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 sportsman racers in endurance motorsport.

Nick was a respected downhill ski racer before a serious back injury forced him out of the sport he loved. At the age of 21, he turned his attention to motor racing, which demanded similar lightning fast reactions, an agile mind and the competition on which he thrives.

Having missed out on racing in junior formula, Nick began his racing career in 2004, driving a BMW M3 in the BMW LMA Euro Saloon Championship – dominating Class B and finishing runner-up in the overall standings. He also proved his merit in endurance racing, achieving a class win and 6th 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 Ferrari Dino 246 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 the 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 race and a GT1 class win and 2nd overall in the highly competitive Vallelunga Gold Cup.

Just four years after starting out as a motorsport rookie, Nick made his debut at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2008 – although the Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 was to retire with mechanical problems in the 17th hour.

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 claimed pole in Barcelona and finished 14th in LMP1 in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

For 2010, Strakka Racing raced a LMP2 twin-turbo V6 engined HPD ARX-01c in the Le Mans Series, recording one of the most remarkable seasons in sportscar racing. LMP2 victory at the Le Mans 24 Hour race broke five records, including the highest ever overall finish for a LMP2 car (5th), a new lap record and the greatest distance ever covered in the famous race by a LMP2 car. The team also achieved the first ever LMS outright win for a LMP2 chassis, with victory at the 1,000km race at the Hungaroring. 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.

Nick's driver development programme continued in the LMS in 2011, although it was to be a character-building year for the entire Strakka Racing team, as the HPD ARX-01d now had to run with an air-restricted performance disadvantage. Despite this, Nick helped the team finish runner-up in LMP2 for a second consecutive season.

In 2012, Strakka Racing contested the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship with a new 3.4-litre normally aspirated V8 engined HPD ARX-03a, with Nick racing in America, the Middle East and the Far East for the first time. He quickly mastered each new circuit to enable the team to finish on the FIA Endurance Trophy for Private LMP1 Teams' podium in all eight races – fittingly achieving the 100% record with an outstanding final stint at Shanghai, when Nick took the car from 4th to 3rd in the closing stages. The highlight of the season was a 3rd overall finish at the 6 Hours of Bahrain.

Nick found that multi-mileage testing in performance single-seaters was a great benefit to his driver development, but finding the right race cars with experienced teams in a correct environment was extremely difficult. Recognising that other drivers were looking for a similar private bespoke testing package, he was the brainchild behind the creation of Strakka Performance in 2012, a driver development programme that enlists the Strakka Racing engineering department, the very latest data and systems, two World Series by Renault race cars and the coaching expertise of team-mates Danny Watts and Jonny Kane. In the first six months of operation, Strakka Performance ran drivers in Europe, South Africa and Asia.

In 2013, Strakka Racing placed 1st in class (LMP1 Privateers) at the Le Mans 24 Hour race.

In 2014, Nick will contest the FIA World Endurance Championship in a Strakka Dome S103.

Nick is a loving father to his son Marley and has run the New York City Marathon (in a time of 3hrs 11mins 33secs). He has also raised many thousands of pounds for charity by abseiling down The Shard in London (Western Europe's tallest skyscraper), raising money for the Commando Spirit Appeal on behalf of the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, and has ski-dived from 30,000ft above Mount Everest for the Global Angels charity.

RACING

Strakka Racing is a successful sports car team competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hour race.

To find out more visit Strakka Racing website.

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26/10/2010 14:00
30,000 foot jump seals new record for Le Mans champ Nick Leventis

2010 Le Mans winner, Nick Leventis, has just completed a 30,000 feet jump into the record books. His tandem skydive over Mount Everest with jump partner Tom Noonan is the highest altitude tandem sky dive ever completed at the world's most famous mountain.

The Himalayas jump site is one of the most treacherous in the world and the jump was preceded by an arduous four-day trek to the drop zone. The ascent to the jump itself is also particularly demanding, as Nick had to cope with limited oxygen supplies and a very limited amount of time for the plane to operate at the altitude.

The jump was in support of Global Angels Foundation, an international charity that works with some of Asia's most disadvantaged children. Nick, who's Strakka Racing team won the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race this year, took part in the record breaking tandem skydive over the Himalayas on 19th October 2010.

The Himalayas is famously one of the most difficult places to skydive in the world and the death-defying leap of faith was 1,000 ft higher than the peak of Mount Everest, creating a new Himalayan record for the highest altitude tandem skydive jump.

Speaking immediately after landing, Nick said:

"It has been such a fantastic experience and I am so glad to finally have made the record this morning. It has been extremely mentally and physically challenging to cope with the demands of the weather, high altitude and extreme conditions that the Himalayas throw at you."

"I'd like to thank everyone at Explore Himalaya, and in particular Wendy Smith and Tom Noonan who I jumped with today for making this happen. As a Global Angels Ambassador I am extremely proud of everybody's exceptional generosity and together we have raised just short of £100,000 to help thousands of children in need. Plans are already in motion for something even more exciting next year!"

Nick and his wife Sophie have been ambassadors for Global Angels since 2009 and have raised over £85,000 so far for the charity from the Everest jump. The latest jump forms part of a four-year mission to raise $1 million for street children and orphans in Asia. All of the money raised will go towards several leading projects on the ground in Nepal and other Asian nations.


