At the end of the second-to-last day of the World Driving Championship, two drivers are clashing for first place. The stand-off is between Swedish driver Ulf Ohlsson and Canadian driver Doug McNair. However, with five races left to be decided on Friday, the other drivers still have a shot at joining them in the lead.
Ulf Ohlsson started the day by placing second and finished it as the victory with Spickleback Face, making him Driver of The Day and allowing him to take the lead from former overall leader of the championship, Doug McNair.
Norwegian Eirik Höitomt was just one point short of Ulf Ohlsson in todays points following a triumphant victory with Fagur.
– The competition has had its ups and downs. This was my third victory after all, but there has been bad payoff on the other horses, Eirik Höitomt said when he visited Rättvik for the first time and as a result of the victory took fourth place in the overall standing.
The Nordic drivers appear to have an advantage due to the competition taking place in Sweden, as evidenced by Mika Forss also fighting for first place of the overall standing. He and Faks Nils placed first in todays’ cold-blood race.
If there was a prize for Trainer of the Day, Jan Ove Olsen would probably receive it. In addition to training Faks Nils, he also trained Livi Mistress, who Yannick Gingras won with in today’s first WDC race. Yannick Gingras was also the winner of a race outside of the World Driving Championship, meaning that he was a double winner by the end of the evening.
German driver Michael Nimczyk has had a tough week, but he took his first victory tonight when he placed first with Fast Food Hanover.
– Trainer Jörgen Westholm had told me before the race that the horse was really tough in the last 300 meters and that was true, said Michael Nimczyk.
There are only two points difference between Ulf Ohlsson and Doug McNair in the lead, as they enjoy their free day tomorrow before the WDC is finally settled in Gävle on Friday at lunchtime.
Top 3 after day 5:
Ulf Ohlsson – 166.5 points
Doug McNair – 164.5
Mika Forss – 154