Though a keen spectator of rallycross in his school days, Hardman did not look set to embark on a racing career until a visit to a Jim Russell driving course at the age of 17.
Hardman was thrown a lifeline in 1988 when he secured the prestigious "Racing for Britain" scholarship and took a drive in Formula Vauxhall Lotus alongside such names as Mika Hakkinen, Allan McNish and David Brabham.
Becoming an unprecedented third-successive championship winner of the Pro-Sport 3000 (he secured series victories in 1992, 1993 and 1994), Hardman was awarded the BRDC Silver Star in ’94 to credit his unparalleled result in British sportscar history.
The following season he took to the wheel of the McLaren F1 GTR, and also won two races at the Goodwood Revival Festival in the rare Ferrari 246S Dino sports car.
Hardman formed Strakka Racing from EDM in 2005, building the team from the ground up, with the goal of reaching the pinnacle of modern Sportscar racing—Le Mans 24 Hours—in five years.
Finally, Hardman negotiated an assisted factory deal with Ginetta-Zytek for the move into LMP1, along with a Michelin tyre contract and an entry to Le Mans 24 Hours, for the 2009 season.
During his five-year tenure as team owner-driver, Hardman worked with such drivers as Christian Vann, Alan Simonsson, and Darren Turner.