Harness Racing PEI will stage the 2008 Regional Driving Championship, sponsored by RDMD Refrigeration, Saturday November 8, 2008 at the Charlottetown Driving Park. Post time is 1:00 p.m.
Nine drivers from the Atlantic region will compete for a chance to appear in the National Driving Championship on Saturday March 21, 2009 at Fraser Downs in BC.
Traditionally determined by a formula that included earnings, wins and UDRS rating, the new format, launched 2007, starts with four Regional Driving Championships. The top two finishers from each Regional Driving Championship will advance to the National Driving Championship.
The winner of the National Driving Championship will be Canada's representative to the World Driving Championship, hosted in concert with the World Trotting Conference in Norway from May 14-20, 2009.
Divers from the Atlantic region -- a total of nine -- that have accumulated the most points following a nine-race competition will advance to the National Driving Championship. Each driver shall drive from a different post position each race, leaving from all nine post positions during the competition.
The competing drivers -- the names of which appear below -- have been confirmed by Harness Racing PEI. Gilles Barrieau, Canada's WDC representative from 2007, will be contesting the Atlantic Regional.
Prince Edward Island
• Kenny Arsenault
• Marc Campbell
• Jason Hughes
Nova Scotia
• Darren Crowe
• Joseph Campbell
• Robert Laffin
New Brunswick
• Gilles Barrieau
• Todd Trites
Newfoundland & Labrador
• Wayne Williams
Two of the four regional driving championships have taken place so far. Brad Forward and Paul MacDonell qualified from the Ontario Regional Driving Championship held at Grand River Raceway on October 20, and Guy Gagnon and Daniel Potvin finished first and second in the Quebec Regional Driving Championship on October 28 and also advance to the National event.
The draw for the Atlantic Regional Driving Championship will take place on Wednesday, November 5.
(With files from Harness Racing PEI)