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WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP

2019 is the third time the World Driving Championship is hosted by Sweden. The two previous times were in 1987 and 2001.

Twelve drivers from eleven countries will compete in a total of 24 races. The defending champion, James MacDonald of Canada, will represent the International Trotting Association.

 The horses are divided in two groups called A and B. Group A includes horses which are considered as the best and group B includes the horses of a lower category. Each participant will drive the same number of horses from group A and B.

 Points for the Championship are awarded in each heat according to the official order of finish. The winner of the race receives 19 points and then in descending order 14 (2); 11 (3); 9 (4); 8 (5); 7 (6); 6 (7); 5 (8); 4 (9); 3 (10); 2 (11) and 1 (12)

 

read wdc rules

24 races on 5 tracks in 6 days

The first leg will be at Solvalla with three races on Friday May 24 and one race on Saturday.

There will be no races on the Elitloppet day on Sunday. Lindesbergs Fornaboda track will host the third leg and five races on Monday, followed by five more races on Tuesday at Sundbyholm in Eskilstuna, then an additional five races at Dalatravet Rättvik on Wednesday.

After a one day break the 2019 World Driving Champion will be crowned on Friday May 31 after the final five races at Gävle.

  • Friday May 24 – Solvalla – 3 races
  • Saturday 25th – Solvalla – 1 race
  • Monday 27th – Lindesberg – 5 races
  • Tuesday 28th – Sundbyholm – 5 races
  • Wednesday 29th – Rättvik –  5 races
  • Friday 31th – Gävle – 5 races
MEET THE DRIVERS
Todd McCarthy World Driving Championship
Todd McCarthy
Australia
Todd McCarthy, 26. The greatest win so far is the Inter Dominion with Tiger Tara, but also great accomplishments by being placed both 2nd and 3rd in New Zealand Cup.
JamesMacDonald-World-Driving-Championship
James MacDonald
ITA
James MacDonald, 33.  MacDonald is the reigning champion and represents International Trotting Association (ITA). One of many big wins is from The Milton Stakes with Lady Shadow 2016.
Doug-McNair-World-Driving-Championship
Doug McNair
Canada
Doug McNair, 29. McNair won an O’Brien Award as Canada’s Driver of the Year in 2017. The top win is the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old pacing colts, that same year, with Stay Hungry.
MikaForss-World-Driving-Championship
Mika Forss
Finland
Mika Forss, 50.  Forss is one of the leading drivers from Finland and has more than 230 wins from the year 2018. The biggest win is from Suur-Hollola Ajo with Venice in 2016.
Nivard Franck World Driving Championship
Franck Nivard
France
Franck Nivard, 39. Nivard is a professional driver and a trainer, with 30 horses in training. Franck has five wins from Prix d’Amerique. One  with Meaulnes du Corta and two times with both Ready Cash and Bold Eagle.
NIMCZYK-MICHAEL-World-Driving-Championship
Michael Nimczyk
Germany
Michael Nimczyk, 33. Nimczyk has more than 2200 wins and has been the German driver champion six times. The biggest win is from the Super Trot Cup 2017 with Lighten up Today.
RODNEY GATT World Driving Championship
Rodney Gatt
Malta
Rodney Gatt, 30. With more than 100 wins Gatt became the Driver Champion of Malta 2018. The biggest win is from 2015 in the It-Tazza-I-Kbira with Qui Sait.
Ebbinge Rick World Driving Championship
Rick Ebbinge
Netherlands
Rick Ebbinge, 35. Ebbinge won the Grote Prijs der Lange Landen 2013 with Your Love Lois and has been a professional driver the last 15 years. Ebbinge won more than 110 races 2018.
MATTHEW-WILLIAMSON-World-Driving-Championship
Matthew Williamson
New Zeeland
Matthew Williamson, 28. Williamson won 83 races last year and the greatest win came from the Harness Jewels.
EIRIK HOITOMT World Driving Championship
Eirik Höitomt
Norway
Eirik Höitomt, 50. Höitomt has more than 4800 lifetime wins. The biggest win is from the Norwegian Derby from 2010, winning with Makarov.
Ulf Ohlsson World Driving Championship
Ulf Ohlsson
Sweden
Ulf Ohlsson, 55. Ohlsson has more than 5000 wins and the top wins are the International Trot at Yonkers with Papagayo E. and Svenskt Travkriterium with Rokkakudo. 
Gingras Yannick World Driving Championship
Yannick Gingras
USA
Yannick Gingras, 39. Gingras has won more than 7000 races including the Canadian Pacing Derby and Maple Leaf Trot. Gingras has also won the Hambletonian Oaks five times in a row.

leaderboard after 6 of 6 legs

PREVIOUS WORLD CHAMPIONS

The first winner of the World Driving Championship was Herve Filion of Canada in 1970. The legendary Ulf Thoresen won the championship four times.
This year the reigning world champion James MacDonald will defend his title.

  • 2017 — James MacDonald / Canada
  • 2015 — Dexter Dunn / New Zealand
  • 2013 — Pierre Vercruysse / France
  • 2011 — Jody Jamieson / Canada
  • 2009 — Birger Jorgensen / Denmark
  • 2007 — Christophe Martens / Belgium
  • 2005 — Roberto Andreghetti / Italy
  • 2003 — Mark Jones / New Zealand
  • 2001 — Jody Jamieson / Canada
  • 1999 — Sylvain Filion / Canada
  • 1997 — Heinz Wewering / Germany
  • 1995 — Dave Magee / USA
  • 1993 — Heinz Wewering / Germany
  • 1991 — Maurice McKendry / NZ
  • 1989 — Ron Pierce / USA
  • 1987 — Ted Demmler / Australia
  • 1985 — Tony Herlihy / New Zealand
  • 1983 — Robert Cameron / New Zealand
  • 1981 — Ulf Thoresen / Norway
  • 1979 — Ulf Thoresen / Norway
  • 1978 — Kevin Holmes / New Zealand
  • 1977 — Ulf Thoresen / Norway
  • 1975 — Keith Addison / Australia
  • 1974 — Joe Marsh Jr. / USA
  • 1973 — Ulf Thoresen / Norway
  • 1972 — Guiseppe Guzzinati / Italy
  • 1971 — Adolf Ubleis / Austria
  • 1970 — Herve Filion / Canada