Canadian driver Nicole Havrda will race for Rodin Motorsport in the F1 Academy series this season.HO/Parc Fermé Co
When Nicole Havrda began riding karts as a teenager, she also received a crash course in life on the road. Growing up in Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, she quickly learned that pursuing a racing dream meant long commutes – by car, ferry and highway – to reach tracks on the mainland. At first, her family made the round trip from Vancouver Island to karting venues across British Columbia. Eventually, the treks grew so demanding that the Havrdas bought a motorhome. On one memorable journey, Nicole’s parents drove non-stop from Vancouver to Montreal, taking turns behind the wheel while the other slept.
Now 19, Havrda has outgrown karting – and the motorhome. As a rising star in the F1 Academy, a Formula One-supported racing series designed to develop female drivers for top-tier competition, her travel schedule has gone global. In recent months, she and her parents have criss-crossed the world: three months in London and Spain for preseason testing, three weeks in China for a race, stops in New Orleans and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with more to come in Singapore, Las Vegas and Montreal.
“It’s absolutely crazy,” said Havrda, who now splits her time between her Vancouver Island home and Indianapolis, Ind. “And my parents are along for the ride.”
Living out of suitcases and carry-ons has become second nature. She’s learned to travel smart, keeping essentials such as her racing suit, helmet and shoes within arm’s reach and getting creative with baggage limits. “I used to pack way more clothes than I needed, and my shoes took up half of my carry-on,” she admitted. Now, she has learned to keep it light, with an occasional bit of help: “I’ve been known to get my parents to carry an extra helmet bag to sneak everything on board.”
The packing gear: MVST Treva collection suitcase and carry-on
“I travel with a large checked bag and a carry-on – they’re an aluminum set from MVST. They’re expensive, but durable and come with a warranty. I always pack valuables like my racing boots and suit in the carry-on because once my checked luggage was lost and didn’t arrive for several days. I’m not willing to risk that again.”
Buying options
Suitcase, $555, buy at MVSTCarry on, $258, buy at MVST
The beauty fix: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre Lip Gloss in Pillow Talk
“I have the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk lip gloss with me at all times. It’s my favourite – it moisturizes my lips and makes them look pretty.”
Buying options
$35.50, buy at Sephora
The tech tracker: Whoop Life band and annual membership
“It tracks sleep, recovery and strain. I turn the band off when I’m flying because I don’t want to see how bad my sleep is. If I’m in the yellow instead of the green, it messes with my head. But I like checking my metrics after races because the numbers can be wild. My heart rate has hit 200 during a race.”
Buying options
$529, buy at whoop
Warm-up gear: Blaze pod trainer kit
“Before a race, we use a skipping rope and BlazePods: little units that light up randomly, designed to train your reflexes like a game of whack-a-mole. Sharpening up and getting focused before hitting the track is crucial.”
Buying options
$614, buy at blazepod
Shoes: On Cloudnovas
“I’m pretty obsessed with what I put on my feet. I’m supported by On and wear Cloudmonsters for running and Cloudnovas for walking. I walk a lot when I travel, we use the subway to get around, and you end up covering several kilometres a day.”
Buying options
$200, buy at On
