Driver Rick Ebbinge, representing The Netherlands, is the point leader heading into the fourth and final leg of the 2023 World Driving Championship (WDC), which returns to Germany on Friday, Aug. 18.
Ebbinge, who vaulted to the top of the leaderboard in round two of the WDC on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at GelsenTrabPark in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, maintained his lead in the third round of the competition on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at Hippodrome de Wallonie in Mons, Belgium. He picked up his fourth winning drive of the competition in the Belgian round in rein to the front-striding Oasis.
Canada's Doug McNair finished second in that 2,300 metre trot with Miss Du Chatault for his top placing of the day's five races. McNair ended the third leg in sixth place with 93 points on the leaderboard.
United States representative Jordan Ross had an eventful day as he celebrated his first victory of the tournament with Lotus Ev but was unseated in the final race at the start. Representatives in attendance reported that he walked away without serious injury.
Germany's Michael Nimczyk also broke through with his first win of the competition in rein to Hellios D'irai.
After kicking off the WDC a winner in The Netherlands on Sunday, Aug. 13, Australia's Peter McMullen picked up another victory in Wednesday's opener driving Heaven Jiel. Belgium's Hanna Huygen also doubled up in the competition as she scored a victory for the home team in rein to Noble November to close out the third leg.
The final leg of the WDC will be held on Friday, Aug. 18 at Trabrennbahn Mariendorf in Berlin, Germany with post time set for 11 a.m. (EDT).
Here is a look at the 2023 World Driving Championship leaderboard after 15 of 20 races:
Rick Ebbinge - The Netherlands - 139
Peter McMullen - Australia - 106
Hanna Huygens - Belgium - 105
Santtu Raitala - Finland - 103
Michael Nimczyk - Germany - 97
Doug McNair - Canada - 93
Jordan Ross - United States - 93
Blair Orange - New Zealand - 89
Miodrag Pantić - Serbia - 68
Rodney Gatt - Malta - 59
A race-by-race breakdown of the World Driving Championship races from the third leg follows.
WDC Race 11
Australia's Peter McMullen opened the third leg of the World Driving Championship with a victory in rein to Heaven Jiel. After tracking third-over through most of the 2,300 metre trot, McMullen went three-wide down the backstretch the final time and took over in the final turn before drawing off in the stretch to win by wide open lengths with Belgium's Hanna Huygens finishing second in rein to Elixir Du Layon over pacesetter Hautaine and Germany's Michael Nimczyk. McMullen picked up his second win in the competition after opening the WDC a winner in The Netherlands on Sunday. Canada's Doug McNair finished 10th with Hylton De Rambures.
WDC Race 12
Germany's Michael Nimczyk broke through for his first WDC victory in the next race with Hellio D'irai. Positioned second-over for much of the 2,300 metre trot, Nimczyk rushed up to overtake the front-striding Gringo De Chatnay and Finland's Sanntuu Raitala with Hades Du Theys also rallying wide to challenge but breaking stride for Malta's Rodney Gatt. It turned into a three-horse race from there into the stretch as Hellio D'irai took command over Gringo De Chatnay while WDC point leader Rick Ebbinge of The Netherlands had Jerom Butterfly in contention off the pocket trip. Nimczyk and Hellio D'irai led them across the wire by one length with Raitala and Gringo De Chatnay second followed by Ebbinge and Jerom Butterfly. Canada's Doug McNair was able to rally Captain Danover to a fourth-place finish.
WDC Race 13
WDC point leader Rick Ebbinge of The Netherlands struck again in rein to Oasis for his fourth win in the tournament. Canada's Doug McNair crossed to command from post seven into the first turn aboard Miss Du Chatault before Ebbinge and Oasis took over in the backstretch and fought off eventual breaker Lotheraringen Ev and Belgium's Hanna Huygens. McNair and Miss Du Chatault finished one length behind in second over the oncoming Olsmobile, driven by Germany's Michael Nimczyk.
WDC Race 14
United States reinsman Jordan Ross celebrated his first win in the WDC with Lotus Ev rallying off cover turning for home and collaring pacesetter Nordic Warrior and Australia's Peter McMullen in deep stretch. After an early tussle up front, Prins D'over settled for a pocket trip and finished third for Germany's Michael Nimczyk. Rounding out the top five, New Zealand's Blair Orange and Laura Matic edged out Canada's Doug McNair, who challenged first-over in rein to Maestro Lj.
WDC Race 15
There was a false start in the final race of the day after a pair of horses broke stride behind the gate and then United States's Jordan Ross was dumped from his sulky and his mount, Jakarta Ter Blekte, proceeded to run loose for multiple laps around the track before being corralled. Ross was up quickly on his feet after the incident and reported to be ok after being assessed by on-track EMS.
Jakarta Ter Blekte was scratched while the rest of the field returned to the track following a short delay to proceed with the race. (Ross received four points for the scratch).
Belgium's Hanna Huygen scored a victory for the home team in rein to Noble November, reeling in runaway leader Pippa Ice and Finland's Santtu Raitala in the final strides. Primavera Magnus and New Zealand's Blair Orange rounded out the top three finishers. The win was Huygen's second in the tournament after making it to the winner's circle during the opening leg. Canada's Doug McNair finished fifth with trailing tier starter Janice De Jana.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
- entries
- program pages
- live stream (available below)
WDC SCORING
Points for the WDC are awarded in each heat according to the official order of finish. The winner of the race receives 17 points and then in descending order 12 points (2nd place); 9 (3); 7 (4); 6 (5); 5 (6); 4 (7); 3 (8); 2 (9); and 1 (10). The winning title is awarded to the driver with the highest number of points after all legs of the championship have been completed.