursday, with three races to be contested over the weekend, including the coveted Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy.

Jono Lester is supported in his Toyota Racing Series debut by Radiance, Gourmet Direct “100% NZ Grown Meat”, Opti Flex, Vortex Racewear, Hornet Performance Nutrition, AAA Roofing and iSign It.

The weekend’s racing can be followed live via @ToyotaRacingNZ on Twitter, with results and other info available at www.toyotaracing.co.nz.

New Zealand Porsche motor racing driver Jono Lester has finished in 13th position in his debut in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup on Sunday, contested at the Monza circuit in support of the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The 20-year old kiwi was part of the 32-strong Supercup field, the largest grid in five seasons of racing, competing in the Braun-backed Porsche AG Guest Car.

Lester adapted quickly to the unfamiliar Monza circuit in Friday’s 45-minute free practice session, reacclimatising himself behind the wheel of a Porsche GT3 Cup Car before qualifying in position 20, 1.357 seconds shy of pole sitter Nick Tandy.

“My first reaction to the Monza circuit was made even more exciting by the fact that it was the first time I’d driven a race car since February,” Lester said.

“Tackling Ascari and approaching Parabolica for the first time was just incredible, as was the level of competition of the Porsche Supercup grid.”

Lester made a clean start in the 14-lap race, and was locked in battle for the duration with 2005 Supercup champion Alessandro Zampedri, former Porsche Factory Driver Sascha Maassen and Polish entrant Kuba Giermaziak.

Such was the frantic race environment the Supercup has become famous for, Lester traded place, paint and panel to cross the line in 13th position at the finish, nine seconds shy of race winner Nick Tandy and 4/10ths of a second off the fastest race lap.

“It’s been a remarkable day – I just can’t put into words just how awesome this championship is. For a 30-minute race to be all over in what seemed like a heartbeat gives you an idea of just how much I had to focus out there.

“I drove a clean race, just joining the dots and making sure the tyres held up for the duration. I raced hard but took few risks as this was always going to be a race of attrition and I needed to ensure I was there at the chequered flag.

“It’s just another level altogether. The attacks were coming left, right and centre and it was just a pleasure to be a part of. I have to extend my thanks to Porsche for this opportunity and now that I’ve had my taste of the Supercup, I can see why it’s such an addictive flavour!”

New Zealand Porsche motor racing driver Jono Lester will make his debut in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup at the final round of the 2010 championship, to be contested at the Monza circuit in Italy on the 9th to 12th of September.

The 20-year old GT3 Cup Challenge regular has been invited by Porsche AG to compete in their Guest Car at the Italian Grand Prix, on the back of the Porsche Motorsport Talent Scholarship he was awarded in February.

“To join the ranks of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is reward enough for the efforts we have all put in over the last 18-months,” Lester said. “But to do so at Monza – one of the fastest circuits on the calendar, so rich in motorsport history and with the atmosphere generated by the Tifosi – that’s just something else!”

Lester has spent time testing with the championship-leading Lechner Racing team throughout Europe and the Middle East over the last 18-months, but hasn’t competed in a motor race since the 2009 Hamilton 400.

“I’m chomping at the bit. Hamilton was a long time ago, but in hindsight it was the best thing for me as a driver.

“I’ve had time to re-evaluate myself, my attitude, my approach to my racing; and the relationship I’ve forged with the Lechner Racing Team is one that I value really highly.”

Acclimatising to a new harder compound tyre being used in the Supercup in 2010 will be an important factor in the single 45-minute Official Practice session at Monza, however Lester is not unfamiliar to the new 2010-spec 911 GT3 having driven the car in Bahrain and Italy previously.

“I’m ready for Monza. I’m as ready as I ever will be. We are going over there with a job to do. I’m motivated, but I don’t expect to win or be on the podium. I have a realistic set of goals which I’ll keep to myself. And if I achieve them, you’ll see it in the big grin on my face!”

Other guest starters for the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup this year include 2009 Formula Le Mans champion Nico Verdonck, and Mathias Lauda, son of three time Formula One World Champion, Niki Lauda.

For the second year running, a group of kiwi racing drivers have completed the NZ Motorsport Trainathon, a unique charity event held in conjunction with the World Vision 40 Hour Famine.

