{{Short description|British racing driver}} {{BLP sources|date=December 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}} {{EngvarB|date=May 2015}} {{Infobox racing driver | name = Nick Leventis | image = NICK LEVENTIS PODIUM 2.jpg | alt = Nick Leventis | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|01|31|df=y}} | birth_place = London, England | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | nationality = {{flag|GBR|name=British}} | racing_licence = 12px FIA Silver {{small|(until 2017)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/nick-leventis-gibson-lm-p2-races-are-always-thrilling-24319|title=Nick Leventis (Gibson) - "LM P2 races are always thrilling"|website=24 Hours of Le Mans|publisher=Automobile Club de l'Ouest|date=10 March 2016|access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref><br>12px FIA Bronze {{small|(2018–)}} }}
'''Nicholas Leventis''' (born 31 January 1980) is a British former professional endurance racing driver, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder of Strakka Racing and has competed internationally in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, achieving multiple class wins and setting several endurance-racing records. One of his most memorable successes was winning the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMP2 category with Danny Watts and Jonny Kane, breaking five records in the process.<ref name="Strakka">{{cite web|url=http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evolemans/253168/2010_le_mans_24hour_race_results.html|title=EVO|last=|first=|date=14 June 2010|website=|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=}}</ref> In 2013, he claimed another victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, this time in the top class of LMP 1 privateers. He is currently based in Monaco.
==Early life== Nicholas Leventis was born in Kensington, London of Persian / Greek Cypriot heritage, and educated at Harrow School with a notable mention, and later studied at the University of Edinburgh. After completing his studies, Leventis lived and worked in Romania and Nigeria. He initially pursued a career as a competitive alpine skiing but a back injury ended his trajectory in winter sports and led him to motorsport. He began racing with EDM Motorsport before founding Strakka Racing in 2006.
==Personal life== Leventis is married to Ukrainian-born former model and PR entrepreneur Olga Leventis. The couple met in Los Angeles before later marrying in Monaco.<ref name="Haute Living">{{cite web|url=https://hauteliving.com/2020/08/matrimony-olga-ly-nick-leventis-monaco/689595/|last=|first=|date=20 August 2020|website= Haute Living|title= Wedding Ceremony, The Matrimony Of Olga Ly And Nick Leventis In Monaco|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=}}</ref>
==Net worth== Leventis is a member of the prominent Leventis family, which built its wealth through the Nigerian Bottling Company and later Coca-Cola HBC, one of the largest Coca-Cola anchor bottlers, operating in 43 countries across Europe and Africa by the end of 2026.<ref name="Nigerian Bottling Company">{{cite web|url=https://businessfront.com/over50ng/company/nigerian-bottling-company/|last=|first=|date=|website= Business Front|title= Nigerian Bottling Company|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate= 27 November 2025}}</ref> The Leventis family were ranked 60th in the 2024 list of the wealthiest people in the United Kingdom, with an estimated combined fortune of about €3.5 billion, mainly due to their long-standing Coca-Cola bottling interests and properties around the world.<ref name="Rich List 2020: profiles 51-100">{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/rich-list-2020-profiles-51-100-featuring-bernie-ecclestone-wmnjxggkw|last=|first=|date=16 May 2020|website= The Times|title= Rich List 2020: profiles 51-100|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=}}</ref>
==Racing==
2004 - Start of racing career, driving a BMW M3 in the BMW LMA Euro Saloon Championship, dominating Class B and finishing runner-up in the overall standings. He proved his merit in endurance racing and achieved a class win and 6th overall in the first-ever Silverstone Britcar 24 Hour.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2005 - Leventis competed in the Ferrari Historic Challenge and Le Mans Classic, driving a rare Ferrari Dino 246 and scoring encouraging results.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2006 and 2007 - Victories in the Roy Salvadori Trophy at the Silverstone Classic meeting with a 1957 Aston Martin DBR1. In 2007 he reached a personal landmark with a Le Mans podium in the Legends race driving a Ferrari P3.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
Leventis also 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. Other successes included podium in the Epilogue of Brno 6 Hour race and a GT1 class win and second overall in the highly competitive Vallelunga Gold Cup.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2007 - Created Strakka Racing, one of Britain's leading independent racing teams.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2008 - Strakka Racing and Leventis progressed to the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours with an Aston Martin DBR9 GT1.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2009 - Nicholas and Strakka Racing stepped up to a Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S LMP1 sports prototype in the Le Mans Series. Partnered by Danny Watts and Peter Hardman, Leventis and the team claimed an impressive pole in Barcelona and finished 14th in LMP1 in the Le Mans 24 Hours.