Grand River Raceway will host the 2018 National Driving Championship later this year.
Officials from the raceway and Standardbred Canada announced on Feb. 15 the championship will take place in Elora on Sept. 26.
The event will determine Canada’s representative at the 2019 World Driving Championship (WDC) in Sweden.
“Grand River Raceway is truly thrilled to host, for the first time, the National Driving Championship,” said marketing manager Kelly Spencer.
“We’re keen to showcase our beautiful community and facility on the national stage and welcome the country’s finest reinsmen in what is sure to be a first-class event. We’re riding the momentum of James MacDonald’s WDC win in 2017 which will only elevate the already prestigious spirit of the event.”
Grand River Raceway has hosted the Ontario Regional Driving Championship several times, including in 2016.
Drivers must earn their way into the National Driving Championship by finishing first or second in their respective Regional Driving Championship.
The regional championships will be held in May and June at Kawartha Downs in Fraserville, Ont.; Truro Raceway in Truro, NS; Century Downs near Calgary, Alta.; and The Raceway at Western Fair District in London, Ont.
“Standardbred Canada is looking forwarding to partnering with our host tracks to present four exciting and competitive Regional Driving Championships which will lead into the National Driving Championship,” said Dan Gall, President and CEO of Standardbred Canada.
“We are also looking forward to working with the team at Grand River Raceway to deliver an exceptional National Driving Championship experience for both the drivers and the fans.”
The winner of the 2018 National Driving Championship will join MacDonald, in the 2019 World Driving Championship in Sweden next year.
