It’s one of the best decisions Kiwi racing driver Brendon Hartley has made. In March last year, as the world was starting to shut down thanks to Covid, and races were being cancelled, he and wife Sarah decided to leave Monaco, where they are based, and temporarily head home to New Zealand.
They were able to ride out the lockdown in luxury and comfort in the holiday home they’d just had built for them in a stunning spot in Acacia Bay, Taupo.
“I think the day we arrived it was announced we’d have to do a self-quarantine in the house – before that it was something that didn’t even exist,” Brendon tells Coast FM host Sam Wallace in the Heart to Hartley podcast. “We got back to the house in New Zealand and we had space. Our friends in Monaco were stuck in their apartments for one or two months. We absolutely nailed the decision.”
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They ended up spending three months in the house, enjoying the peaceful location and the striking views out over Lake Taupo to Mt Tauhara in the distance. Built to a very high standard by Landmark Homes Taupo and featuring windows by Brendon’s sponsor Altherm Window Systems that perfectly frame the spectacular outlook, the house was the ideal place to relax and recharge.
But Palmerston North-born Brendon, who has been racing professionally since the age of 15, didn’t want to take a complete break from driving, so he rented a racing simulator. Fortunately, there was ample room in the generous garage for one. “I’ve done plenty of sim work in the past as my job, but I’ve never got into the gaming side of things,” he admits.
He got together with fellow Kiwi racers to form a virtual series called Racing Local in which some of the biggest names in motorsport took part in a range of different disciplines, from go-karting to speedway, while raising money for New Zealand businesses.
The Taupo house that Brendon and his wife built with Landmark Homes Taupo. Photo / Landmark Homes Taupo
“It was a very cool experience,” says Brendon, although he adds that after three months, it was a relief when the simulator was collected. “I was happy to see the back of it! But after a year and a half of not having it… I’m quite keen to get involved again. At some point I may be able to convince Sarah to install a sim back in the garage.”
Brendon, who is one of the best endurance racing drivers in the world, having twice won the epic 24 Hours of Le Mans race, was also able to spend a very memorable Christmas in the Acacia Bay house when it was first finished in 2019. Both his and Sarah’s families joined them for the holidays, and they had a very happy time swimming in the lake, mountain biking, walking and cooking barbecues.
“It was really special to have everyone come together in the house that was a labour of love for us. It made it feel like home from the word go.”
With their first baby due in January, the Hartleys won’t be home for Christmas this year, but are looking forward to when they can get back and once again enjoy all their home here has to offer. In the meantime, it’s nice to be able to make it available to their friends and family.
“They can use it to escape from their daily life,” says Brendon. “It makes me feel good that they can come and enjoy it as much as we do.”
While they’re cooking barbecues and taking in the views, he’s continuing travelling the world to compete in endurance events, which he describes as a discipline he fell in love with after driving in Formula One. His Toyota team won the 8 Hours of Bahrain race in November, his third victory in the 2021 World Endurance Series.
This content was created in partnership with Altherm Window Systems.