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2010 - Raced an LMP2 twin-turbo V6 engined HPD ARX-01c in the Le Mans Series, scoring an LMP2 victory at the Le Mans 24 Hour race and breaking five records. The team also achieved the first ever LMS victory for an LMP2 chassis, winning the 1,000km race at the Hungaroring.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Racecar |title=Strakka Racing win makes LMP2 history at Le Mans |url=https://www.racecar.com/news/35143/motorsport/strakka-racing-win-makes-lmp2-history-at-le-mans/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=www.racecar.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HPD ARX.01c: newcomer and winner |url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/hpd-arx-01c-newcomer-and-winner-1086 |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=24h-lemans.com |language=en}}</ref>
2011 - Became the first LMP2 driver to achieve two overall victories in the Le Mans Series.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2012 and 2013 - Raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship with an LMP1 class HPD ARX-03a with Johnny Kane and Danny Watts. The team finished on the FIA Endurance Trophy for Private LMP1 Teams' podium in all eight races – achieving the 100% record with an outstanding final stint in Shanghai by Leventis when he took the car from fourth to third in the closing stages of the race. The highlight of the season was a third overall finish at the 6 Hours of Bahrain.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2012 - Leventis was the brainchild behind the creation of Strakka Performance in 2012, a driver development programme designed to nurture young talent to the best they can.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2013 - Leventis took over the P1 Motorsport Formula Renault 3.5 team, integrating it into Strakka Racing's driver development programme.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2015 – Leventis spearheaded the design and production of Strakka's own car, the DOME S103 at the 6 Hours of Silverstone, claiming a third place on its debut.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2016 – He became a member of the prestigious BRDC (British Racing Drivers' Club), home to the most successful racing drivers from Great Britain and the Commonwealth.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
With the Gibson-Nissan, Strakka's team consisting of Leventis, Jonny Kane and Danny Watts came fourth in the LMP2 class (eight overall) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Nick accepted the BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy awarded to the highest placed British driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2017 – Leventis and Strakka Racing started working with one of the most successful and prestigious GT3 manufacturers, McLaren. They entered the challenging Blancpain GT Series with an impressive four McLaren 650S GT3.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
2018 - In 2018, he would expand Strakka Racing's GT activities beyond Europe, forming a new partnership with Mercedes-AMG which will see them carry Performance Team status for the German marque. The Silverstone-based team will run three new Mercedes-AMG GT3s in the Intercontinental GT Challenge alongside Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup.
2019 - On the 24th of July, it was revealed that Leventis had tested positive to banned substances. He was thus banned for four years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/gt/news/strakka-founder-leventis-gets-four-year-ban-for-anti-doping-violation-4990930/4990930/ |title=Strakka founder Leventis gets four-year ban for anti-doping violation| first=Jack| last=Benyon| publisher=Autosport|date=23 July 2019| access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref> Following this incident, he announced his retirement.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
==Racing Record==
===Britcar 24 Hour results=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |- ! Year ! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! {{Tooltip|Car No.|Car number}} ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class<br>Pos.|Class Position}} ! Ref |- style="text-align:center;" ! 2007 |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} EDM Motorsport |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Peter Hardman<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Christian Vann |align="left"| BMW M3 E46 GTR | 22 | GTC | 435 | 32nd | 11th | <ref>{{cite web|title=Britcar 24 Hours – Provisional Result|url=https://archive2.dailysportscar.com/viewArticle.cfm@articleUID=EB269CAD-1143-FDC9-35112B6B639762A4.html|year=2007|publisher=DailySportsCar|access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref> |- |}
