On July 1, 2018 over 300,000 Formula 1 fans watched as 21-year-old, , crossed the checkered line in Red BullB次元官网网址檚 iconic red and blue at the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix, marking the first time the Austrian energy drink brand etched podium gold on home soil.
Enamoured by the sights, sounds and suspense powered by roaring engines B次元官网网址� the product of elite-level engineering B次元官网网址� sat a young girl and her father from Comox Valley, B.C., who, while enjoying a European holiday, found two tickets to the elite racing spectacle.
Unbeknownst to the heroes on the track, fans in the crowd or even Nicole HavrdaB次元官网网址檚 own father, that day, as the sun rose and set B次元官网网址� a star was born.
B次元官网网址淲e went on a road trip through Europe and he decided weB次元官网网址檇 stop in Austria to watch the F1 Grand Prix. We go, we watch it and right as I get there I fall in love with it immediately. I actually asked my dad, B次元官网网址榗an you help get me there?!B次元官网网址� He thought I wanted to get a closer look at the track and I told him, B次元官网网址榥o no, I want to drive one,B次元官网网址� Harvda says.
has been on a tear since she first suited up at the Saratoga , between Courtenay and Campbell River. From sit-down interviews alongside F1 Hall of Fame driver and seven-time , , to becoming the first female Formula Pro USA champion in 2023 at the age of 18, Havrda says none of this could have been possible without the support of her family and the hometown that has cheered her on since the beginning.
B次元官网网址淏ehind the scenes, nobody sees the adversity but itB次元官网网址檚 there! My dad, mother and brother support me immensely. We have a family business. For six months of the year when we are out of town training and competing, my brother takes care of the family shop. Without him we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to do this,B次元官网网址� Harvda says.
B次元官网网址淢y parents do so much. The actual racing is only 10 per cent of what we do. From sending a billion emails, finding sponsors and teams, marketing my name and doing social media, itB次元官网网址檚 seriously insane. To get where I am now, the success weB次元官网网址檝e had is built on the trust we have with each other. When I win a race, itB次元官网网址檚 not Nicole Havrda winning, my family is winning with me.B次元官网网址�
Havrda and her father sat down with Black Press Media across the pond at the to share a behind the scenes look at her rise in the sport and what it means to leave a legacy of change, and empower the next generation of drivers from different backgrounds.
In her final year of high school, Havrda says the road to her success hasnB次元官网网址檛 been easy, though her determination continues to beat the odds. Spending upwards of 200 days away from home, training and competing on race tracks around the world, the Comox resident admits while grateful for the success and support sheB次元官网网址檚 gained, thereB次元官网网址檚 a great deal that people donB次元官网网址檛 see behind the scenes.
B次元官网网址淚 enjoy challenges because it motivates me to work harder, so these days the biggest challenge is finishing school B次元官网网址� this June IB次元官网网址檒l be graduating. WhatB次元官网网址檚 been difficult is balancing this with racing. Most days IB次元官网网址檒l come back from training or competing and IB次元官网网址檓 met with a test or assignment. Because IB次元官网网址檓 online schooling, itB次元官网网址檚 made it harder to maintain close relationships with my friends back home. It used to be hard to explain what I do but the has helped them understand some of what I go through.B次元官网网址�
When she dawns the red and white jumpsuit and hits the track, Havrda says the adversity is of a different nature, one that doesnB次元官网网址檛 receive enough attention in motorsports.
B次元官网网址淏eing a woman in motorsports, itB次元官网网址檚 definitely harder. When youB次元官网网址檙e going to the pits I often notice guys give me a weird stare. For me, I place my focus on the race. My helmet might stand out as itB次元官网网址檚 bright pink but when I put it on, to me, IB次元官网网址檓 just another racer and thatB次元官网网址檚 what matters.B次元官网网址�
When Harvda is not burning rubber on the track or deep in studies, her love of the sport has now grown into a commitment to inspiring the next generation of female racers. In 2023, Harvda teamed up with Mercedez, placing a spotlight on the who raced in the powerful Mercedes-AMG GT4 in an endurance race at CaliforniaB次元官网网址檚 Buttonwillow Raceway Park.
The documentary and media campaign, , explored the each racerB次元官网网址檚 journey and provided a private look into what it took for the three talented drivers to break into the highest levels of motorsport.
Asked what advice Harvda gives to the next generation of racers facing adversity, the Formula Pro Champ says with conviction, B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, go after it! If you lose or happen to fail, at least you tried and you know you gave it your all.B次元官网网址�
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