Rattray proud to don Tassie silks 01 / 03 / 2010

TASMANIA'S reigning premier reinsman Gareth Rattray will head to NSW this week to participate in the Australasian Young Drivers Championship being held in conjunction with the final week of the Inter Dominion series.

Rattray has already been successful in the series, having been crowned the champion in the 2003 series in New Zealand.

The 24-year-old also represented Australia last year at the World Driver's Championship series in Norway.

Rattray heads to the series in scintillating form. He only snared one winner at last night's Hobart meeting but his average so far this season stands at just better than two a meeting.

He has drive 55 winners from about 240 drives for a strike rate of better than 20%.n

Tasracing board chairman Brian Speers was full of praise for Rattray.

"Garth has proven himself to be one of the all time best this state has produced and his selection to represent the state at the upcoming championship series is testament to his ability," Speers said.

Rattray was thrilled to be representing the state for the fifth time.

"I want to thank Tasracing for giving me the opportunity to represent Tasmania because it is a privilege to represent your state no matter what the sport," Rattray said.

"I'm really looking forward to the series and while it often boils down to luck of the draw it would be great to win this series again and do Tasmania proud," he said.

The first heat will be run at Tabcorp Park Menangle tomorrow afternoon (race 8) in which Rattray ahs drawn to drive the pole marker (1) Setting The Trend that is a last start winner at Newcastle over 1609m.

The remaining heats will be run at Penrith on Thursday night (x2), Newcastle on Saturday night (x2) with the final heat at Menangle next Sunday.

The series winner is determined on a points score basis with points varying depending on the number of runners in each field.

Based on a maximum field of 10, the winning driver will earn 17 points with the runner-up allocated 12 and third placed netting nine points.

Fourth will receive seven and reducing by one through to last.

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