===24 Hours of Le Mans results=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |- ! Year ! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class<br>Pos.|Class Position}} |- ! {{24hLM|2008}} |align="left"| {{flagicon|DEU}} Vitaphone Racing Team<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Strakka Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Peter Hardman<br>{{flagicon|BRA}} Alexandre Sarnes Negrão |align="left"| Aston Martin DBR9 | GT1 | 82 | DNF | DNF |- ! {{24hLM|2009}} |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Strakka Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Peter Hardman<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Danny Watts |align="left"| Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S | LMP1 | 325 | 21st | 14th |- ! {{24hLM|2010}} |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Strakka Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jonny Kane<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Danny Watts |align="left"| HPD ARX-01C | LMP2 | 367 | 5th |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''1st''' |- ! {{24hLM|2011}} |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Strakka Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jonny Kane<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Danny Watts |align="left"| HPD ARX-01d | LMP2 | 144 | DNF | DNF |- ! {{24hLM|2012}} |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Strakka Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jonny Kane<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Danny Watts |align="left"| HPD ARX-03a | LMP1 | 303 | 30th | 8th |- ! {{24hLM|2013}} |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Strakka Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jonny Kane<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Danny Watts |align="left"| HPD ARX-03c | LMP1 | 332 | 6th | 6th |- ! {{24hLM|2015}} |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Strakka Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jonny Kane<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Danny Watts |align="left"| Strakka Dome S103-Nissan | LMP2 | 264 | DNF | DNF |- ! {{24hLM|2016}} |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Strakka Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jonny Kane<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Danny Watts |align="left"| Gibson 015S-Nissan | LMP2 | 351 | 8th | 4th |- !colspan="8"|{{center|{{small|Sources:<ref name=LeMansResults>{{cite web|title=Nick Leventis|url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/track-record/driver/nick-leventis-27|publisher=Automobile Club de l'Ouest|access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref><ref name=MSportStats>{{cite web|title=Nick Leventis Results|url=https://motorsportstats.com/driver/nick-leventis/results|publisher=Motorsport Stats|access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref>}}}} |}
===Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! Year ! Entrant ! Class ! Car ! Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! Rank ! Points |- | 2012 ! Strakka Racing ! LMP1 ! HPD ARX-03a ! Honda LM-V8 3.4 L V8 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SEB<br />{{small|8}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA<br />{{small|6}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LMS<br />{{small|22}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL<br />{{small|5}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SÃO<br />{{small|5}} |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BHR<br />{{small|3}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FUJ<br />{{small|6}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SHA<br />{{small|6}} | ! 7th ! 64 |- | 2013 ! Strakka Racing ! LMP1 ! HPD ARX-03c ! Honda LM-V8 3.4 L V8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL<br/>{{small|Ret}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA<br/>{{small|7}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LMS<br/>{{small|6}} | SÃO | COA | FUJ | SHA | BHR | ! 15th ! 22 |- | 2015 ! Strakka Racing ! LMP2 ! Strakka DOME S103 ! Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SIL<br />{{small|3}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA<br />{{small|5}} |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LMS<br /><small>ret</small> |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NÜR<br />{{small|7}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| COA<br />{{small|7}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FUJ<br />{{small|6}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SHA<br />{{small|6}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BHR<br />{{small|5}} | !6th !63 |- | 2016 ! Strakka Racing ! LMP2 !Gibson 015S !Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL<br />{{small|5}} |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SPA<br /><small>ret</small> |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LMS<br />{{small|4}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NÜR<br />{{small|11}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MEX<br />{{small|4}} |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| COA<br /><small>ret</small> |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FUJ<br />{{small|6}} | SHA | BHR !7th !66 |- !colspan="16"|{{center|{{small|Sources:<ref name=MSportStats/><ref>{{cite web|title=Nick Leventis|url=https://www.fiawec.com/en/driver/27|publisher=FIA World Endurance Championship|access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref>}}}} |}
==Philanthropy== Leventis has been involved in charitable work connected to his family's long-standing philanthropic tradition through the A. G. Leventis Foundation, which supports education, culture and environmental projects in Europe and Africa and has funded thousands of scholarships worldwide.<ref name="AG Leventis Foundation">{{cite web|url=https://www.leventisfoundation.org/about/|last=|first=|date=|website= AG Leventis Foundation |title=AG Leventis Foundation Homepage|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=27 November 2025}}</ref><ref name="AG Leventis Foundation Scolarships">{{cite web|url=https://www.leventisfoundation.org/education/scholarships/|last=|first=|date=|website= AG Leventis Foundation |title=AG Leventis Foundation Scolarships|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=27 November 2025}}</ref> In 2010, Leventis took part in the Everest Skydive project in Nepal as an ambassador for the charity Global Angels, completing a tandem skydive from around 30,000 feet above Mount Everest to raise funds for vulnerable children and communities.