The excitement is building as the National Driving Championship (NDC) approaches, with the competition set to take place on Friday, July 5, at Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Among the hopefuls vying for the top spot and the chance to represent Canada at the 2025 World Driving Championship are Redmond Doucet and David Dowling, who secured their places by excelling in the Atlantic Regional Driving Championship (ARDC) at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino.
Redmond Doucet, who emerged victorious in the ARDC, is eagerly anticipating the NDC. Reflecting on his win, Doucet expressed his excitement, saying, “It felt great [finishing first].” His primary focus for the NDC is to enjoy the experience, adding, “I’m hoping to have success in the NDC, but I’m most looking forward to having fun. I’ve also never been to Trois-Rivières, so that’s another track to check off my bucket list.”
Doucet acknowledges the competitive field, particularly highlighting the Ontario Regional Driving Championship winners, Tyler Borth and James MacDonald, as formidable opponents. Winning the NDC would not only be a significant achievement for Doucet, but also an exciting opportunity to visit New Zealand and represent Canada on an international stage.
David Dowling shares Doucet’s enthusiasm for the NDC, particularly the chance to wear the Canadian colours. For Dowling, the experience is made even more special by the presence of his family, including his two young sons, Harrison and Jax. He remarked, “With a lot of good drivers participating, it’s going to be very competitive… Competing is going to be even more special with my family there.”
Dowling emphasised the high calibre of all the drivers in the NDC, noting, “Honestly, I can’t narrow it down. They’re all good drivers, and I’m going to be keeping an eye on them all.” Representing Canada internationally is a dream Dowling has harboured since childhood, and he is determined to give his best effort to make it a reality.
Joining Doucet and Dowling in the NDC are Phil Giesbrecht (Western), Mike Hennessy (Western), Stephane Brosseau (Quebec/Eastern Ontario), Robert Shepherd (Quebec/Eastern Ontario), Tyler Borth (Ontario), James MacDonald (Ontario), and Doug McNair (World Driving Championship representative).
Fans can catch interviews with Redmond Doucet and David Dowling on the NDC Red Carpet Show, which will be live-streamed on Thursday, July 4, at 8:30 p.m. Further details on the livestream will be announced soon.