Canada's James MacDonald stormed to the front in the 2025 World Driving Championship (WDC) with a strong performance in the third leg at Cambridge Raceway in Cambridge, New Zealand on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

MacDonald took a one-point lead over Australia's Gary Hall Jr. in the first WDC race and extended the advantage to 13 by the end of the day. He picked up 57 points in five races with two wins, a narrow second, a fourth and a sixth. Mats Djuse of Sweden won twice on the day to shoot up the leaderboard from last after day two to sixth at the end of Wednesday's racing. Local hope Blair Orange surged from ninth to fourth while taking his first win of the competition.

The WDC is now at the midway point, having completed 10 of 20 heats. The fourth leg is set for Addington Raceway on Friday, Nov. 7, with first post at 4:30 p.m. local time (10:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, Nov. 6).

The 2025 WDC point standings after the third leg are as follows:

2025 WDC Point Standings - After Leg 3
1. James MacDonald - Canada - 98
2. Gary Hall Jr. - Australia - 85
3. Michael Nimczyk - Germany - 69
4. Blair Orange - New Zealand - 68
5. Santtu Raitala - Finland - 62
6. Mats Djuse - Sweden - 57
7. Giampaolo Minnucci - Italy - 54
8. Pierre Vercruysse - France - 51
9. Jaap van Rijn - The Netherlands - 51
10. Brett Beckwith - United States - 46

The 2025 WDC will be held at various New Zealand racetracks. The complete racing schedule is as follows, with both Canadian and local time zone first post times included:

• First Leg (Kaikoura): Saturday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m. EDT / Sunday, Nov. 2, 12 p.m. NZDT - Click here for results and recap
• Second Leg (Kaikoura): Sunday, Nov. 2, 6 p.m. EST / Monday, Nov. 3, 12 p.m. NZDT - Click here for results and recap
• Third Leg (Cambridge): Tuesday, Nov. 4, 10:30 p.m. EST / Wednesday, Nov. 5, 4:30 p.m. NZDT
• Fourth Leg (Addington): Thursday, Nov. 6, 10:30 p.m. EST / Friday, Nov. 7, 4:30 p.m. NZDT
• Fifth Leg (Winton): Saturday, Nov. 8, 6 p.m. EST / Sunday, Nov. 9, 12 p.m. NZDT
• Sixth/Final Leg (Addington; New Zealand Cup Day): Monday, Nov. 10, 6 p.m. EST / Tuesday, Nov. 11, 12 p.m. NZDT

Recaps and replays of the WDC leg three races are below.

WDC Race 1

Canada’s James MacDonald took the lead in the World Driving Championship as he struck first on day three via a confident front-end steer behind Captains Secret. He took the lead first, let Bruntwood Brigade and Brett Beckwith of the United States go by, then regained command in front of the stands, and Captains Secret held off late attacks from Bruntwood Brigade and Cyamate (driven by Michael Nimczyk of Germany) for the victory by a length. Cyamate finished second up the passing lane over Bruntwood Brigade. Captains Secret, a three-year-old pacing gelding, covered the 1,700 metres with a mile rate of 1:55.1. 

WDC Race 2

Sweden’s Mats Djuse banked a much-needed 16 points in the second WDC race of the day, sending seven-year-old trotting mare Brienne up the passing lane off a pocket ride to win by a half-length with a mile rate of 2:02 over 2,200 metres. Viscount Mackendon was second for Finland’s Santtu Raitala after leading much of the way. Bangkok Betty pylon-skimmed to a show finish for Nimczyk. Trifolium came flying for fourth after a four-wide move for MacDonald.

WDC Race 3

MacDonald padded his lead as four-year-old pacer Mick Konstantin blew away his opponents in the 2,200-metre third WDC race, powering to a five-length gate-to-wire victory with a mile rate of 1:56.2. Hall remained on the leader’s tail as he finished second with Upstage. New Zealand’s Blair Orange was third with Kings Watch.

WDC Race 4

Son Of Patrick circled three-wide on the last turn and exploded down the stretch to win a fourth-race thriller in a four-across finish, giving Djuse his second win of the day. MacDonald’s Sans Au Revoir missed by a head while soaring home for second. Eagle Hanover was a narrow third for Orange. Son Of Patrick’s mile rate in the 2,200-metre trot was 2:02.

WDC Race 5

Score one for the home team. New Zealand's Blair Orange gave Melton Mogul a second-over journey, and the four-year-old pacing gelding launched off cover in the lane to win by 2-3/4 lengths with a mile rate of 2:00 over 2,200 metres. Messenger Buoy closed for second for Raitala. Nimczyk’s Sea Of Love completed the top three. MacDonald finished sixth with Commander Lincoln after a ground-saving journey.

(Standardbred Canada; photo of James MacDonald winning with Mick Konstantin)