<ref name="Nick Leventis & Tom Noonan- Freefalling from 30,000 feet">{{cite web|url=https://explorehimalaya.com/tag/wendy-smith/|last=|first=|date=15 October 2010|website= Explore Himalaya|title=Nick Leventis & Tom Noonan- Freefalling from 30,000 feet|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=}}</ref> In 2012, Leventis abseiled down The Shard in London as part of a charity event supporting the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, joining fellow World Endurance Championship drivers in the fundraiser.<ref name="Nick Leventis to rappel the Shard">{{cite web|url=https://www.fiawec.com/en/news/nick-leventis-to-rappel-the-shard/387|last=|first=|date=15 October 2010|website= Fiawec|title=Nick Leventis to rappel the Shard">|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=}}</ref>
In 2018, Leventis participated in a charity football match with Manchester United football player Dimitar Berbatov to raise money for charity in Bulgaria, supporting children's orphanages and the conservation of the Orthodox church.<ref name="Media Plus">{{cite web|url=https://mediaplus.bg/tag/nick-leventis/|last=|first=|date=18 September 2018|website= Fiawec|title=Федерация Народна топка България ще участва на поредното спортно събитие организирано от Фондация "Вълшебен свят"|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=}}</ref> Leventis has also participated in long-distance running events, including the New York City Marathon in 2011, finishing in 3:11:33, in support of charitable causes.<ref name="NYRR Finishers">{{cite web|url=https://results.nyrr.org/runner/18644281/races|last=|first=|date=|website= NYRR|title=Nicholas Leventis results NYC marathon 2021">|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=27 November 2025}}</ref>
After retiring, Leventis expanded his charitable focus by developing the Uprise Project—later known as the Uprising Project- aiming to inspire large-scale positive action by channelling collective motivation into meaningful environmental and social initiatives.<ref name="Capital Greece">{{cite web|url=https://www.capital.gr/english/3385716/nick-leventis-from-racing-to-inspiring/|last=|first=|date=|website= Capital Greece|title=Nick Leventis: From racing to inspiring">|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=9 December 2025}}</ref>
==Awards and honours== 2010 LMP2 class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Strakka Racing, setting multiple category performance records, the Michelin Green X Challenge (Prototype category) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Nigel Moores Trophy as a private entrant who has established the most meritorious performances in international motor racing.<ref name="Motorsport LeMans 2010">{{cite web|url=https://au.motorsport.com/lemans/news/strakka-racing-race-report-2010-06-16/2451605/|last=|first=|website= Motosport AU|title=Strakka Racing Report">|publisher=|archive-url=|date=16 June 2010|accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="BRDC 2010">{{cite web|url=https://brdc.co.uk/brdc-annual-awards-2010//|last=|first=|website= BRDC|title=BRDC Annual Awards 2010">|publisher=|archive-url=|date=7 December 2010|accessdate=}}</ref>
2013, became the first privateer to achieve an overall podium in the World Endurance Championship.<ref name="Drivers DB">{{cite web|url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/nick-leventis|last=|first=|date=|website= Driver DB|title=Driver DB Nick Leventis">|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=27 November 2025}}</ref>
2016 BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy (with Jonny Kane and Danny Watts) for being the highest-placed British drivers in a British car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and RMA Trophy of driver of the year for outstanding performance.<ref name="BRDC 2016">{{cite web|url=https://brdc.co.uk/brdc-celebrates-the-best-of-british-motor-sport-at-the-2016-annual-awards/|last=|first=|website= BRDC|title=BRDC celebrates the best of British motor sport at the 2016 Annual Awards">|publisher=|archive-url=|date=6 December 2006|accessdate=}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.nickleventis.com}} * {{DriverDB driver|nick-leventis}}
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box|title= Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup<br>Pro-Am Champion|before=Jonathan Adam<br>Ahmad Al Harthy|after=Charlie Eastwood<br>Ahmad Al Harthy<br>Salih Yoluç|years=2018|with=Lewis Williamson & Chris Buncombe}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leventis, Nick}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Harrow School Category:English racing drivers Category:European Le Mans Series drivers Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers Category:FIA World Endurance Championship drivers Category:Britcar 24-hour drivers Category:Doping cases in auto racing Category:Sports car racing team owners Category:Strakka Racing drivers Category:Mercedes-AMG Motorsport drivers Category:McLaren Racing drivers Category:24 Hours of Spa drivers Category:People from Kensington Category:Racing drivers from London Category:Vitaphone Racing drivers Category:12 Hours of Sebring drivers Category:Bathurst 12 Hour drivers Category:British racing drivers Category:British expatriates in Monaco Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Category:GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup drivers Category:Renault Sport Trophy drivers