Canadian representative James MacDonald was crowned the 2025 World Driving Champion during the final leg of the competition at Addington Raceway in Christchurch, New Zealand on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

MacDonald secured the 2025 World Driving Championship title with a seventh-place finish in rein to the Korbyn Newman-trained trotter Alotoftrouble in the 20th and final race of the tournament, which began on Sunday, Nov. 2 and was contested over six race days across New Zealand tracks.

Australia's Gary Hall Jr. led throughout the first five races over two legs at Kaikoura Trotting Club in Kaikoura with MacDonald climbing from sixth-place to second in the point standings before taking the lead at the start of the third leg at Cambridge Raceway in Cambridge with his first of two driving victories on the day.

MacDonald picked up another driving win and maintained his place atop the leaderboard during leg four at Addington Raceway in Christchurch and nearly had the title wrapped up by the end of the fifth leg at Central Southland Raceway in Winton as he consistently earned points throughout the competition.

Back at Addington Raceway on Tuesday during New Zealand Cup Day with just one race scheduled for the last leg of the tournament, MacDonald finalized the result and delivered Canada another World Driving Championship title.

Canadian drivers have now won four of the 11 World Driving Championships contested in the 21st century -- the most out of all countries for that period -- and a total of six times since the international harness driving competition was first held in 1970. MacDonald has earned two of those titles, having previously won the 2017 World Driving Championship when Canada last hosted the biennial event. A native of Prince Edward Island based in Guelph, Ont., the 39-year-old reinsman will get the opportunity to defend his title on home soil when Canada hosts the next World Driving Championship at tracks across the country in 2027.

The reigning four-time O'Brien Award winner as Canada's Driver of the Year, MacDonald has driven winners of 4,282 races and nearly $85 million in purses in North America during his career, including 444 races and more than $12.3 million during a career-year in 2024.

Jaap Van Rijn, James MacDonald and Gary Hall, Jr.

The final point standings for the 2025 World Driving Championship are listed below.

2025 World Driving Championship Final Point Standings
Rank - Driver - Country - Points
1. James MacDonald - Canada - 168
2. Gary Hall Jr. - Australia - 151
3. Jaap Van Rijn - The Netherlands - 141
4. Blair Orange - New Zealand - 136
5. Mats Djuse - Sweden - 132
6. Pierre Vercruysse - France - 120
7. Michael Nimczyk - Germany - 119
8. Brett Beckwith - United States - 115
9. Giampaolo Minnucci - Italy - 112
10. Santtu Raitala - Finland - 104

Click on the following links for Standardbred Canada's recaps and replays from the 2025 World Driving Championship.

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

(Standardbred Canada)