Brendon Hartley is living the dream. The Kiwi racing driver –  who has twice won the famous Le Mans 24 hours race and competed in Formula One –  not only gets to do what he loves for a living, but has been based in glamorous Monaco for the last six years and travels the world, staying in five-star hotels and flying business class.

Now the 32-year-old from Palmerston North has been able to tick off something else on his wish list. He and wife Sarah have built their dream home in Acacia Bay, Taupō, which will initially be used for holidays when they get the chance to pop back to New Zealand, but will eventually become their permanent family home. “Being able to have somewhere that we know we’ll eventually call home was a big thing,” says Brendon.

He and Sarah, who are expecting their first child in January, started thinking about buying a house in New Zealand in 2017. After their parents and friends recommended investing in property, they initially looked at houses they could rent out in Auckland. “Then we started thinking, what about building a holiday home? It doesn’t have to bring in an income. I’m still earning money, I’ve still got a career. What if we can actually build something that we are really proud of and can enjoy?” Brendon says. “It felt like the right thing to do. Every year we come home, we’re still sleeping at our parents’ spare room or my old bedroom that I grew up in.”

They settled on Taupō because they both spent childhood holidays there and they love the beauty of the area, as well as the location close to mountains – both are keen mountain bikers. Sarah found a piece of land in Acacia Bay online, and they got friends to drive down from Auckland to check it out for them. “They said, ‘If you don’t buy it, we probably will.’ It was exactly what we wanted – it’s quite elevated, it looks out over Taupō. It felt quite ballsy to commit to it without actually setting foot on it but we absolutely love it. It was one of the best decisions we’ve made.”

An architect friend gave them ideas when it came to the design of the home, and they were also inspired by cedar-clad dwellings they saw in Aspen, Colorado, along with the simplicity of Scandinavian houses. The four-bedroom house was built by Landmark Homes Taupō, and won a regional award in the 2020 Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards.

In what turned out to be perfect timing, while the house was being built in 2019, Brendon signed a partnership deal with new sponsors Altherm Window Systems. Not only has the Kiwi company proved a great help to his racing career, but the advice of its expert staff was invaluable when it came to the windows used through the house. Getting glazing right was crucial to make the most of the stunning views of Taupō and Mt Tauhara while keeping the house warm in winter and cool in summer.

“We were able to chat to them and figure out what kind of windows we’d want,” says Brendon. “The collaboration worked so well because we ended up with massive windows and doors across the whole front of the property.” They have used a range called Metro Series ThermalHEART, made by Altherm manufacturer, Apex Windows, which combine clean lines and a contemporary look with being able to handle a wide range of weather conditions. Altherm’s ThermalHEART technology takes the fight against winter cold a step further with an additional thermal insulator stitched into the core of their aluminium window system improving the thermal performance up to 35% better than standard double glazed windows.

The living space has a wall of windows that frame the outlook, and soaring raked ceilings to create a feeling a space. At one end is a room where Brendon can chill while enjoying the calming view and listening to music. “Music’s one way of dealing with pressure,” he tells us. “I said, ‘We don’t want a TV, we’re putting in a record player’. I love sitting in that room – I’ve got a leather listening chair and massive speakers… look to the left and you’ve got the view out towards Taupo.”

Roof windows have also been used to good effect throughout the home, not only providing light in areas like the kitchen and main bedroom, but allowing hot air to escape in the warmer months. “I like the idea of being able to have airflow throughout,” Brendon says. Awning windows at each end of the living space also help with ventilation and mean there’s no need for air conditioning in this part of the house. Meanwhile the roof windows are electric and come with blinds for night-time.

Many features in the smart home can be controlled by an app, even when Brendon and Sarah are on the other side of the world. Originally from Palmerston North, Brendon has a great life in Monaco but looks forward to coming home for visits and is pleased to know that when the time comes for him and his family (he and Sarah are expecting their first child in January) to shift back to these shores, they’ll have the perfect family home.

As you’d expect for a racing driver, the garage is a good size although at the moment it’s only occupied by a 1967 Mini Cooper S. Brendon admits he’s a fan of small cars – he also owns a GR Yaris rally car – but made sure there would also be plenty of room to store mountain bikes. “When we come back to New Zealand, you’ll find both Sarah and me out on our mountain bikes in Taupō or Rotorua. That’s my big passion outside of driving race cars quickly.”

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.