WITH his father and brother already enjoying success in Western Australia, Todd McCarthy is hoping the family trend can continue when he crosses the Nullarbor this evening.
McCarthy will make the long trip as New South Wales’ representative in the Australasia Young Drivers’ Championship, which begins at Gloucester Park tomorrow night.
To be conducted as a 10-race series, the Championship will be contested at various country venues before concluding at Gloucester Park on December 9 – Inter Dominion Day.
Drivers from across the Southern Hemisphere will compete in the event, with each Australian state also selecting a representative, with four New Zealanders also part of the tournament.
McCarthy’s father John and brother, Luke, combined to capture an Inter Dominion heat with Bling It On at Bunbury last Tuesday night and are expecting to continue playing a strong role throughout the duration of the Championship.
As for McCarthy, his path to the AYDC has been a rocky one following a race fall at Menangle on October 25, which saw the ace reinsman break his collarbone.
“Missing the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship was one of the first things I thought of when it was confirmed my collarbone was broken,” McCarthy said. “Thankfully, if the break healed without any problems, I had just enough time to recover and still compete.”
In what can only be incredible timing, McCarthy was given doctor’s clearance to resume driving as of today!
“I’m rapt it’s all worked out well,” McCarthy said. “It means I’m going into the competition first-up from a spell, but hopefully I’ll be right.
“I can’t wait to get over to Perth to meet the other drivers in the series and have a great time.
“It is a tremendous opportunity and will be a blast, but no doubt it will be very competitive between us all.”
Along with a strong assembly of budding stars, McCarthy has a poor state record against him.
Since Peter Morris captured the inaugural AYDC’s for New South Wales in 1976, the state’s only other winner is Trevor Munday, who was successful in 2004.
“I guess with that statistic there isn’t much pressure on me,” McCarthy joked. “Hopefully I can help rectify that this year.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
