by Adam Hamilton

Never doubt the power of social media.

It’s the main reason champion Swede Björn Goop is the latest driver to secure a slot in the hugely exciting and inaugural Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Challenge at Albion Park, Brisbane in February.

“I read about it on ‘X’ [Twitter] and thought it sounded really exciting,” Goop said. “I wanted to be part of it. “At first, I had talks here [in Sweden] about getting a slot in the series, but when that fell through, I just rang the club [Racing Queensland] and asked to speak to whoever was running it.

“I told him how keen I was and got the details. He said he’d call me back and he did, not long after, saying one of the slot owners wanted me to drive in his slot.”

That was well-known Aussie owner Scott Whitton through his Tumby Park Racing business.

“The guy from the club hooked us up and it all came together from there,” Goop said.

Whitton added: “I’d heard the North American drivers were queuing-up to be part of it, but I felt the series could do with a European driver, too. Björn was a really good option, especially knowing he was so keen to be part of it.

“This is a fantastic concept and I’m always going to support innovation. If I can help it succeed by thinking a bit outside the square with the driver for my slot, then I’m all for it.”

Goop, 49, is harness racing royalty with a Swedish record 8,000-plus wins and joins North American-based megastars Yannick Gingras and Dexter Dunn to give the series stunning firepower.

Hearing Gingras and Dunn would compete was another drawcard for Goop.

“Those two guys, Yannick and Dexter, I drive against them a lot in the U.S. and here [in Europe], they’re sort of like my friends,” he said. “It’ll be great to go up against them again. But I know you’ve got some great drivers down there [in Australia], too.

“I’m really excited about it. I see it as an adventure, but a big challenge as well. It’s just great to see a club trying something new and different like this. I can’t wait to be part of it.

“I’m looking into racing schedules now, but I’m hoping to fly out [of Stockholm] the Sunday before it so I can get most of the week in Brisbane.”

Goop has only been to Australia once and even then, just Victoria when he finished third in the 2007 World Driving Championship, held jointly between Victoria and New Zealand.

“It was such a great experience and I met so many wonderful people,” he said. “But I remember it was so cold in Victoria and New Zealand.

“I hear it’ll be very different in Brisbane in February. You’ve got to remember; I’ll be leaving snow in Sweden at that time of year.”

Racing Queensland senior racing manager David Brick said, “We’re thrilled to have Björn in the series. He’s a rock star in Sweden, has driven more winners there than anyone else and it’s really important to add European interest to this event.”

Goop focused on driving for the first part of his career, but added training “about 15 years ago” and now has a team anywhere between 150 to 170 in work between Sweden and France.

His greatest wins have been two Elitloppets with the mighty Timoko in 2014 and 2017, along with three wins in the Prix D’Amérique (in 2018 with Readly Express and 2020-21 with Face Time Bourbon).

“I’ve driven some great, great horses, absolute champions,” he said. “The three who standout would be Bold Eagle, Timoko and Face Time Bourbon. They were all absolute champions in their own right, but so very different as horses.

“Timoko was the most intelligent and he’s so special for giving me those two [Elitloppet] wins. When he turned on, he was amazing. Bold Eagle was so incredibly fast, but nervous. And Face Time Bourbon was a monster. It was such an incredible ride with him all the way through from a young horse to the biggest races.”

Goop is also looking forward to seeing the Aussie trotters, buoyed by what he saw from Just Believe during his three-race Swedish campaign in the middle of last year.

“Oh, I saw him alright,” he said. “He made an extremely good impression. The way he improved with each of his races over here. And to see him go back and become an even better horse. It was like he lifted for the trip; he was improved by racing the good horses over here.

“We’ve seen a few horses come from Down Under and go the other way, but it’s been great to see him go home and grow for his time in Sweden.”

Goop is the eighth confirmed of the 10 drivers in the series. The others are: Gingras, Dunn, NZ’s Carter Dalgety, WA’s Gary Hall, Jr, NSW’s Brad Hewitt and Queensland pair Nathan Dawson and Angus Garrard.

The Ultimate Driver Challenge consists of 20 races — 10 races each night — at Albion Park on Feb. 20 and 21.