Speed, Grit, and Determination: Nicole Havrda’s Race to the Top

Nicole Havrda’s path from Vancouver Island to the roaring circuits of F1 Academy and Formula Regional Americas (FR Americas) is more than just a story of racing. It’s a journey of determination and the unrelenting pursuit of her dreams.

Credit: F1 Academy Limited

The hum of engines wasn’t Nicole’s first sporting love. She was a dedicated swimmer as a kid, her sights set on the Olympics, when a trip to visit family in Europe put her in front of an F1 race. Once the adrenaline kicked in, her journey steered in a new direction, and that path has taken her all the way to the bright billboards of Shanghai, where F1 Academy is gearing up for their first race of the 2025 season as you read this.

But Nicole first started in the small karting scene in British Columbia, Canada, where the few options she had meant she quickly outgrew her local circuits when she moved into cars.

“The car scene it's even harder [than karting] because I would have to travel down to America,” she tells Females in Motorsport. “We would do long drives of 24 hours straight just to go to the racetrack in California.”

With her family’s support, Nicole has achieved an impressive racing record, including becoming the first female Formula Pro USA Champion in 2023, and four podium finishes in the 2024 FR Americas Championship, with an overall sixth  place in the standings.

This year she’s the first Canadian to join F1 Academy, driving the Hitech TGR supported by American Express. Nicole is easy to spot during a race, in her now classic electric pink helmet, which means more to her than just being part of her protective gear.

“I like that people can see it and say, ‘that's the girl with the pink helmet’. I like that they know it’s a girl under there,” she says.

Flanked by the Canadian flag, Nicole’s helmet bears the title of the documentary she stars in, The Car Knows No Difference. The Jarmain Productions documentary is supported by Mercedes Benz and will be working on a second season this year, showing what it takes to compete as a woman in motorsport on a journey to becoming one of the greats.

Credit: F1 Academy Limited

The sentiment of the documentary title is one Nicole carries close to her and hopes others can take strength from too. 

“The guys are able to do it all, they're able to drive the car, so you are able to too!” Nicole says. “The car seriously knows no difference, and I think it's just important, having these words on my helmet and hearing them from people.”

2025 is an especially exciting year in Nicole’s journey as she’ll be travelling the world with F1 Academy as well as continuing her already impressive FR Americas campaign. Like several other drivers in the F1 Academy grid, Nicole will face up to the challenge of changing between different cars and environments every week, sometimes in as little time as four days.

“It's going to be interesting to see if I adapt well. The car is so different, the breaking is different,” she says. “I hope it goes really well!”

The task is nothing if not a huge learning opportunity, and a top finish in either series could secure the next stage of Nicole’s racing career, which is keeping her fuelled and excited. For those keen to follow, Nicole tracks her event dates and results throughout the year on her website.

With eyes and mind focused on the race season, Nicole’s double campaign in 2025 demonstrates how much drivers work to get the attention of sponsors that can help them climb the ranks. Racing opportunities are hard to come by everywhere in the world, and the FIA Global Pathway to Formula 1 is hard to access without huge financial backing. As a North American driver, Nicole has seen how difficult it can be.

“There's no easy way to get from American racing to Europe with a low budget,” she says. “You have to have a high budget and a big sponsor and all that support.”

That is why initiatives like F1 Academy can be life changing. From behind the wheel this year, Nicole hopes to spark interest across industries and secure sponsorship for the future, but it’s a challenge. She told us how American Express, in whose car she will be driving, is an example of a brand fully getting the value of investing in motorsport, but not every brand is the same.

Luckily, Nicole is no rookie when it comes to making her plans become a reality. Since she was young, she has been determined to see her goals through, even plotting out a list of what she would achieve at every age. This year it’s a top five finish in FR Americas and podiums in F1 Academy. A truly special one would be her home race in Canada, but Nicole is also looking forward to the Vegas and Miami circuits, both chances to win big!

Credit: F1 Academy Limited

With a truly exciting season of F1 Academy upon us, it’s safe to say the girl in the pink helmet will be one to watch, and not just in 2025.

“I want to make it to the pinnacle of racing, the highest level possible,” she says. “Obviously, Formula 1 has always been on my mind, but IndyCar is there too, and endurance racing. The dream would be to race 24 hours of Le Mans with the Iron Dames. Something like that would be crazy!”

And for those who want to make their own dreams - inside or outside of racing - happen, Nicole shared some words of advice.

“The biggest thing I had to learn was no one is going to bring you there,” she says. “You have to do it yourself! Ask lots of questions and listen!”

With the fortitude and determination Nicole has already shown throughout her racing career, no one can say where her journey will take her. Be it FR Americas, F1 Academy or anywhere else, Nicole Havrda has her eyes fixed firmly on the prize, and we can’t wait to see what she achieves.