Stuart Leonard
{{Short description|British racing driver}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox racing driver
| name = Stuart Leonard
| image = Stuart Leonard 2017.jpg
| imagesize = 285px
| caption =
| nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|06|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = London, United Kingdom
| related to =
| racing licence = 12px FIA Silver
| current series =
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| current team = Team WRT
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}}
Stuart Leonard (born 13 June 1991) is a British racing driver who has competed in the Blancpain GT Series for W Racing Team (also known as Team WRT), driving an Audi R8 LMS (GT3).
Career
=Caterhams=
In 2012, whilst studying for a degree in Finance, Leonard started his motorsport career in the Caterham Tracksport category. Due to his university commitments, he was only able to compete in some of the scheduled races. In Leonard's first year he took home two podiums,{{cite web|title=2012 Season Review: Caterham Tracksport Championship|url=http://www.brscc.co.uk/SEASON-REVIEW-AVON-TYRES-CATERHAM-TRACKSPORT-CHAMPIONSHIP|website=BRSCC.co.uk|date=21 December 2012 |accessdate=20 October 2017}} consisting of a win, and third place position, both at the Nürburgring GP circuit in Germany.
In 2013 Leonard moved up to the top of the Caterham ladder (R300 Superlight Championship), whilst being coached by the 2012 R300 Champion, Paul Wilson. That year, Leonard entered the second to last round leading the championship, however due to mechanical difficulties finished the championship second on points.{{cite web|title=2013 Season Review: Caterham R300 Superlight Championship|url=http://www.brscc.co.uk/2013-SEASON-REVIEW-BOOKATRACK-COM-CATERHAM-R300-SUPERLIGHT-CHAMPIONSHIP|website=BRSCC.co.uk|accessdate=20 October 2017}}
=Aston Martin GT3=
In 2014 Leonard started driving for Prodrive in the GT3 category. After a successful debut driving their Aston Martin GT3 at VLN Nürburgring Nordschleife, Leonard started competing in the Blancpain GT Endurance Series, racing his first 24 hour race at the Spa 24 Hours (Pro-Am).{{cite web|title=Five Aston Martins take on Spa 24 Hours|url=https://www.astonmartin.com/en/live/news/2014/07/22/five-aston-martins-take-on-spa-24-hours|website=AstonMartin.com|accessdate=20 October 2017|language=en}}
In 2015 Leonard won the Silverstone round of the Blancpain GT Endurance Series (Pro-Am) with Michael Meadows and Paul Wilson,{{cite web|title=Blancpain Endurance Series Round 2, Silverstone|url=https://www.paddock42.com/2015/05/27/blancpain-endurance-series-round-2-silverstone/|website=Paddock 42|accessdate=20 October 2017|date=27 May 2015}} completing the Blancpain GT Endurance Championship in fourth position. Leonard also participated in the British GT series at Spa-Francorchamps with Michael Meadows, finishing third overall and first in class (Silver Cup).
=Audi R8 GT3=
In 2015 Leonard moved from Prodrive to W-Racing Team, driving an Audi R8 GT3. Leonard competed in an all pro line-up in the Sepang 12 Hours, part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Leonard achieved his first win with Audi, alongside his teammates Laurens Vanthoor and Stéphane Ortelli.{{cite web|title=Stuart Leonard – On the hunt for two in two with WRT|url=http://www.racing.gt/2016/01/stuart-leonard-on-the-hunt-for-two-in-two/|website=Racing.GT|accessdate=20 October 2017}}
In 2016 Leonard entered the Dubai 24 Hour, alongside his teammates Laurens Vanthoor, Michael Meadows and Alain Ferté. The team won the race, making it Audi’s first win in the Dubai 24 Hour. Later that year Leonard competed with Michael Meadows in the Blancpain GT Sprint Cup for the Silver Cup Championship, and the Blancpain Endurance Cup, adding Robin Frijns to the team line-up in the Pro Cup.
Leonard also competed in the 24 Hours Nürburgring, with teammates Robin Frijns, Frederic Vervische and Edward Sandstrome, finishing eighth overall.
