Taupo 18-year old Jono Lester is confident of further success at Manfeild this weekend, as the Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge enters the second half of its 2007/08 season. For Lester, the Manfeild event is a homecoming of sorts, with his family having a long-running history with the Feilding-based circuit that dates back to its opening in 1973.
“It will be great to get back to my roots, and also to test out the new track surface,” Lester said. “A thorough track walk will certainly be necessary so we can check out exactly where the character of the place has been altered.”
The recent Taupo A1GP event went a long way to restoring the points damage dealt out to the youngster at the Ruapuna event in late November, and with a win and some much needed confidence now under his belt buckle, the return to the Manawatu should bode well for Lester. Better than last year at least. What should have been a chance for the rookie driver to prove his improving speed and race craft turned into an absolute nightmare after he missed all but two laps of qualifying with a fuel pump failure; piling on the pressure for the rest of the weekend until Jono eventually cracked in race three.
“It was not a happy time. We had a real chance to make some decent headway at that event, but when it rained it poured and I didn’t take the pressure too well. But that’s the last thing on my mind now! I’m the last person to talk myself out of an event – I don’t believe in ‘bogey’ tracks – so this time around I certainly want to make amends and continue closing in on Craig [Baird].”
With the second step of the championship podium now an achievable goal, Lester has his sights firmly focused on a refreshed and revitalised Baird this weekend, and the inclusion of Australian Carrera Cup Champion David Reynolds only adds fuel to the fire. “I’m hoping my knowledge of the place will help me,” Lester said. “Reynolds will be quick – make no bones about it – but it’s his first visit to New Zealand, so with the limited testing time we have I might well be able to hold an advantage, and more importantly keep it.”
The pre-event testing will be even more limited than usual at the Manfeild event, with just two 20-minute sessions on Friday to fine tune the cars before Saturday morning’s qualifying session. Throw in the curve ball of a dismal weather forecast, and it’s anyone’s guess who will take the GT3 Cup honours.
“I’d like to hope it will be me!” Lester added. “If it’s wet, then anything can happen.”
