BrendonHartley

Introduction

Brendon Morris Hartley, born on November 10, 1989, in Palmerston North, New Zealand, is a distinguished racing driver primarily known for his significant achievements in endurance racing, alongside a stint in Formula One. Currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Toyota, Hartley has established himself as one of the sport's most successful figures in the prototype categories. His career is marked by a joint-record four FIA World Endurance Championship titles, a feat shared with Sébastien Buemi, and an impressive three victories at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Early Career and Single-Seater Ascent

Hartley's journey in motorsport began at the tender age of six, following in his brother Nelson's footsteps in kart racing. His family's deep integration within motorsport, with his father Brian having raced in Formula Atlantic, provided a natural environment for his development. At twelve, he competed in his first full-scale championship, Formula First, finishing seventh. His talent quickly became evident when he won the 2003 New Zealand Formula Ford Festival, leading to a Formula Ford drive the following year where he secured two wins in four races. His progression continued with a season in Formula Toyota New Zealand before he made the pivotal move to Europe. There, he contested the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (NEC). In his second year in Formula Renault, Hartley demonstrated his potential by clinching the Eurocup championship title with three wins, alongside three podium finishes in the Italian championship. In 2007, Hartley made his Formula Three debut at the Masters of Formula 3 event at Zolder, finishing fourth. This performance earned him a test with A1 Team New Zealand. The following year, 2008, proved significant as he competed in the British Formula 3 Championship for Carlin Motorsport, securing five victories and finishing third in the championship. He also made appearances in the Formula Three Euroseries and achieved a third-place finish at the Macau Grand Prix, where he recorded the fastest race lap after starting 20th due to a qualifying crash. His single-seater career continued with a full F3 Euroseries campaign in 2009 and a partial season in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with Tech 1 Racing. In 2010, Hartley competed in a full season of Formula Renault 3.5, partnered with fellow Red Bull Junior driver Daniel Ricciardo. However, during the summer break, he was dropped from the Red Bull Junior Team, with his seat taken by Jean-Éric Vergne. Despite this setback, Hartley made his GP2 Series debut later that year, scoring a point in the season finale. He continued in Formula Renault 3.5 and GP2 in 2011 and 2012, but without securing a full-time, competitive single-seater drive, his focus began to shift.

The Road to Endurance Racing and Porsche Factory Driver

With suitable single-seater opportunities dwindling, Hartley transitioned to sportscar racing in 2012, joining Murphy Prototypes in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS). His impressive pace was quickly recognized, leading to a guest entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, where he finished third in class. The following year, 2013, saw him secure a win in both the ELMS and the US-based Rolex Sports Car Series, demonstrating his adaptability and speed with four fastest laps across the ELMS season. His performances caught the attention of Porsche, who announced Hartley as a factory driver ahead of the 2014 season. This marked a pivotal moment, as he would drive the Porsche 919 Hybrid in the WEC. Over the next four years, Hartley became a dominant force in endurance racing. He secured his first FIA World Endurance Championship title in 2015, sharing the car with Mark Webber and Timo Bernhard. He followed this with another WEC title in 2017, alongside Bernhard and Earl Bamber, a year that also saw him achieve his inaugural victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans with the same teammates.

Formula 1 Opportunity with Toro Rosso

Hartley's association with Formula One began much earlier than his race debut. In February 2008, at just eighteen, he performed a show run for Red Bull Racing and conducted the initial three-day shake-down test for Scuderia Toro Rosso's STR3. Later that year, he undertook testing duties for Red Bull's RB4. For the 2009 and 2010 seasons, he served as the official reserve driver for both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso, sharing duties with Daniel Ricciardo in 2010 before his Red Bull backing was withdrawn. In September 2012, he participated in a young driver test for Mercedes, setting the third-quickest time. His long-awaited Formula One race debut came unexpectedly at the 2017 United States Grand Prix with Scuderia Toro Rosso, replacing Pierre Gasly. Starting 19th due to engine penalties, he finished 13th. His performance led to him being confirmed for the remainder of the 2017 season, replacing Daniil Kvyat, and he chose number 28 as his permanent race number. For the 2018 season, Hartley was retained as a full-time driver alongside Pierre Gasly. During this season, he scored points at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix (10th), German Grand Prix (10th), and achieved his highest F1 finish of ninth at the United States Grand Prix. He concluded the season in nineteenth place, though he was not retained by Toro Rosso for 2019, being replaced by Alexander Albon.

Post-F1 and Continued Endurance Success

Following his Formula One departure, Hartley remained connected to top-tier motorsport. In 2019, he was announced as a development driver for Scuderia Ferrari. He also explored Formula E, testing for Porsche and competing in the 2019–20 season with GEOX Dragon Racing, where he secured a lone top-ten finish before leaving the team in July 2020. However, it was his return to endurance racing that truly solidified his legacy. In 2019, he made a comeback to the FIA WEC with SMP Racing, securing a podium finish at the 1000 Miles of Sebring. Shortly thereafter, Toyota announced him as a factory driver for the 2019/20 season, replacing two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso. His tenure with Toyota immediately yielded success, including a win at Fuji and a podium at Silverstone. The 2020 season saw him claim his second 24 Hours of Le Mans victory with Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima. Continuing with Toyota into the new Hypercar regulations, Hartley and his teammates secured wins at Spa-Francorchamps and Portimão at the start of a season marked by strong performances, despite some hybrid issues. He went on to win the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans with Buemi and Ryō Hirakawa, further cementing his status as a Le Mans legend. His consistent success in the FIA World Endurance Championship, including his four titles, places him among the most accomplished endurance drivers of his generation. Hartley's career demonstrates a rare versatility and resilience, transitioning from a promising single-seater talent to a multi-championship winning endurance racing icon.

Other Sportscar Engagements and Personal Life

Beyond his WEC commitments, Hartley maintained ties with the American racing scene. He competed in the Daytona 24 Hours multiple times with Starworks Motorsport and Ford Chip Ganassi Racing. In 2017, he drove three rounds of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Extreme Speed Motorsports, culminating in a victory at the Petit Le Mans. An invitation to drive for Chip Ganassi's IndyCar team in 2018 was declined due to his Formula One commitments. In his personal life, Hartley resides in Monaco. He is married to Sarah Wilson, with whom he had been together for approximately twelve years before their marriage in January 2018. Outside of racing, he enjoys mountain biking, road cycling, and playing the guitar.