In 2017 Leonard joined teammate Robin Frijns for the Blancpain Sprint Pro Cup. Together they became the 2017 Blancpain Sprint Cup champions. Leonard also competed in the Blancpain Endurance Pro Cup, taking a second place finish in the Barcelona round with teammates Robin Frijns and Jake Dennis.
Leonard also teamed up with Alain Ferté for the two British GT races at Spa-Francorchamps, finishing second in both races{{cite web|title=Keen and Minshaw take British GT race one at Spa|url=https://www.motorsport-news.co.uk/?p=56455|website=Motorsport-News.co.uk|language=en}}
=Hyundai Motorsport=
In 2017 Leonard became involved in the development of Hyundai’s road car, the i30N.{{cite web|title=Final test for Hyundai i30 N during the Nürburgring 24-hours race|url=https://www.hyundai.news/eu/model-news/final-test-for-hyundai-i30-n-during-the-nuerburgring-24-hours-race/|website=Hyundai Media Newsroom|accessdate=20 October 2017|language=en}} He was also entered in the first and second rounds of the VLN Endurance Championship, finishing third in class for both,{{cite web|title=Hyundai i30 N To Race At The Nurburgring|url=https://www.motor1.com/news/142011/hyundai-i30-n-nurburgring-racing/|website=Motor1.com|accessdate=13 November 2017|language=en}} and later finishing fourth in class at the 24 Hours Nürburgring.
Racing Record
| {{Table}}
! Season !! Series !! Team !! Car !! Races !! Podiums !! Wins !! Position |
| 2012
| Caterham, Tracksport | DPR Motorsport | Caterham Tracksport | 8 | 2 | 1 | N/A |
|---|
| 2013
| Caterham, R300 Superlight | DPR Motorsport | Caterham R300 Superlight | 14 | 5 | 1 | 3rd |
| 2014
| VLN Championship | Prodrive | Aston Martin GT3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| | Blancpain Endurance Championship (ProAm Cup)
| Prodrive | Aston Martin GT3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2015
| Blancpain Endurance Championship (ProAm Cup) | Prodrive | Aston Martin GT3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4th |
| | British GT Spa-Francorchamps (Overall)
| Prodrive | Aston Martin GT3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3rd |
| | 12 Hours of Sepang (Pro)
| WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1st |
| 2016
| Blancpain Sprint Championship (Silver Cup) | WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3rd |
| | Blancpain Endurance Championship (Pro Cup)
| WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 44th |
| | 24 Hours of Dubai (Pro)
| WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1st |
| | 24 Hours of Nürburgring (Overall)
| WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8th |
| 2017
| Blancpain Sprint Championship (Pro Cup) | WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1st |
| | Blancpain Endurance Championship (Pro Cup)
| WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10th |
| | Blancpain GT Championship (Pro Cup)
| WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 4th |
| | British GT Spa-Francorchamps (Overall)
| WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2nd |
| | 24 Hours of Dubai (Pro)
| WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13th |
| | 8 Hours of Laguna Seca (Pro)
| WRT | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6th |
=Complete Bathurst 12 Hour results=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |
| Year
! Car# ! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"
! 2018 | 37 |align="left"| {{flagicon|BEL}} Audi Sport Team WRT |align="left"| {{flagicon|NLD}} Robin Frijns |align="left"| Audi R8 LMS | APP | 271 |style="background:#ffffbf;" | 1st |style="background:#ffffbf;" | 1st |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://stuartleonard.co.uk stuartleonard.co.uk]
{{S-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|title= Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup
Champion|before=Enzo Ide|after=Raffaele Marciello
Michael Meadows|years=2017|with=Robin Frijns}}
{{succession box | before = Craig Lowndes
Toni Vilander
Jamie Whincup | title = Winner of the Bathurst 12 Hour | years = 2018|with=Robin Frijns & Dries Vanthoor| after = Matt Campbell
Dennis Olsen
Dirk Werner}}
{{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Stuart}}
Category:24 Hours of Spa drivers
Category:GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup drivers
Category:Nürburgring 24 Hours drivers
Category:W Racing Team drivers
Category:British GT Championship drivers
Category:Hyundai Motorsport drivers