James MacDonald, Canada’s representative for the 2025 World Driving Championship (WDC), has provided an update after the first leg was held on Sunday, Nov. 2 at Kaikoura Trotting Club in Kaikoura, New Zealand.

It was Gary Hall Jr. of Australia who stole the show during the first leg of the WDC, driving two winners and a second-place finisher in the three WDC heats to take the early lead in the point standings. MacDonald finished leg one with 17 points, sitting in sixth place.

MacDonald began the day winning a preliminary, non-WDC race before his first two WDC charges each made breaks before leaving the gate. The second, Holly Highlander, came back trotting and recovered for a third-place finish. MacDonald finished fourth off a pocket trip with Caloriefree in the third heat. Click here for a full recap of the opening leg.

Watch the WDC Report below to see MacDonald's thoughts on the first leg of the WDC.

Here is a look at the current leaderboard after the first leg of the 2025 WDC:

(Standardbred Canada Press Release)