Racing Fan's Guide To The WDC
With the 2019 World Driving Championship set to begin on Friday at Solvalla Racecourse in Stockholm, Sweden, here is everything you need to know to follow the event, and to follow the progress of our two Canadian drivers, James MacDonald and Doug McNair.
SC'S COVERAGE OF THE WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP
-
Live video stream of the races on standardbredcanada.ca (when available from Sweden)
-
Real-time news stories
-
The WDC Report, sponsored by Ontario Racing -- Video updates from James & Doug after each leg
-
Mc & Mac’s Great Swedish Adventure – see what goes on behind the scenes and in between race legs. Follow on SC and SC's Facebook page
Don’t forget to follow SC’s Facebook page and Trot Insider on Twitter for the latest WDC news and info! Sweden’s World Driving Championship website is available here.
WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Don’t forget...Sweden is in a different time zone! Below you can see what time to check standardbredcanada.ca to watch the WDC races (when available).
-
Friday, May 24
Number of WDC races: 3
Post Time: 12:45 p.m. (Sweden) / 6:45 a.m. (ET)
Racetrack: Solvalla
-
Saturday, May 25
Number of WDC races: 1
Post Time: 12:45 p.m. (Sweden) / 6:45 a.m. (ET)
Racetrack: Solvalla
-
Monday, May 27
Number of WDC races: 5
Post Time: 6:20 p.m. (Sweden) / 12:20 p.m. (ET)
Racetrack: Lindesberg
-
Tuesday, May 28
Number of WDC races: 5
Post Time: 6:20 p.m. (Sweden) / 12:20 p.m. (ET)
Racetrack: Eskilstuna
-
Wednesday, May 29
Number of WDC races: 5
Post Time: 6:30 p.m. (Sweden) / 12:30 p.m. (ET)
Racetrack: Rättvik
-
Friday, May 31
Number of WDC races: 5
Post Time: 12:45 p.m. (Sweden) / 6:45 a.m. (ET)
Racetrack: Gävle
To get warmed up for the WDC, let’s take a glimpse into Sweden’s harness racing world here.
THE DRIVERS
Here are the 12 competing drivers and the country they will be representing appears below.
RACING IN SWEDEN VS. RACING IN CANADA
Trotting is one of the biggest sports in Sweden. Every year they run almost 10,000 races throughout Sweden’s 38 racetracks with an average of three meetings per day and with an average of 12 horses per race. The tracks are owned by non-profit organizations. The 2019 edition marks the third time the World Driving Championship will be hosted by Sweden. The two previous times were in 1987 and 2001.
When Doug McNair & James MacDonald compete in the 2019 WDC, there will be a number of noted differences in the racing.
WDC SCORING
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)