Dalgety fired up for the Ultimate Driver Competition

Carter Dalgety’s excited, and upbeat, about what he calls his “biggest” challenge to  date.

The 21-year-old heads to Brisbane this week to take on some of the world’s best in the first ever Ultimate Driver Championship at Albion Park.

Ten drivers will take part in the 20-race series on Friday and Saturday with the top points-scorer at the end taking home the $100,000 first prize.

At the recent Harness Racing New Zealand Awards at Addington Dalgety, the country’s top junior driver in 2024,  was asked about the series and his impending clash with good friend and now five-time USA Driver of the Year Dexter Dunn, who was in the audience.

“I’ll smoke him,” was Dalgety’s reply.

It was fighting talk when you think that Dunn is acknowledged as one of the, if not the best, driver on the planet.

“He loved it.”

“I think I’ve got him scared,” laughs Dalgety, “I’m hoping I’m right but he is just that good.” 

The pair are joined in the series by fellow internationals, Canadian star Yannick Gingras and Sweden’s Bjorn Goop and six Australians.

Carter knows it’s going to a big event.

“When you think about the coverage it’s going to get it will be the biggest,” says Dalgety, “and no-one’s got anything to lose – just going to go crazy.”

“It suits me perfect.”

In preparation Dalgety has been going through the form at Albion Park.

“You see the same horses there for the past five years, they just keep going on round and round,” says Dalgety, “so I know a bit about them.”

In the early markets Dalgety, the most inexperienced driver in the series, is the outsider at $15 with Dunn and Australians Gary Hall Junior and Nathan Dawson joint favourite at $5.50.

To see Dexter Dunn’s comments on the UDC click here 

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk