NEWS
PROFILE
Date of Birth: 31 January 1980
Place of Birth: London, UK
Lives: London, UK
Hobbies: Watersports, surfing, skiing, skydiving
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Leventis
Nick may have been a late starter in the world of motor racing, but hard work and natural talent brought him quickly through the ranks. He now competes at the highest levels, faces some of the world's most experienced and respected drivers every time he takes to the track, and is widely regarded as one of the quickest non-professional racers in endurance motorsport.
Nick has always been keen on outdoor sports – anything that tests his mind and body to the limits and gives him that Adrenalin buzz. Some years ago he tried his hand at karting – with some success – as well as watersports, including surfing and wakeboarding, but his first passion was downhill Alpine skiing. Nick was well on his way to becoming a qualified instructor, as well as a respected racer, when a serious back injury forced him out of the sport he loved.
He looked elsewhere for another pursuit that would combine his zeal for speed with his natural abilities, and at the age of 21 that he began to think seriously about a new career in motor racing. Here was a sport that demanded lightning-fast reactions, an agile mind, and the kind of bravery that downhill skiers have in abundance. It was the perfect match.
With the help and guidance of long-time friend Peter Hardman, Nick was able to realise his ambition, and in 2004 he embarked on his first competitive season. He raced in the BMW LMA Euro Saloon Championship, and was instantly on the pace. He dominated Class B and finished as runner-up in the championship. He also proved his merit in endurance racing, achieving a class win and sixth overall in the first-ever Britcar Silverstone 24 Hours, co-driving with Duller Motorsport.
In 2005 Nick branched out, racing a variety of cars and demonstrating his inherent versatility and mechanical understanding by tackling not only contemporary disciplines, but also Historic events as well. He competed in the Ferrari Historic Challenge and Le Mans Classic, campaigning a rare 246s Ferrari Dino and scoring encouraging results. He achieved back-to-back victories in the Roy Salvadori Trophy at the Silverstone Classic meeting with a 1957 Aston Martin DBR1 in both 2006 and 2007, and in 2007 he also reached a personal landmark with a Le Mans podium in the Legends race with a Ferrari P3.
Nick competed in Belgian and Italian touring car series, gaining several podiums, two class victories at Spa, and consecutive wins in the prestigious Vallelunga 6 Hour Silver Cup in 2006 and 2007. Although still relatively inexperienced in pure mileage terms, he had ably demonstrated that the next step on the ladder - racing a works Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 – was well within his reach. His conviction was rewarded with a podium in the Epilogue of Brno 6 Hour and a GT1 class win and second overall in the highly competitive Vallelunga Gold Cup.
Year on year Nick's talent and skill has kept pace with his ambition. Ever eager to learn, and willing to listen, Nick has benefited from the experience of fellow drivers like Peter Hardman, Danny Watts and Jonny Kane. He has grasped the next opportunity each time it's fallen within his reach, and in 2008 that meant Le Mans – the most demanding motor race in the world.
Just four years after starting out as a motorsport rookie, Nick faced the challenges of the famous La Sarthe circuit – twenty-four hours of high-intensity, gruelling and exhausting racing. A fourth-in-class in the Spa 1000 Kilometres was excellent preparation for his 24 Hour debut, but at Le Mans the Aston Martin GT1 DBR9 suffered a mechanical failure seventeen hours into the race. Even so, Nick acquitted himself well, and when the Aston finished fourth again in the year's final Le Mans Series event, the die was cast for the next rung on the ladder.
In 2009, Nick and Strakka Racing entered a Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 sports prototype in the Le Mans Series. Partnered by Danny Watts and Peter Hardman, Nick and the team established themselves as front-runners in the class, claiming pole in Round 1 at Barcelona and finishing a very creditable 14th in LMP1 in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Nick had the honour of taking the chequered flag after twenty-four exhausting hours.
2010 may well prove to have been a landmark year in Nick's motor racing career. Contesting the ultra-competitive LMP2 class at Le Mans and in the Le Mans Series with an HPD ARX-01 chassis, Nick and the Strakka team have recorded one of the most remarkable seasons in sportscar racing. A class win in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans established five new records, including distance completed, lap speed and overall finishing position (5th) for an LMP2 entry. The team also achieved the first-ever outright win for an LMP2 chassis in Europe by claiming victory in the Hungaroring 1000 Kilometres. Throughout each of these momentous events, Nick held his own against vastly more experienced rivals, and enhanced his standing as one of the sport's most capable up and coming sportscar drivers.
