Champion Drivers Receive State Honours
Champion Drivers Receive State Honours
Champion reinsman Chris Lewis and Gary Hall Jnr have been selected to represent Western Australia at the Australian Driving Championship in November.
Two drivers from each state (12 drivers in total) will assemble in Launceston and contest six races for points to decide the winning driver.
In only its second year, the Australian Driving Championship has succeeded in filling an important industry role, bringing together the nation’s best drivers.
Hall Jnr and Lewis finished first and second respectively in the 2014/15 Leading Metropolitan Driver Award. Hall scored 113 wins including the WA Derby and grossed stakes in excess of $1.8 million.
Hall, who drove Im Themightyquinn to three Inter Dominion titles, said he was delighted and honoured to be representing his state.
“It means a lot to me and after placing last year in Adelaide I would like to go one better,” he said.
“I’ve never driven in Tasmania so that will be a new experience.
‘It’s a great concept and I’m surprised it’s only just starting to grow in stature.
“One of my ambitions is to be part of a World Driving Championship so if I can take out the series I will be able to achieve this.”
Lewis, who has driven more than 4000 winners, was inducted into the West Australian Racing Industry Hall Of Fame in 2010.
A year later he represented Australia at the World Driving Championship in the United States where he finished 10th behind Canadian, Jody Jamieson.
The 2017 World Driving Championship will be held in Canada with the final leg in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to coincide with the World Trotting Council.
Julio Santarelli