Kiwi endurance racing driver Jono Lester and the Fastway Racing Team have won the 2013 New Zealand Endurance Championship in the Fastway Couriers Porsche 997 GT3.
Contested over two rounds at Manfeild and Taupo, the series was formed to cater to the growing interest in long-distance racing ‘down under’ in a series of 1 Hour and 3 Hour races across a variety of classes.
Entering the championship as firm favourites, Fastway Racing delivered with a clean sweep of results taking both pole positions, both race wins and both fastest laps with Lester and 21-year old Hawkes Bay driver Simon Ellingham.
“It’s been a terrific start to the year for me to share in the successes of Fastway Racing’s first National Championship title,” Lester said.
“Fastway Couriers have quickly grown into a company with a passion for motorsport in New Zealand. Their support of Fastway Racing, the JMR V8 SuperTourer team and myself personally in International exploits is a real boost for New Zealand motorsport.”
In the 1 Hour Championship, Hamish Ellingham, the 19-year old younger brother of Simon, continued a strong initiation into motorsport with second overall, scoring two second place finishes in the Fastway Couriers Mitsubishi Evo 9.
“At Fastway Couriers, we work hard to go the extra mile and deliver. The effort put in by Jono, Simon, Hamish and the Fastway Racing team has been extraordinary and couldn’t fit better with what we do as a business. Winning the NZ Endurance Championship is a great end to a great year” says Fastway Couriers NZ CEO Jason Windhager
For Lester, the New Zealand Endurance Championship provided valuable seat time ahead of a full local and international calendar for 2013, expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The Auckland-based driver will join Fastway Racing once again for selected North Island and South Island Endurance events during the year.
Lester will be supported throughout the 2013 season by key partners including Vortex Racewear, R Redpath Limited, Opti-Flex, Fastway Couriers, Robbie Bird Wines, CRC MotorNews.co.nz, Mako Networks, iSign it, Sony New Zealand, Sony Xplod, Webdesign and ThrillPledge.
