The Australian Driving Championships will be conducted at Launceston this Sunday evening with twelve of the nation's best harness racing drivers competing for the title. Each state will be represented by two drivers and NSW representatives Robbie Morris and Lauren Panella are both set to arrive in Tasmania on Sunday morning.
Morris is awaiting the arrival of his first child with partner Kerryann Turner due to give birth last Friday but the pair is adamant the leading male driver in NSW last season will take his place in the Championship.
"I've spoken with Kerryann about it and she said that opportunities to drive in a series like this don't come along very often in your career and she wants me to compete but I guess I'll just have to see what happens between now and Sunday," Morris said.
"In an ideal world Kerryann would go into labour on Thursday and everything would fall into place but knowing my luck she will probably start having the baby as soon as I arrive in Tasmania on Sunday."
In the heats Morris has drawn several strong chances including Paint The Wind in race three, The Bettormack in race four, Major Callum in race five and El Jays Minerva is race six. Those strong chances will make Morris one of the favourites to win the series.
Lauren Panella will drive in Victoria on Friday evening before returning to Sydney to drive at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday and is also preparing for a trip across to Western Australia for the upcoming Inter Dominion later this month.
Panella won the NSW Drivers Premiership last season despite missing the final ten weeks of the season with a broken wrist and will be representing NSW for the first time.
In race two Panella will drive Kyleasha which has a strong winning chance and her drives in the following two races, Thatswhatshesaid and Our Percius have each way hopes.
Last year's Australian Driving Championship was won by Queensland's Peter McMullen with NSW representatives Blake Fitzpatrick and Amanda Turnbull finishing 6th and 10th respectively.
Greg Hayes