NOLA Race Weekend

After a months-long layoff away from the track, Nicole Havrda began her 2024 season at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, at Round 1 of the Formula Regional Americas series.

With very limited testing before the event, and on her first visit to a track that many of the other drivers were familiar with, the Canadian driver qualified ninth in the fifteen car field.

Race 1
The start saw Nicole quickly make up places on the first lap, at turns 4 and 5. Unfortunately, further progress was halted as, before half distance, there were two full-course yellow flags, followed by a red flag.

With only around ten minutes of racing left in the thirty minute timed race, Nicole was unable to make up any new ground. However, she finished an excellent seventh, and solidly in the points.

Race 2
Once again, Nicole made rapid progress at the start of the race and found herself in sixth place. However, the race was again marred by yellow flags, and this time, two red flags. With only 3-4 laps of green flag racing, it was virtually impossible to progress further up the field, with Nicole holding sixth at the chequered flag.

Race 3
The final race of the weekend saw Nicole climb as high as fifth from her ninth place on the grid. A spin saw her lose one position and she looked to be set for another top six finish. Unfortunately, late in the race, her oil pressure alarm went off and she was forced to park her car on the straight, after Turn Four – ultimately causing the race to end under a full course yellow. Nicole ultimately finished in eleventh place.

“It wasn’t exactly the way we wanted this weekend to end, but overall I’m pretty happy with things, especially after such a long layoff,” she said.

“I got a lot of seat time and real feel of where I stand, and where to go from here.

“We’ll be working hard to be ready for Road America, next month.”