Nicholas Lester - TMR's Founder & President
Originally from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, England, Nick Lester was introduced to motorsport at an early age by his parents, both passionate fans who regularly attended races throughout the 1950s and 60s. That early exposure laid the foundation for a lifelong career at the intersection of engineering and racing.
Following his studies in engineering and service in the British Army’s Royal Engineers, Nick began his professional career with Lucas Diesel Systems in Park Royal, London. There, he was involved in the development of high-speed diesel engines. At the same time, he built and raced VW air-cooled drag cars, competing across the UK and Europe—a hands-on pursuit that underscored his deep-rooted connection to motorsport.
Nick later joined the UK division of Roush Racing, supporting European customer programs including the original Panoz initiative. His work in the FIA GT1 Series included collaborations with David Price Racing (DPR) and the French Le Mans-based DAMS team led by Jean-Paul Driot.
He played a key role supporting the Panoz factory effort at major events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Sebring, Laguna Seca, and Mosport, and was part of the development and testing of the Panoz Q9 Hybrid at Road Atlanta. Notable highlights from this period include podium finishes at Hockenheim (ahead of Porsche) and Dijon (ahead of Mercedes and Porsche).
Nick was also directly involved in the procurement, development and initial testing of the Kremer Racing Lola B98/10 International Sports Racing Series (ISRS) program. It was powered by the same, but further refined, Roush 6.0 liter V8 engine that was used for the Panoz.
In the spring of 1999, Nick relocated to the United States with his wife Penny and their growing family, joining Honda Performance Development (HPD) in California.
He supported the global CART program, initially assigned to Walker Racing and later to Team Green alongside drivers Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy.
During this tenure, Nick contributed to multiple race victories and helped secure the 1999 CART Manufacturers Championship.
In 2002, Nick transitioned to Pi/Pectel (now Cosworth) in Indianapolis, where he supported engine control and data systems, eventually moving into a role with GM as Track Support Manager.
His work spanned the GM Chevrolet/Cosworth IndyCar program, Pontiac Daytona Prototype, Pontiac GTO/G6, and the early development of the Chevrolet GT Camaro.
A standout achievement from this era was winning the 2007 Daytona Prototype Championship with the Gainsco team.
In December 2007, Nick joined Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA), initially in track support before advancing to Technical Director and eventually Customer Support Manager.
He oversaw all logistics, personnel, and technical services for Porsche’s customer racing operations throughout North America.
Internationally, he supported IMSA Performance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013, helping the French team secure the LMGT3 Am class win.
His time with PMNA included major victories at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Petit Le Mans, Le Mans, Bathurst, and the Nürburgring, contributing to numerous team and driver championships.
Following a company restructure in May 2020 prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, PMNA eliminated the Customer Support Department, laying off the entire team.
Shortly after, longtime friend Rob Morgan invited Nick to join GT Celebration as Technical Director. In 2022, the series expanded to include three additional classes, rebranding as Morgan Performance Group (MPG), which encompassed GT Celebration, Prototype Celebration, Cup Celebration, and M2 Celebration.
Nick played a leading role in shaping and growing the series into a respected platform for competitive, high-level amateur racing across North America. Due to economic pressures and rising costs within the motorsport industry, MPG concluded operations in October 2023.
Launched in 2020 when Nick had just started with GT Celebration, Lester Group LLC (now operating as The Market Race) was founded, leveraging his global motorsport network and experience to offer race car sales, track support, and consulting services.
Today, through The Market Race, Nick continues to support teams, drivers, and collectors across the racing community. With decades of international experience and a reputation built on trust and technical excellence, he remains deeply committed to helping others navigate the motorsport world—on and off the track.