Brendon Hartley Bio
Brendon Morris Hartley, born on 10 November 1989, is a New Zealand professional racing driver who competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Toyota Gazoo Racing. Hartley is one of the most successful endurance racers of his generation, holding a joint-record four FIA World Endurance Championship titles and three overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He also spent two seasons in Formula One, racing for Scuderia Toro Rosso from 2017 to 2018.
Early Life and Background
Brendon Morris Hartley was born in Palmerston North, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand, on 10 November 1989. He grew up in a family with deep roots in motorsport. His father, Brian, had competed in several racing categories, including Formula Atlantic, which gave Brendon an early appreciation for the sport. From the age of six, Hartley began karting, following the path already taken by his older brother, Nelson.
At twelve, Hartley moved into single-seater racing, contesting his first full season in New Zealand’s Formula First category. He finished seventh in the standings. The following year, he won the New Zealand Formula Ford Festival, a result that earned him a seat for the 2004 Formula Ford championship. Hartley then spent a season in the Formula Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand, winning the title in 2007, before relocating to Europe to continue his career.
Path to NASCAR
Hartley’s career has been built in international single-seaters, sportscar racing, and Formula One, rather than NASCAR. After success in karting and New Zealand Formula Ford, he progressed through Formula Renault 2.0, Formula 3, Formula Renault 3.5, and GP2. He later shifted his focus to endurance sportscar racing and eventually joined Toyota in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Because of this pathway, Hartley does not have a documented NASCAR career at this time.
Brendon Hartley Career
Early Career (2006–2011)
After winning the 2007 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 title, Hartley stepped up to Formula 3. In 2008, he raced in the British Formula Three Championship with Carlin Motorsport, winning five races and finishing third in the standings. He also made appearances in the Formula 3 Euro Series. In 2009, Hartley combined his Euro Series campaign with a debut in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with Tech 1 Racing.
Hartley continued in Formula Renault 3.5 in 2010 and 2011, driving for Tech 1 and then Gravity–Charouz Racing. He also made GP2 appearances during this period. Although he was dropped from the Red Bull Junior Team in 2010, he remained a respected prospect and finished seventh in the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 standings.
Sportscar Breakthrough (2012–2017)
With limited single-seater options, Hartley joined Murphy Prototypes for the 2012 European Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class. His strong results attracted attention, and in 2014 he was named a Porsche factory driver, taking the wheel of the Porsche 919 Hybrid in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
In 2015, paired with Mark Webber and Timo Bernhard, Hartley won his first FIA World Endurance Championship title. The trio won four consecutive races that season. In 2017, alongside Earl Bamber and Bernhard, Hartley won the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall and secured his second WEC drivers’ crown. He closed out Porsche’s LMP1 program by being named Sportscar365’s Driver of the Year.
Formula One Debut (2017–2018)
Hartley made his Formula One debut with Scuderia Toro Rosso at the 2017 United States Grand Prix, replacing Pierre Gasly. He scored his first F1 point at the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and added further points-paying finishes in Germany and the United States. After one full season with Toro Rosso, Hartley was replaced ahead of the 2019 campaign.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Era (2019–Present)
Hartley returned to the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2019 with SMP Racing, then joined Toyota for the 2019–20 season, replacing Fernando Alonso. Partnered with Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima in the No. 8 Toyota, he won the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans and helped Toyota claim multiple manufacturers’ titles.
In 2022 and 2023, with Buemi and Ryō Hirakawa, Hartley added two more WEC drivers’ championships and a third Le Mans victory, taking his personal tally of Le Mans wins to three. He continues to drive the No. 8 Toyota in the Hypercar class.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hartley is recognized for his consistency in long stints, his smooth tire management, and his calm approach during high-pressure endurance races. His ability to recover from setbacks, such as early technical issues or qualifying mistakes, has been a defining trait throughout his Toyota career.
Notable Races and Milestones
Hartley’s signature achievements include three overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017, 2020, and 2022, four FIA World Endurance Championship titles, and his Formula One debut with Toro Rosso in 2017. He is also the first New Zealander to hold F1 driver status since Mike Thackwell in 1984.
Brendon Hartley Career Wins
Hartley has built a deep résumé of victories across Formula Renault, Formula 3, and endurance racing. He has also won single events in Formula Renault 3.5, the European Le Mans Series, the Rolex Sports Car Series, and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
FIA World Endurance Championship Highlights
Hartley has 24 WEC race wins and four drivers’ championships in 2015, 2017, 2022, and 2023. He has also earned 17 pole positions and 54 podium finishes in the series. His Le Mans victories came in 2017 with Porsche and in 2020 and 2022 with Toyota.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of the WEC, Hartley won the 2007 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 title, earned five race wins in the 2008 British Formula Three Championship, and won rounds in the European Le Mans Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series during his early sportscar years.
Brendon Hartley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hartley comes from a family with deep motorsport ties. His father, Brian, raced in several categories including Formula Atlantic, and his older brother, Nelson, also raced in karts and single-seaters before Brendon entered the sport. This family background helped shape his early racing development in New Zealand.
Personal Life
Hartley is married to Sarah Wilson. The couple became engaged in July 2016 and married in January 2018, after being together for roughly twelve years. Hartley lives in Monaco. Outside of racing, he enjoys mountain biking, road cycling, and playing the guitar.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season proved to be Toyota’s least competitive campaign of the Hypercar era. Hartley, Buemi, and Hirakawa in the No. 8 Toyota worked to adapt to evolving Balance of Performance rules and increased competition from Porsche, Ferrari, and BMW.
The No. 8 crew’s strongest result of the year came at the season-ending Bahrain round, where they finished second. The team battled through inconsistent pace and strategy challenges across most rounds, finishing seventh in the drivers’ standings.
Despite the difficult season, Hartley’s experience continued to play a key role in Toyota’s manufacturer-level efforts. Looking ahead, his partnership with Buemi and the No. 8 crew remains central to Toyota’s push to return to championship form in 2026 and beyond.