Jono Lester would be the first to admit that the past month hasn’t brought much success, be it on track or nursing a broken leg on the sidelines. He had ‘fallen off the horse’ as it were, and with a confidence boost very much needed, it was time to climb back onto the saddle.
The 18-year olds third Australian Porsche Carrera Cup event was to be staged at a more familiar permanent circuit facility of Wakefield Park – resembling that of the South Island tracks at home in New Zealand – rather than the pair of grueling street events in which a tough initiation was served.
For this event, in the small Australian town of Goulburn, the key was not to rush back into form, but to piece the puzzle back together bit by bit. It meant going back to basics, starting with braking and turning points and other elementary disciplines, before readdressing his mental approach, which was made far easier with the knowledge that his leg was well on the way to being mended.
“It seemed odd relaying the groundwork that I learned as a 14-year old in my first year of racing,” Lester remarked. “But at the same time it made me realise that we’ve probably been in a little bit too much of a hurry on our first visits to Adelaide and Melbourne over the last few weeks, and overlooked some really important things.”
“I was lucky enough to have a sit down with Rick Kemp, and along with Dad we had a long chat and nutted out a few weaknesses in our game plan. I reckon it was pivotal in how the weekend progressed, and it sits well for my next maiden visit at Barbagallo.”
But before the team got ahead of themselves, there was still a job to do at Wakefield. Now getting used to the customary single test and acclimatisation session prior to qualifying, the young kiwi lined up for the opening race in 12th position, and while not totally happy with the result, the potential for three strong races ahead looked promising.
Latching onto ‘the train’ in the opening race gave Lester little chance of making headway, finishing in 11th, while another position was made up in the second to give the youngster his first top-10 finish in the championship. A crippling delaminated left-rear tyre prevented any further progress, but the result was pleasing nonetheless.
It was the final race where the 2008 Taupo A1GP Support winner really showed his pace. With a race setup that exposed no problematic gremlins, Jono equipped himself well for the second of the day’s two 28-lap slogs, avoiding trouble and bettering his qualifying time to finish the race in a strong sixth position.
It was a much-needed result for Lester after his accident at Timaru left him low in confidence, both with himself and the machinery beneath him. He was ecstatic with the result;
“Now that’s more like it!” he said. “It’s so good to be smiling again. We’ve had a real rotten run lately for one reason or another, and I can’t tell you how happy I am to see it all falling back into formation.
The boys did a pearler job all weekend. Dad, my new mechanic Kevin Carney; data and mental prep with Bazza and Rick – everything and everyone gelled together really well and they all deserve a hearty pat on the back.”
And the plan for the next event is more of the same.
“Just keep building it up some more. Learn the circuits right from the basics, continue to scope out those around me, not to mention crafting a more aggressive approach. Sixth was good; now we’ve got to do it more often.”
He’ll get his chance, just as soon as some unfinished business is settled at the Hamilton 400 in a fortnight – the stage for a mighty conclusion to a whirlwind second season in the Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge.