The field is set for the 2025 World Driving Championship, set to take place this coming November in New Zealand.

Harness Racing New Zealand announced the star-studded list of 10 drivers on Saturday, April 19 at a function at Addington Raceway. It will be the first time New Zealand has been the sole host of the championships since the competition started in 1970.

The 10 drivers (in alphabetical order) are:

• Brett Beckwith (USA)
• Mats Djuse (Sweden)
• Gary Hall Jr. (Australia)
• James MacDonald (Canada)
• Michael Nimczyk (Germany)
• Blair Orange (New Zealand)
• Santtu Raitala (Finland)
• Antonio Simioli (Italy)
• Jaap van Rijn (Netherlands)
• Pierre Vercruysse (France)

This year’s championship features the return of two former champions. Canada's James MacDonald won the title in his home country in 2017 while Pierre Vercruysee did the same in France in 2013.

Jaap van Rijn from the Netherlands has a tough act to follow after countryman Rick Ebbinge won the last two world driving championships in 2019 and 2023.

Australia’s representative Gary Hall Jr. is well-known on both sides of the Tasman. The 42-year-old has more than 4,000 career wins with 69 at Group 1 level, including three Inter Dominion wins with the great Im Themightyquinn.

“This is a terrific thrill,” Hall said, “As I’ve gotten older and travelled more, I’ve got a real sense of what these series mean and what an honour it is to be part of them, especially representing your country in this case.

“Personally, I’m thrilled it’s in New Zealand where I’ll feel comfortable driving.”

Twenty years Hall’s junior is American representative Brett Beckwith. At 22, he’s a fourth generation horseman who lives in Saratoga County, New York. He is aiming to be the first American to win the world title since Dave Magee in 1995.

Blair Orange, the New Zealand’s leading driver for the past seven years, will again wear the silver fern for the home country. It will be Orange’s second world championship after representing the country in Europe in 2023.

The fourth most successful driver in this country’s history, he has over 2,900 career wins including three New Zealand Cups with Copy That (twice) and Cruz Bromac.

Six drivers from New Zealand have won the WDC. They are Tony Herlihy, Maurice McKendry, Dexter Dunn, Mark Jones, Robert Cameron and Kevin Holmes.

This year’s championships will be held at four venues – Kaikoura, Cambridge, Winton and Addington – in November, culminating in the final heat to be held on the sport’s biggest occasion, IRT New Zealand Cup Day at Addington on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

(with files from Harness Racing New Zealand)