Porsche racing driver Jono Lester, single seater racers Alastair Wootten, Richie Stanaway and Andrew Vincent, and Suzuki Swift driver Sam Robinson each completed 40 hours of fitness training at the Millennium Institute of Sport & Health on Auckland’s North Shore over the weekend of May 21-23.

Throughout the 40 hour endurance event, the team completed a rigorous schedule of exercises including cardio fitness, weight training, athletics track work and drills, rock climbing, swimming, water polo, water walking, dance class, boxing, yoga, weightlifting, dodgeball, soccer, the new dance craze ‘Zumba’ and even some Nintendo Wii fit!

Utilising the Millennium Institute’s fantastic facilities and personnel, the team were assisted throughout by a number of MISH high performance athletes, Olympians and Commonwealth Games athletes from a number of sporting codes; all aiding the Trainathon team with technique and execution of some unfamiliar exercises, such as weightlifting’s ‘snatch’ and ‘clean and jerk’..

Helen Carter, World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine Manager, said the heartland of 40 Hour Famine is going without food, but it’s exciting to see young Kiwis finding challenging and creative ways to do the Famine.

“We are inspired by the enthusiasm of the Trainathon team who gave their all once again for those in need. It’s great to see such talented young men behind our cause, and motivating others to get involved!” added Helen.

“Having five of us doing the Trainathon this year was a big advantage when times were tough in the early hours of both Saturday and Sunday morning, but the wide range of activities we got to do this year was just awesome and we can’t thank everyone enough for their help and support,” Lester said.

“We all had our peaks and lows, and they all came at different times. It was really interesting to witness this, but we had loads of laughs and the enthusiasm of the team members made the 40 hours a lot less arduous than it could have been!”

The event was followed live by a number of supporters via Facebook, Twitter and hourly YouTube diaries which detailed the highs, lows, and everything in between during the hours of 04:00pm Friday May 21, to 08:00am Sunday May 23.

Online donations to the Trainathon can still be made by visiting www.famine.org.nz/groups/trainathon

The team also have a number of charity auctions online at the TradeMe website, available through the World Vision Online Store or by searching ‘Trainathon’.

All proceeds from these auctions will go towards the team’s final total, and includes donated items such as sports watches, galvanised trailers, and signed sporting memorabilia.

The 2010 NZ Motorsport Trainathon team would like to thank their long list of supporters, family, friends and donating public for again contributing their time and effort to this year’s event.

A group of kiwi racing drivers will once again trade the race track for the gym in an effort to raise funds for the World Vision 40 Hour Famine, which takes place in just over a fortnight on May 21-23.

Back for a second year, the 2010 NZ Motorsport Trainathon see 2009 participants Jono Lester and Alastair Wootten joined by three new faces to fitness train for 40 hours non-stop at the Millennium Institute of Sport & Health on the North Shore of Auckland.

Completed successfully for the first time in 2009, Lester and Wootten decided in early February to give the challenge another crack, and go ‘bigger and better’ in every respect, including a hefty target of raising $10,000 for the charity.

It didn’t take long for others to put their hands up, and the 2010 NZ Motorsport Trainathon has a diverse team of participants from all walks of motorsport life. They include:

- Jono Lester, 20, a Porsche GT3 driver and recent winner of a Porsche Junior Scholarship.

- Alastair Wootten, 20, a former Speedsport Scholarship winner and Toyota Racing Series driver.

- Richie Stanaway, 18, 2008/09 NZ Formula Ford Champion and current ADAC Formula Master points leader.

- Andrew Vincent, 16, a national quad racing champion and Formula First front runner.

- Sam Robinson, 21, a rookie in the 2009/10 Suzuki Swift Sport Cup and top-5 finisher at the 2010 Hamilton 400.

The five young athletes will push their physical and mental boundaries throughout the event (which has no resting or relaying) with a schedule including cardio fitness, weight training, athletics track work and drills, rock climbing, swimming, water polo, water walking, dance class, boxing, yoga, weightlifting, dodgeball, soccer, the new dance craze ‘Zumba’ and even some Nintendo Wii fit!

Utilising the Millennium Institute’s fantastic facilities and personnel, the team will also spend time training with Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes throughout the 40 hours, including Olympic swimming start Moss Burmester, the Commonwealth Games weightlifters and former Games walking Silver Medallist Tony Sargisson.

