After being out in the racing wilderness for eighteen months Jono Lester will have an opportunity to race with vengeance at the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup round at Monza this coming weekend as part of the support field for the Italian F1 Grand Prix.
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.
“This is a huge opportunity for me and a great opportunity to test myself against the world’s best Porsche racers. It will also be my first competitive race for 18 months so as you can imagine I’m relatively excited!”
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!”
Fellow Kiwi Matt Halliday who has been competing in this series will miss this round due to V8 Supercar commitments at the Phillip Island endurance round clashing at the same weekend.
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.
