Kiwi endurance driver Jono Lester travels to Japan this week for the final round of the 2013 Super Taikyu Series at Autopolis, where he will fight with the PETRONAS Syntium Team’s sister car for the Championship title.
Following a season of impressive speed, numerous wins but also numerous mechanical failures, Lester’s Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 (#28) currently sits second overall in the points standings, just 6.5 points behind the leaders with 21 points available at the final round.
The consistency of the Team PST cars during 2013 has extended the pair beyond reach of the chasing pack, and the Championship is guaranteed to be won by the PETRONAS Syntium Team for a sixth consecutive season.
The question is, which car will be victorious?
“The math is pretty simple,” Lester explains.
“It’s a must-win event for us. If we achieve this and the #1 car finishes third or worse, we will secure the title.
“I am confident of our ability to run at the front and challenge for another race win to end the season. The race will play out how it plays out – that is out of our control – but for the first time this season I’m hoping for a strong challenge from our GT3 class rivals to ‘mix it up’ and help us achieve #28’s first Championship title.”
The Autopolis 3-hour race is set in a mountainous Southern region of Japan and is regularly hampered by inclement weather.
At the 2012 Super Taikyu final, the race was abandoned due to heavy rain and fog. Similarly, the recent Super GT race at Autopolis last month saw qualifying cancelled due to track flooding.
“Rain we can put up with, but we don’t need another anticlimax like last year. We want a hard, fair fight with all of those around us, and the best men to win on the day.”
Lester is supported throughout the 2013 season by key partners including Vortex Racewear, Lero Global, R Redpath Limited, OPTI-Flex, Fastway Couriers, Robbie Bird Wines, CRC MotorNews.co.nz, Mako Networks, iSign it, Sony New Zealand, Sony Xplod, ThrillPledge and Webdesign.
More details about Jono and his season can be found at www.jonolester.com, or by following ‘Jono Lester’ on Facebook, @jonolester on Twitter and @jono_lester on Instagram. Join the conversation using the hashtag #flyingkiwi on social media platforms.
Follow the action from your smartphone by downloading the free Jono Lester app, simply by visiting http://jonolester.appguppy.com from your iPhone or Android device.
