F1 car ace driven to succeed
Brendon Hartley was just 8 when he told amused kart racing fans he was headed to the top of motor sport. Tomorrow morning, the 27-year-old ace from Palmerston North will make his Formula One debut, the first Kiwi since 1984.
Hartley will drive for the Red Bullowned Toro Rosso team in the US Grand Prix, starting at 8am NZT in the Texas capital of Austin.
An “unbelievably” thrilled Bryan Hartley — Brendon’s dad — didn’t know how much motor racing advice he could give his son nowadays, but had told him: “Use your head and bring it home.”
He said his son was jumping with joy. “He just rang me up and said, ‘I’ve done it! We’ve got a Formula One drive’,” Bryan said. “He’s over the moon.”
Bryan, himself a gifted motor racer (runner-up at the 1995 NZ Grand Prix in Manfeild), said it was hard to contemplate his son being in the F1.
Only eight other Kiwis have done so, including the legendary Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon and Denny Hulme.
“I’ll be glued to the TV on Monday morning.”
Brendon had the drive to go to the top from the moment he started karting at 6.
“He was competitive from the first time we put him in the kart, and that never stopped. I had trouble keeping up with his progress.
“[He] just kept on going forward all the time.”
The family business, Hartley Engines and Motorsport, in Palmerston North, makes high performance engines for classic cars, jet boats, drift cars and speedway.
The family, and supporters, will be watching the race on the big screen at Palmerston North’s Rose & Crown Olde English Pub.
Hartley’s fiancee, Sarah Wilson, will be at the racetrack. The couple have been together since their midteens, and their wedding is set for January.