Hartley revved up and ready
As a kid who grew up racing karts in Palmerston North, Brendon Hartley dared to dream big.
He only needed to cast his eyes around his bedroom, where he had pinned pictures and autographs of Kiwi motor racing heroes such as Chris Amon, Denny Hulme and Bruce Mclaren to his walls, to find inspiration.
Now that he is poised to make his Formula One debut for Toro Rosso at the US Grand Prix next week, Hartley, 27, can allow himself to reflect on a career that has been peppered with its fair share of peaks and troughs.
Having joined Red Bull in 2006 when he was just 16, after New Zealand motor racing stalwart Kenny Smith put some feelers out into the international racing scene, Hartley worked his way up to being the reserve driver in 2009 and 2010 before being cut from the junior driver programme.
It was a tough time for Hartley. Upon reflection he later realised he wasn’t mature enough and said he began to lose his enjoyment for the sport. With that came a loss of confidence and he didn’t get the results he so badly wanted.
So to get recalled by the Red Bull-owned team was understandably a massive thrill. ‘‘I didn’t really expect to get another opportunity,’’ Hartley said.
Although he was still testing in F1 on simulators, he wasn’t sure if he would get another shot.
‘‘I hadn’t given-up but part of me thought it was going to be tough. I guess this story shows you never should give up and dreams can come true. It is all cliche what I am saying but that is the truth of it, that is how it has happened.’’
Hartley will be the ninth Kiwi to drive an F1 car and the first since Mike Thackwell in 1984 when he replaces Frenchman Pierre Gasly in Austin.
While reluctant to get into a discussion as to whether this appointment could lead to him being recalled to Red Bull on a fulltime basis, Hartley said he had no doubt he was a much better driver than when last worked with the team.
He felt he had proved himself with Porsche in the World Endurance Championship and appreciated the assistance he received from team-mates such as Mark Webber. So when he made a call to Red Bull racing consultant Helmut Marco earlier this year, he wanted to make it clear he felt he could offer great value in F1: ‘‘I said ‘listen if there is ever an opportunity, I feel ready now’,’’ Hartley said.