Dual Australian premiership winner James Herbertson carries Victoria’s hopes into the innovative Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Challenge at Albion Park this weekend.
Local young gun Angus Garrard won the inaugural series last year and it proved a stunning success with drivers coming from all around the world, including Bjorn Goop from Sweden, Carter Dalgety from NZ and Yannick Gingas and Dexter Dunn from the US.
It surprised many when Herbertson was only an emergency for the 10-driver series last year, but he still made a huge splash elsewhere in 2025.
He cemented his second successive Australian Drivers’ Premiership, despite spending almost two months travelling in the US and Europe, and also landed titles in the Australian Young Drivers Championship and open-aged Australian Championship.
Significantly, the Young Drivers’ crown came at Albion Park, so Herbertson has “form” on the track.
Knowledge and experience at Albion Park proved important last year when locals Garrard and Pete McMullen finished first and third respectively.
Herbertson is the lone Victorian this year in the two-night (Friday and Saturday) and 20-race series.
“I was up there last year so got to see how fantastic it was, but without actually being part of it,” he said.
“It’s a terrific concept and everyone loved it last year. I can’t wait to get up there.
“I’ve teamed up with one of the best form students (Ryan Spice), so hopefully he can pick some nice horses for me in the draft and I can have a bit of luck through the series.”
Garrard, McMullen and WA champion Gary Hall Jr are the only three returning drivers from last year after they filled the trifecta.
The star international attraction is James MacDonald, nicknamed “JMac”, like the champion jockey.
“Don’t worry, I’ve heard all about your ‘JMac’,” MacDonald laughed. “I was lucky enough to be in the World Drivers’ Championship in NZ late last year and that’s all everyone talked about for the first few days.”
MacDonald won that series, giving him a second world crown after his success in 2017.
His hot form has continued back in Canada where last month he was crowned the country’s champion driver for a record fifth successive season.
“I’ve had a few trips Down Under now and jumped at this opportunity to come back a lot quicker than I expected,” he said.
“I can assure you I’m looking forward to escape Canada in winter when I see what the weather is like in Brisbane this time of year.
“Seriously through, I watched this series from home last year because with Yannick (Gingas) and Dexter (Dunn) in it, it was the talk of North America.
“So you can imagine my excitement when I got the call asking if I’d come back down to drive in it.”
Kiwi star Zachary Butcher is the other international flavour.
“Like ‘Herbie’, I was there but just as spectator last year. It immediately became a wee Bucket List thing for me,” he said.
The form driver going into Friday night is NSW star Cam Hart, fresh from winning five of the 10 races at last Saturday’s Hunter Cup meeting, including the main event on Swayzee.
The other drivers are: Luke McCarthy (NSW), Robbie Morris (NSW), Pete McMullen (Qld), Angus Garrard (Qld), Trista Dixon (Qld) and Gary Hall Jr (WA).