With the participants aware of what is in store for them this time around, the event preparation has been lifted in professionalism, with the Trainathon team working directly with the marketing teams at the Millennium Institute and World Vision New Zealand to get the most out of this unique challenge.

Helen Carter, World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine Manager, said the heartland of 40 Hour Famine is going without food, but it’s exciting to see young Kiwis finding challenging and creative ways to do the Famine. Last year, two world records and a national record were set, including the Trainathon.

“We are inspired by the enthusiasm of the Trainathon team who have decided to give the 40 Hour Famine another go. It’s great to see such talented young men behind our cause, and motivating others to get involved!” added Helen.

As with any charity event, the Trainathon relies on the generous donations and sponsorship of others, be it a personal donation of a full sponsorship of the event on a larger level.

“We treat this a little like raising money for a race event, to be honest, and with that in mind we all know what we’re doing. We encourage anyone to donate to the cause online [below] – it doesn’t matter if it’s $5 or $50 – but we also have a heck of a lot to offer those who want to sponsor the event on a larger level,” Lester said.

“Sponsorship can come in the form of a cash donation or the donation of product to on-sell via charity auction – whatever it takes to make up that $10,000 target!”

The team encourage anyone interested in sponsoring the Trainathon to contact them directly at trainathon@gmail.com – information on media support and sponsor recognition is ready to be distributed.

The 2010 NZ Motorsport Trainathon has also gone viral, with the public able to keep up to date with via the Official website, Facebook and Twitter pages, and YouTube diaries every hour of the event.

The Trainathon represents a monumental personal challenge for each of its participants, but they remain upbeat about the task ahead:

“You only live once, so why not go down to the gym for 40 hours, and help others while you do so!” Robinson said.

Vincent added; “From seeing what the boys did last year I wanted to give this a go as it’s for a great cause, and a great way to have fun with my mates in the process. Bring it on!”

Online donations to the Trainathon can be made by visiting www.famine.org.nz/groups/trainathon

The 2010 NZ Motorsport Trainathon commences at 04:00pm on Friday May 21, finishing at 08:00am on Sunday May 23.

New Zealand Porsche racing driver Jono Lester will travel to Bahrain in December to complete his second Porsche Supercup testing programme with Lechner Racing.

Lester impressed in testing with the Austrian Lechner Racing team earlier this year at the Hungaroring Grand Prix circuit in Hungary, and is now working closely with team management to finalise his place in the 2010 Porsche Mobil1 Supercup.

Lester and current Porsche Supercup driver Stefan Rosina will test a number of the new 2010 Porsche GT3 Cup cars between them in the lead up to Christmas at the Bahrain Formula One circuit.

During this time the pair will gain valuable mileage behind the wheel of the new and upgraded 911 race cars, and for Lester it will also provide a chance to learn the circuit where the opening two rounds of the 2010 Porsche Mobil1 Supercup will be held in March next year.

“It’s really exciting to be given another opportunity to head overseas and test with the Lechner Racing team and Porsche Motorsport,” Lester said.

“I really need to pick up where I left off in Hungary, and driving under pressure on an unfamiliar circuit, in a new car and in the sticky Bahrain heat is something I’ll have to expect a lot of next year. It’s the perfect preparation.”

The 2010 Porsche GT3 Cup car is another step up from the current 2008-09 models being raced in Carrera Cups around the world, and is now based on the GT3 RS model.

“The new Cup car is a real weapon, and the most noticeable change is the larger 3.8 litre engine with around 450 horsepower,” Lester explained.

“Then, as with the 996-997 progression of a few years back, there’s a wider rear track and larger rear wheels, flared arches and a rear wing that’s around nine inches wider and positioned a lot higher off the boot lid. It really dominates the car and the extra down force will be really beneficial to lap times.”

Back home, Lester will not be competing in the Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge this season after three consecutive championships behind the wheel of the Blackwoods Paykels GT3.

“I’m really disappointed not to be racing at home this season and the [GT3 Cup Challenge] series is looking more competitive than it ever has. The race mileage would have been valuable, however there’s no better way to prepare for the Supercup than to do so in the new Cup car, and the experience and expertise of Walter [Lechner] and his engineers will ensure we make the most of this great opportunity and roll up to round one ready for action!”