Canadian drivers Doug McNair and James MacDonald have chimed in from Sweden after the first leg of the 2019 World Driving Championship with the initial WDC Report as well as some bonus footage.
Defending 2017 World Driving Champion James MacDonald of Guelph, Ont. was one of three drivers to find the winner's circle on Friday, guiding Pegasus All Over to victory in the second WDC race of the first leg. MacDonald sits in third after the first leg with 28 points. McNair's mounts weren't as fruitful and he sits in 12th with 13.5 points.
Prior to the opening leg, McNair and MacDonald got to know the competition in a more casual setting. Sweden's national harness racing association Svensk Travsport hosted a Welcome Reception for the 2019 WDC drivers and their guests on Thursday evening at the Clarion Sign Hotel in Stockholm.
Action resumes in the 2019 World Driving Championship on Saturday (May 25) with a single dash at Solvalla. Here's the leaderboard after the first leg:
1. Ulf Ohlsson (Sweden) - 33.5
2. Mika Forss (Finland) - 31
3. James MacDonald (Canada/ITA) - 28
4. Yannick Gingras (USA) - 25
5. Todd McCarthy (Australia) - 23
6. Matthew Williamson (New Zealand) - 22
T7. Franck Nivard (France) - 18
T7. Michael Nimczyk (Germany) - 18
T9. Eirik Hoitomt (Norway) - 17
T9. Rick Ebbinge (The Netherlands) - 17
11. Rodney Gatt (Malta) - 14
12. Doug McNair (Canada) - 13.5
For a full recap of the first leg of the 2019 World Driving Championship, click here.