For David Lecko, the road to GT America powered by AWS didn’t begin with a lifelong karting career or a childhood spent at racetracks. Instead, it started with a move to Austin and a curiosity that quickly turned into something much bigger.
Now 36, Lecko is part of a rapidly growing field of drivers carving out their own path into professional sports car racing. His journey is proof that it’s never too late to get started.
Lecko’s introduction began at his home track: Circuit of The Americas. Like many drivers, he started in his own road car, learning the fundamentals lap by lap. But it didn’t take long for something to click.
“At a certain point, I realized how much better you get every lap when you’re still new to racing,” Lecko explained. “When you’re driving, you can’t think about anything else. It became something I truly loved.”
His passion solidified firmly and quickly. What began as a stress-relieving outlet quickly evolved into a competitive pursuit. Lecko’s transition into wheel-to-wheel racing was shaped by a chance encounter in the paddock at COTA, where he discovered Ginetta and its unique approach to driver development. From then on, he was set on a new trajectory. Now competing with RacingSupport, Lecko pilots the No. 89 Ginetta GTP8, becoming an early adopter of the platform in GT America competition.
Lecko made his GT America debut at Sonoma earlier this year, a weekend that left a lasting impression.
“It was incredible,” he reflected. “The track is so flowy, and it really rewards finding a rhythm, which is why I got into racing in the first place. And within the paddock, you notice the level of preparation right away. You see teams with so many people working on a single car. Just being part of that felt really special.”
Now that the championship has arrived at its second stop on the calendar in Austin, Texas, racing at COTA carries extra meaning for Lecko. It’s where his journey began and now it’s where he returns to take the next step as a competitor.
“It feels like a full circle moment,” he expressed. “Four years ago, I didn’t know anything. I just knew I wanted to learn. Now I’m back here racing.”
Balancing racing with running his own business, Lecko represents the core spirit of GT America by pursuing both personal and professional growth. However, while many drivers focus on podiums and points, Lecko’s mindset is more introspective as he takes on a big-picture perspective.
“I treat every lap seriously,” he explained. “I want to beat myself, beat the clock, and show what the car is capable of more than anything else.”
That philosophy is especially important as he helps introduce the Ginetta GTP8 to the GT America paddock. As the first to campaign the car in this environment, Lecko also sees himself as an ambassador for the brand to encourage others to join the grid and adopt the platform.
Support from Ginetta’s U.S. operation has been a key part of the program, with factory representatives on-site analyzing data and ensuring the car performs at its best. The team is also helping grow the grid, with an additional car available for prospective drivers interested in joining the series, further reinforcing Ginetta’s accessible, driver-focused philosophy.
As Lecko continues his introductory season in GT America, his story is still being written, but it already reflects the essence of the series as he takes every opportunity he is afforded to carve out his own path and encourage others to follow along.
Finally, for the fans attending CieloVision GT World Texas powered by Samsung, Lecko encourages exploration.
“This is such a huge campus, and you can access almost everywhere,” he concluded. “Try different viewing spots and find your favorite!”