Comox Valley teen racing sensation Nicole Havrda is getting some national attention as fans of car racing focus on Montreal and the Canadian Grand Prix.
Havrda, 18, has been climbing the ranks of the racing world for a few years. In 2023 (at the age of 17) she won the American Formula 3 Championship.
This week, she is being featured on TSN in the Jarmain Productions documentary, The Car Knows No Difference.
The documentary chronicles the past four years of Havrda’s career.
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“In early 2020 when I was still karting, Mercedes Benz Canada called and asked if I wanted to be starred in a documentary and of course, I said yes,” said Havrda. “Then after that, they started filming basically everything. It shows my journey from karting all the way until now, which is Formula 3.
“The documentary… shows the challenges women go through to be involved in racing. My story was unique because it shows my progression into the sport, going from karting to Formula 4 to GT4 AMG and then to Formula 3.”
Havrda’s ultimate goal is to race Formula 1. At this point in her career, the exposure she will receive from this documentary is invaluable.
“This exposure is super important especially to get sponsors (and) followers and just to get my name out there,” Havrda said. “Since the motorsport world keeps growing it is important for me to get my name into everyone’s faces and the biggest thing is to continue to get sponsors because that is what will help bring me to Formula 1.”
Scheduled (PDT) times for viewing The Car Knows No Difference are as follows:
Friday, June 7, TSN3 12:30 p.m.
Friday, June 7, TSN5 4:30 p.m.
Friday, June 7, TSN2 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 8, TSN4 11 a.m.
Saturday, June 8, TSN5 11 a.m.
Saturday, June 8, TSN 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 08, TSN3 9 p.m.
Monday, June 10, TSN2 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 11, TSN2 1 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12, TSN5 9 a.m.
Saturday, June 15, TSN3 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 15, TSN4 9 p.m.
Havrda said the next step for her is to race on the European circuit.
“The next step is to race in Formula 3 in Europe since I am currently racing it in America,” she said. “Then of course F2 and F1. I am open to any opportunity that comes my way, (whether) it’s Indycar or sports cars but of course, the goal is to make it to Formula 1.”
Should Havrda reach that ultimate goal, she would get to a point very few women have ever achieved.
Italian driving legend Lella Lombardi is the only woman who scored points in Formula 1, competing from 1974 to 1976. Lombardi participated in 17 races and started 12. Her best result came in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, where she finished sixth. It was her second career F1 race.
Hravda remains humble about her accomplishments to date.
“Well I try to take myself as a normal person just doing something that I love but yes I guess I am a trailblazer,” she said.
