On July 1, 2018 over 300,000 Formula 1 fans watched as 21-year-old, , crossed the checkered line in Red Bull香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播� the product of elite-level engineering 香蕉视频直播� 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 Havrda香蕉视频直播檚 own father, that day, as the sun rose and set 香蕉视频直播� a star was born.
香蕉视频直播淲e went on a road trip through Europe and he decided we香蕉视频直播檇 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, 香蕉视频直播榗an you help get me there?!香蕉视频直播� He thought I wanted to get a closer look at the track and I told him, 香蕉视频直播榥o no, I want to drive one,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淏ehind the scenes, nobody sees the adversity but it香蕉视频直播檚 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 wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be able to do this,香蕉视频直播� Harvda says.
香蕉视频直播淢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, it香蕉视频直播檚 seriously insane. To get where I am now, the success we香蕉视频直播檝e had is built on the trust we have with each other. When I win a race, it香蕉视频直播檚 not Nicole Havrda winning, my family is winning with me.香蕉视频直播�
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 hasn香蕉视频直播檛 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 she香蕉视频直播檚 gained, there香蕉视频直播檚 a great deal that people don香蕉视频直播檛 see behind the scenes.
香蕉视频直播淚 enjoy challenges because it motivates me to work harder, so these days the biggest challenge is finishing school 香蕉视频直播� this June I香蕉视频直播檒l be graduating. What香蕉视频直播檚 been difficult is balancing this with racing. Most days I香蕉视频直播檒l come back from training or competing and I香蕉视频直播檓 met with a test or assignment. Because I香蕉视频直播檓 online schooling, it香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播�
When she dawns the red and white jumpsuit and hits the track, Havrda says the adversity is of a different nature, one that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 receive enough attention in motorsports.
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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 California香蕉视频直播檚 Buttonwillow Raceway Park.
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Asked what advice Harvda gives to the next generation of racers facing adversity, the Formula Pro Champ says with conviction, 香蕉视频直播淎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.香蕉视频直播�
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