ABOUT LEIGHTON
Leighton Leevard is a fourteen-year-old junior dragster racer, actor and ambassador from Auckland where he has been racing a junior dragster since the age of seven; acting since age four having gone on to star in numerous adverts, interviews and movies, to which his most successful accreditation to date is working alongside the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon. Leighton proudest accomplishment is being having been appointed as one of HeartKids NZ Child Ambassadors where Leighton attends charity events and public speaks sharing his personal heart story to raise awareness of childhood congenital heart defects (CHD) and living life to his full potential. Additional to already living life to the fullest, Leighton was given the opportunity to race a ministock or his first time earlier this year and after what proved to be a successful first attempt, Leighton is now hooked and is adding to the motorsport fleet where he will now be suiting up to pilot the new 612a out of Waikaraka Park Speedway for the upcoming 2024 - 2025 when he isn't racing the junior dragster.
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Early Life:
At the age of 14 months old, it was found that Leighton had a complex and incredibly rare heart condition Coronary Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) of the heart, which resulted in the heart over working and numerous blue spells. Leighton underwent a heart operation June 2012 to correct this and as a result was later discharged and declared medically fit albeit now living life with a 6mm coil lodged in an artery connected to his heart.
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Due to his heart story, is where "The HeartstopperKID" was later incorporated into Leighton's racing persona followed by his race number of 612 (June 2012).
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Career:
At aged four Leighton was one of two chosen to represent Starship Hospital for a promotional poster teamed up with Barfoot & Thompson.
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Leighton's mother noticed how well he followed direction and a naturalness for the camera, she decided to sign Leighton with a talent agent and a star was born.
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Motorsport Awards:
2018 Junior Dragster Beginner DYO Champion
2018 Junior Dragster Beginner Heads-up Runner-up
2019 Junior Dragster Beginner DYO Champion
2019 4 and Rotary Junior Dragster Runner-up
2020 Comp Meet 5 Junior Dragster Runner-up
2022 Comp 1 Best Prepared Junior Dragster
2023 Comp Meet 5 Junior Dragster Runner-up
2023 Crew Chief of the Year Award
2024 Comp Meet 2 Junior Dragster Runner-up
2024 Junior Dragster Extreme Comp DYO Runner-up