Hart and Panella to represent NSW at National Championships

Grace Panella and Cameron Hart.

Two of the finest talents in harness racing will represent New South Wales in the Australian Drivers' Championship next month.

Cameron Hart and Grace Panella will wear the state’s colours when the series makes its return at Adelaide’s Globe Derby Park on 17 September.

It will be the first time the series has been held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 health pandemic.

Each state has nominated two drivers to compete in the eight-race program. Each driver will be allocated six drives on a random draw basis, with points accumulated across the program to decide the overall winning driver.

The winning driver will have the opportunity to compete in next year’s World Drivers’ Championships in Italy.

Harness Racing NSW Chief Executive John Dumesny congratulated Cameron and Grace on their selection to represent the state.

“Their performances and results speak for themselves and they have delivered sustained excellence on tracks right across the state over the past 12 months,” Mr Dumesny said.

“But beyond their on-track achievements they are both fine ambassadors of our sport and I have no doubt they will do New South Wales proud on what is a milestone occasion in their careers.”

Cameron is the reigning NSW Driver of the Year and has backed up his outstanding 2021 record by already surpassing the century of wins this season.

“It’s super exciting to be representing New South Wales. I was lucky enough to represent my state in New Zealand a couple of years ago and I had a blast,” Hart said.

“I’m sure the night in South Australia will be no different. I’m excited about the opportunity to come up against Australia’s best drivers and I’m sure it will be a great night’s racing.”

Grace continues to emerge as a rising star of the industry with more than 50 winners to her name already on tracks across the Hunter region this year.

“It was an absolute thrill to be selected to represent New South Wales in the Australian Drivers’ Championship, especially at such a young age,” Grace said.

“I watched my sister Lauren compete in driver’s championships hoping that it would be me one day and for it to finally be a reality now is an amazing feeling.”

It will be the seventh time the Australian Drivers’ Championships have been conducted since its inception in 2014, with Todd McCarthy winning the title for New South Wales in 2018.