NICOLE HAVRDA’s Journey From Vancouver Island Track to F1 Academy Stardom

November 1, 2025

• NICOLE HAVRDA proves that world-class talent can emerge from the most humble beginnings. The 19-year-old from Comox got her start at Saratoga Speedway and has now climbed through motorsport levels to reach F3 and become the only Canadian among 18 young female drivers in the F1 Academy racing series organized by Formula 1.
• Saratoga Speedway stands as the last dedicated racing track on Vancouver Island after developers and noise complaints shuttered other West Coast venues. The modest facility between Comox and Campbell River, built in 1968, has become a crucial launching pad for young talent while maintaining deep family racing legacies spanning generations.
• HAVRDA’s success story highlights what we lose when grassroots tracks disappear – the 19-year-old credits having Saratoga “around the corner” as instrumental to her development. Her brother Tom has also entered motorsports through the track, competing in autocross and time trials, showing how local facilities create entire racing families.

all-female f1 academy, fia formula 3, saratoga speedway, vancouver island