Jonathan Lester
| Jono Lester | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Born |
8 December 1989 Palmerston North, New Zealand |
| 2014 Super Taikyu Endurance Series | |
| Debut season | 2012 |
| Current team | PETRONAS Syntium Team |
| Car no. | 28 |
| Starts | 6 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Poles | 3 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| Best finish | 2nd in 2012 |
| Previous series | |
| 2003-2004 2005 2006-2009 2008 2010 2011 2012 2012 2012 2013 |
NZ Formula Vee NZ Formula Challenge NZ Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australian Porsche Carrera Cup Porsche Supercup NZ Toyota Racing Series World Time Attack NZ V8SuperTourer NZ South Island Endurance Series NZ Endurance Championship |
| Championship titles | |
| 2004 2013 |
NZ Formula Challenge NZ Endurance Championship |
| Awards | |
| 2007 2007 2008 2009 2009 2010 |
Steel Trophy Elite Motorsport Academy Graduate President's Scholarship Hamilton 400 Trophy Winner Taupo A1GP Trophy Winner Porsche AG Motorsport Talent Scholarship |
Jono Lester, (born 8 December 1989) is a New Zealand race car driver who competes in Japan for the PETRONAS Syntium Team, driving the #28 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3.
In his debut season (2012) Lester finished 2nd overall in the Super Taikyu Series, a Japanese endurance championship made up of six classes from FIA GT3 down to ST5. In this championship Lester scored one race win, four pole positions and four podium finishes[1] driving with Tatsuya Kataoka and Melvin Moh.
Lester also races alongside John McIntyre in the V8SuperTourer Endurance Championship. The pair scored two podiums at the 2012 Father's Day 400 at Taupo Motorsport Park.[2] Car trouble hampered the rest of their season.
Lester competes in a number of local New Zealand races including the South Island Endurance Series and NZ Endurance Championship with Fastway Racing in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. The team won the 2013 New Zealand Endurance title with a clean sweep of results.[3]
Lester is a third-generation driver with family lineage tied closely to the Manfeild circuit.[4] Grandfather Rob Lester was a Jim Clark Trophy winner and multiple open wheel champion in New Zealand, while father Richard and Aunt Debbie both raced single seaters and later touring cars.
Richard Lester is a well known driver coach and has worked with drivers such as Greg Murphy, Luciano Burti, Stephane Ortelli, Fabian Coulthard, John McIntyre and the late Ashley Stitchbury.
Among notable awards won by Jono Lester are the Steel Trophy (also won by father Richard and Aunt Debbie), a Motorsport New Zealand President's Scholarship (2008)[5] and a Porsche Motorsport Talent Scholarship (2010).[6]