The field for the 2015 World Driving Championship is now confirmed as Harness Racing Australia (HRA) has announced the replacement for Swedish reinsman Björn Goop.
In early January, HRA received word that Goop would not be making the trip to Australia for the World Driving Championship. This past weekend, it was announced that Spanish driver Guillermo Adrover would compete in Goop's place.
The 2015 World Driving Championship is being held in New South Wales, Australia, from February 21 to March 1. Jody Jamieson, Canada’s representative to the WDC will be competing for his third WDC title. Jamieson won the event in 2001 in Finland and Sweden and then in 2011 in the US. Tim Tetrick will make his first WDC appearance as the representative for the United States.
Australia’s representative is Chris Alford, a nine-time national leading driver. This will be Alford’s second appearance in a WDC, having competed in Germany in 1997 where he placed seventh overall. “It is a privilege to represent your country and I’m honoured to have another opportunity at this level,” said a thrilled Alford. “It’s going to be a very competitive series given the depth, experience and performance records of the other drivers. That said, I’m looking forward to the challenge and testing my skills against the world’s best on home soil.”
HRA also announced inaugural Australian Driving Champion, Peter McMullen as the travelling reserve driver to cover any scenario in which a driver in the Series is unable to take their place in any Heat.
Here is the complete competitor’s list: (driver's name and country listed)
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Guillermo Adrover - Spain
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Chris Alford - Australia
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Dexter Dunn - New Zealand
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Vidar Hop - Norway
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Jody Jamieson - Canada
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Hugo Langeweg Jr. - Netherlands
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Tony le Beller - France
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Peter McMullen - Australia (Travelling Reserve)
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Knud Mönster - Denmark
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Pierre Vercruysse - France (Defending Champion)
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Tim Tetrick - United States of America
The 10 drivers will compete in 20 Heats across seven race meetings at six tracks in New South Wales. Here is a schedule of race dates, tracks and number of races:
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Saturday, February 21 - Tabcorp Park Menangle - Two (2) Heats
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Sunday, February 22 - Newcastle - Three (3) Heats
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Monday, February 23 - Goulburn - Three (3) Heats
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Tuesday, February 24 - Wagga - Four (4) Heats
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Wednesday, February 25 - Bathurst - Four (4) Heats
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Thursday, February 26 - Penrith - Three (3) Heats
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Sunday, March 1 - Tabcorp Park Menangle - One (1) Heat (Tab.com Inter Dominion Grand Final day)
Since 1970, the WDC has brought some of the world's best drivers together every second year in a unique test of driving skill and horsemanship. Norwegian driver Ulf Thoresen is the all-time leader with four Championships to his name (1973, 1977, 1979, 1981). The only other multiple winners are German, Heinz Wewering (1993, 1997), and Canadian, Jody Jamieson (2001, 2011) who is chasing a third win in the 2015 Championship.