Prix of Slovak Republic
Nineteen drivers gathered at the Slovakia Ring near Brataslava for the penultimate round of the Formula 4 CEZ Championship. Among them was Canadian driver Nicole Havrda, who was looking to make her mark in a highly competitive field.
The Slovakia Ring, known for its mix of high-speed straights and technical corners, provided a challenging yet exciting test for the drivers. As the penultimate round of the championship, the event held extra significance for many, with critical points up for grabs ahead of the final round.
Race 1
Qualifying saw Nicole line up in 12th position, where she was set to battle in a highly competitive field. The start of Race 1 saw intense wheel-to-wheel action, with Nicole quickly settling into the pack.
Drama struck near the race’s conclusion when a collision between the two leaders – who were also teammates – resulted in the leader being taken out and the safety car being deployed. Nicole ultimately finished in 10th place.
While Nicole had hoped for a higher finish, her performance was a solid one considering the competitive nature of the field.
Race 2
Sunday’s first race Nicole starting from P10 on the grid, based on her result in Race 1. From lights out, Nicole was in a fierce midfield battle, with positions 10 through 14 hotly contested in a high-pressure, wheel-to-wheel fight.
Nicole showed resilience and racecraft, fighting and defending as the drivers battled on the technical layout of the Slovakia Ring. As the laps unfolded, the constant position shuffling kept the pressure high, with every move requiring precision and patience.
Despite her best efforts and determined driving, Nicole ultimately took the chequered flag in P13.
Race 3
Race 3 at the Slovakia Ring delivered a dramatic and action-packed contest, with incidents from the opening lap to the final stages. Starting from P10, Nicole got away cleanly but lost two positions, dropping to P12.
The second lap brought early drama, as contact between the second and third place cars resulted in the third place car suffering a race-ending puncture. The incident triggered a safety car, neutralizing the race while marshals cleared the track.
When the safety car pulled in at the start of Lap 4, Nicole had managed to gain one position and was running in P11. The restart proved to be chaotic, with intense midfield battles leading to contact between the cars in P5 and P7, both of whom were sent spinning to the back. Caught in the scramble and forced to take evasive action, Nicole avoided damage but was unable to capitalize on the incident for position and was still P11.
Nicole maintained composure and pace so that, by Lap 6, she had climbed into P9 and was in a close battle throughout the remainder of the tightly contested and dramatic race, with the Canadian maintaining her position to finish P9.
In addition, Nicole’s results in the Women’s Class for the series saw her with one first place and two second place finishes.
“I really enjoyed the weekend. It’s the most fun I’ve had for a while,” she said.
“I really enjoyed the on-track battles and I can’t wait to do it again, in Zandvoort!”
The Canadian driver now heads off to Zandvoort for Round Five of the F1 Academy Championship.