Place of Birth: London, UK
Lives: London, UK
Hobbies: Watersports, surfing, skiing, skydiving
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Leventis
Nick may have been a late starter in the world of motor racing, but hard work and natural talent brought him quickly through the ranks. He now competes at the highest levels, faces some of the world's most experienced and respected drivers every time he takes to the track, and is widely regarded as one of the quickest non-professional racers in endurance motorsport.
Nick has always been keen on outdoor sports – anything that tests his mind and body to the limits and gives him that Adrenalin buzz. Some years ago he tried his hand at karting – with some success – as well as watersports, including surfing and wakeboarding, but his first passion was downhill Alpine skiing. Nick was well on his way to becoming a qualified instructor, as well as a respected racer, when a serious back injury forced him out of the sport he loved.
He looked elsewhere for another pursuit that would combine his zeal for speed with his natural abilities, and at the age of 21 that he began to think seriously about a new career in motor racing. Here was a sport that demanded lightning-fast reactions, an agile mind, and the kind of bravery that downhill skiers have in abundance. It was the perfect match.
With the help and guidance of long-time friend Peter Hardman, Nick was able to realise his ambition, and in 2004 he embarked on his first competitive season. He raced in the BMW LMA Euro Saloon Championship, and was instantly on the pace. He dominated Class B and finished as runner-up in the championship. He also proved his merit in endurance racing, achieving a class win and sixth overall in the first-ever Britcar Silverstone 24 Hours, co-driving with Duller Motorsport.
In 2005 Nick branched out, racing a variety of cars and demonstrating his inherent versatility and mechanical understanding by tackling not only contemporary disciplines, but also Historic events as well. He competed in the Ferrari Historic Challenge and Le Mans Classic, campaigning a rare 246s Ferrari Dino and scoring encouraging results. He achieved back-to-back victories in the Roy Salvadori Trophy at the Silverstone Classic meeting with a 1957 Aston Martin DBR1 in both 2006 and 2007, and in 2007 he also reached a personal landmark with a Le Mans podium in the Legends race with a Ferrari P3.
Nick competed in Belgian and Italian touring car series, gaining several podiums, two class victories at Spa, and consecutive wins in the prestigious Vallelunga 6 Hour Silver Cup in 2006 and 2007. Although still relatively inexperienced in pure mileage terms, he had ably demonstrated that the next step on the ladder - racing a works Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 – was well within his reach. His conviction was rewarded with a podium in the Epilogue of Brno 6 Hour and a GT1 class win and second overall in the highly competitive Vallelunga Gold Cup.
Year on year Nick's talent and skill has kept pace with his ambition. Ever eager to learn, and willing to listen, Nick has benefited from the experience of fellow drivers like Peter Hardman, Danny Watts and Jonny Kane. He has grasped the next opportunity each time it's fallen within his reach, and in 2008 that meant Le Mans – the most demanding motor race in the world.
Just four years after starting out as a motorsport rookie, Nick faced the challenges of the famous La Sarthe circuit – twenty-four hours of high-intensity, gruelling and exhausting racing. A fourth-in-class in the Spa 1000 Kilometres was excellent preparation for his 24 Hour debut, but at Le Mans the Aston Martin GT1 DBR9 suffered a mechanical failure seventeen hours into the race. Even so, Nick acquitted himself well, and when the Aston finished fourth again in the year's final Le Mans Series event, the die was cast for the next rung on the ladder.
In 2009, Nick and Strakka Racing entered a Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 sports prototype in the Le Mans Series. Partnered by Danny Watts and Peter Hardman, Nick and the team established themselves as front-runners in the class, claiming pole in Round 1 at Barcelona and finishing a very creditable 14th in LMP1 in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Nick had the honour of taking the chequered flag after twenty-four exhausting hours.
2010 may well prove to have been a landmark year in Nick's motor racing career. Contesting the ultra-competitive LMP2 class at Le Mans and in the Le Mans Series with an HPD ARX-01 chassis, Nick and the Strakka team have recorded one of the most remarkable seasons in sportscar racing. A class win in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans established five new records, including distance completed, lap speed and overall finishing position (5th) for an LMP2 entry. The team also achieved the first-ever outright win for an LMP2 chassis in Europe by claiming victory in the Hungaroring 1000 Kilometres. Throughout each of these momentous events, Nick held his own against vastly more experienced rivals, and enhanced his standing as one of the sport's most capable up and coming sportscar drivers.
RACING
Strakka Racing is a successful sports car team competing in the Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 Hour race.
To find out more visit Strakka Racing website.
Photo Gallery
To find out more visit Strakka Racing website.
Photo Gallery
