YOUNG gun driver Cam Hart hopes to use Saturday night’s Australian Drivers’ Championship at Globe Derby to springboard him to international stardom.
And the template is already there.
Hart’s fellow NSW driver Todd McCarthy won the series at Globe Derby 2018 before moving to North America where he has quickly stamped himself as one of the best drivers in the world.
“I’m really serious about giving the US a crack within the next two or three years,” Hart said. “You look at what Todd’s done, as well as Dexter Dunn (from New Zealand) and Todd’s brother, Andy … it can’t help make you want to give it a crack. They’ve done an incredible job and have certainly opened some doors for the rest of us.”
Hart, 23, won his first NSW driving premiership last season and is a clear leader again this year, but it’s been the quality of wins as well as quantity which has impressed.
“I had plenty of success as a young driver and set myself to win a premiership, so that was a big thrill last year and it’s great to go on with it again this year,” he said.
“To add some really big wins, especially with Majestic Cruiser over in the NZ in the Messenger and in Queensland for the Blacks A Fake, has been really special.”
Hart boasts almost 750 wins, seven of those already at Group 1 level.
In a field of outstanding drivers, Hart will be the “rock star” at Globe Derby on Saturday.
“I’m really excited about this. I’ve never been to Adelaide before, let alone driven at Globe Derby, so it’ll be awesome,” he said.
“The chance to come together and drive against the best of the best across eight races on the same night is a great opportunity and something to really look forward to.
“I’ve driven in some junior drivers’ series, I finished second in the Auckland series just before Covid (in December, 2019) and feel like I’ve got some unfinished business.”
Hart is also thrilled to see such strong female representation through Kate Gath, Narissa McMullen, Emily Suvaljko and Grace Panella in the 12-driver field of this series. It would’ve been five had SA’s pin-up driver Dani Hill not been sidelined by surgery.
“I know nothing different. Pretty much everywhere I go and everywhere I drive, there are some outstanding female drivers to try and beat,” he said.
“It’s one of the great things about harness racing, we’ve been trailblazers when it comes to opportunities for the females at the top end of the game.
“When I was growing up it was Kerryn Manning and then Kate Gath and now the girls are excelling everywhere. It’s fantastic.”
SA officials have resurrected the Australian Drivers’ Championship, which has been recess because of Covid since WA superstar Gary Hall Jr won it in Tasmania in 2019.
Hall Jr is back to try and defend his crown on Saturday night.
Local star Wayne Hill (2016) and Queensland gun Pete McMullen (2014) are other past winners trying to win the crown for the second time.
The series consists of eight heats with all contestants having six drives and winning being the highest points accumulator through the heats.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
PHOTOS: All courtesy of Club Menangle
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
