At 16 years old, Nicole Havrda already knows how to drive fast.
The Comox Valley teenager has only been racing for three years in go-karts but has already racked up an impressive resume, with 2021 proving to be a career year.
“We went to Ontario, to Mosport, and I achieved sixth place in total in the finals in a national race,” says Havrda.
“We came back to Chilliwack and we did the WCKC [West Coast Kart Club] championship and I got second in the championship there.”
Now Havrda has her sights set on racing full-sized cars in 2022.
“Getting out of karts, that is so important,” says Havrda.
“If you really want to make it to Formula One or these really high-end cars, you’ve got to really step up early and get into the car world.”
That goal was helped recently when Havrda was one of 15 drivers selected to take part in the W Series Driver Selection Test in Arizona.
“W Series is practically women’s Formula One,” says Havrda of the international all-female racing series.
“It’s to help women get higher in their career and to help them excel in their career.”
Whether or not Havrda gets to compete in the W Series for 2022, the test was something that the young racer won’t soon forget.
“Being the youngest driver there it was just amazing to see how they actually thought about me, they decided that I could possibly be with them,” says Havrda.
“I think it’s still amazing knowing what I’ll be up against and knowing what’s really going to happen and how they work.”
To keep up with Havrda’s 2022 plans, visit her website.
Cole Sorenson
