Nicole Havrda is a young and talented race car driver from Comox Valley who has quickly risen through the ranks of motorsports. She has made a name for herself in the male-dominated world of racing, transitioning from karting to becoming a force in Formula 3 and Formula Pro USA.
Ingenue in Auto Racing
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, the young athlete sought the thrill of speed early on. She spent several years on the Mount Washington ski racing team and swimming competitively for six years before discovering motorsports. Inspired by attending her first Formula 1 race in Austria in 2018, she dove into karting and won her first podium finish in 2019, where she was also crowned Rookie of the Year at the West Coast Kart Club.
She went on to take first place at the Calgary Shootout in Strathmore, Alberta in 2020, among a half dozen podium finishes in other events. The same year, Havrda travelled to Mont Tremblant, Quebec, for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, where she took 6th place, and competed in her first international event, Challenge of the Americas, in Tucson, Arizona, also placing 6th. 2021 saw her winning several races at the West Coast Kart Club, 2nd at the Rotax West Final, and 8th place at the Canadian Nationals.
She achieved national champion status at just 12 years old and was allowed to race Mercedes-Benz Canada’s AMG GT4 at 14 before acquiring her Class 5 license. In 2022, Havrda made a big leap to the intense world of Formula 3 racing, and in 2023, she raced in the highly competitive Formula Pro USA series and Formula Regional Americas, achieving significant success.
Nicole’s talent and determination have earned her recognition, including being the youngest finalist for the Aston Martin GT4 female shootout and a key participant in a documentary featuring women in motorsports, set for release soon.
ELEVATE: Vancouver Auto Show
Recently, Nicole was a special guest at the Vancouver International Auto Show, where she met fans, signed autographs, and shared her inspiring journey at the Women in Automotive space at the 100th edition, aptly titled ELEVATE.
At the same event, attendees enjoyed the ‘Supercar Eleganza‘ section, featuring a breathtaking showcase of supercars from legacy high-performance auto manufacturers to rare, personal collections. From the roaring engines to the sleek lines that exude sophistication, Supercar Eleganza embodies the pinnacle of automotive artistry.
The ‘Horsepower Heaven‘ section of the show focused on the allure of modified and custom classic cars synthesized with the excitement of modern technology. This display perfectly fused the performance modification segment and the automotive lifestyle market.
Presented by Preston GM, featuring Chevrolet Performance Parts and sponsored by Hagerty, attendees experienced the visual thrill of powerful engines and sleek craftsmanship in a display that included meticulously restored classics and state-of-the-art performance upgrades.
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The Vancouver International Auto Show is western Canada’s best-attended consumer show and one of North America’s premiere automotive exhibition events. With more than 200 vehicles displayed in 220,000+ square feet of space at the Vancouver Convention Center, the 2024 ELEVATE event was an unparalleled showcase of the best in automotive artistry and innovation.
All photos courtesy of Nicole Havrda.
Author Profile
- Vlad Xanthopoulos is the Vices Ambassador at Folio.YVR, host of Cocktails & Cigars, and contributor. A connoisseur of fine cigars and craft cocktails, Vlad explores the art, culture, and stories behind these indulgences. His passion for tradition and refined living elevate Vancouver Vices for Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.
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