NOTES TO EDITORS:

Global Angels

Is an international charitable foundation championing the causes of children and young people, developing creative and sustainable solutions. Global Angels is a charity that connects with a new generation of intelligent givers who want to know that their money goes directly to benefit the kids and the planet. Global Angels is supporting several dynamic projects throughout Asia, and is already having a tangible difference on the lives of thousands of orphans and street children.

Causes Global angels champion include:

- Communities living in extreme poverty.
- Trafficked kids and child slaves
- Street kids and orphans

http://www.globalangels.org/


Everest Skydive 2010

Everest Skydive Angels are a team of solo and tandem skydivers. We launched in 2008 as the first people ever to skydive in the Himalayas with halo jumps from 29,500ft. Mt Everest and the beautiful Himalayas lie beneath us. Our team comprises of Global Angels Ambassadors, Advisory Board members, Explore Himalaya/ Everest Skydive Staff, and Everest Skydive participants. Our collective aim is to raise $1 million over five years to empower street kids, orphans and poor children in Asia providing homes, education, food and sustainable solutions.


Nick Leventis

Strakka Racing is proud not only to have won LMP2 at the team's first attempt, but to have done so in dominant style; leading from pole to finish; setting a new class lap record; completing the greatest distance ever covered by an LMP2 car; crossing the line in the highest position yet achieved in LMP2 (5th overall), and winning the Michelin Green X Challenge award for Le Mans 2010. LMP means Le Mans Prototype, the fastest type of closed wheel racing cars in use today.

Nick Leventis, Le Mans Champion and Global Angels Ambassador. In May 2010 Nick and the Strakka team achieved a class win in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, establishing five new records. 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.

For more information on Nick Leventis and his recent skydive, please visit the following websites:

Global Angels
Everest-Skydive.com

For more information please contact Jon Stanley at JAGO+
Jon.stanley@jagopartners.com
+44 (0) 7739 242890

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14/10/2010 10:20 - UPDATE

Nick Leventis is on board ESD 2010, and today he made a tandem leap from 27,500 feet above Mount Everest at Shyangboche dropzone around 13:00 hrs (local time). Accompanyning him was tandem master Kevin Hardwick.

This is one of a few jumps as Nick attempts to set a new record for the highest altitude tandem skydive.

He is the ambassador of Global Angels and the jump was made in support of Global Angels Foundation, an international charity supporting Asia's most disadvantaged children.

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12/10/2010 10:50
Le Mans Champion Nick Leventis Does 200MPH Straight Down

British racing driver Nick Leventis will shortly attempt to set a new record for the highest altitude tandem-skydive with a jump over Mount Everest.

The jump is being made in support of Global Angels Foundation, an international charity supporting Asia's most disadvantaged children. Nick, who's Strakka Racing team won the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race this year, has been an ambassador for Global Angels since 2008. The death-defying leap of faith, will be completed in October 2010, and will show that Nick is not only king of the tarmac, but also king of the skies.
Speaking ahead of his jump, Nick said, "I cannot wait to get out to Nepal for the jump. Training has been quite intense and I have just completed a number of practice drops. The adrenalin rush is comparable to motor racing and it's an incredible feeling to see the earth rushing up at you at 200mph. The ultimate satisfaction however comes from knowing that we're raising money for Global Angels and the valuable work that they are doing."

Nick and his wife Sophie are aiming to raise £50,000 from the jump, with monies raised going to help feed, clothe and educate refugee children currently living in desperate conditions.
Nick and Sophie have recently returned from a trip to check out projects assisting Burmese refugee children. They made a moving short film of their trip, focusing on the plight of the refugee kids. They hope that through the film and the subsequent interest that this worthwhile but sometimes unknown charity will be able to increase and continue the fantastic work that it is currently doing.
To watch the film and to make a donation please visit the website.
http://www.globalangels.org/fundraiser/NickLeventis/

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• Global Angels is an international charitable foundation championing the causes of children and young people, developing creative and sustainable solutions. Global Angels is a charity that connects with a new generation of intelligent givers who want to know that their money goes directly to benefit the kids and the planet!

• Strakka Racing is proud not only to have won LMP2 at the team's first attempt, but to have done so in dominant style; leading from pole to finish; setting a new class lap record; completing the greatest distance ever covered by an LMP2 car; crossing the line in the highest position yet achieved in LMP2 (5th overall), and winning the Michelin Green X Challenge award for Le Mans 2010. LMP means Le Mans Prototype, the fastest type of closed wheel racing cars in use today.

For more information please contact Jon Stanley at JAGO+
Jon.stanley@jagopartners.com
+44 (0) 7739 242890

To sponsor Nick please go to
www.globalangels.org/fundraiser/NickLeventis/

Videos

Nick & Sophie Leventis Visit Thai-Burma Border from GlobalAngels.TV on Vimeo.

British Racing Driver Nick Leventis prepares for the big jump from GlobalAngels.TV on Vimeo.

Nick Leventis - Skydive Everest 2010 from GlobalAngels.TV on Vimeo.

For more videos go to the multimedia page