The 2024 World Championship for Amateur Drivers concluded on Thursday, Aug. 22 in Finland, with Canadian representative Nello Guglielmi scoring an overseas win and an experience that will last a lifetime.
The outcome wasn't ideal for Guglielmi, who finished in 11th place in the three-day, nine-race driving competition featuring amateur drivers from around the world racing at Teivo Racetrack in Tampere, Mikkeli Racetrack in Mikkeli and Jokimaa Racecourse in Lahti.
"What an amazing journey!" Guglielmi told Trot Insider at the conclusion of the driving challenge on Thursday. "Going into the competition I was excited. To compete on an international level for your country truly is an honor and blessing. My wife Lisa and I have met some incredible people and had some amazing experiences here that we will cherish forever.
"Although sad it comes to an end we will forever be happy and grateful we had the opportunity to experience this. The racing in Finland has its similarities to North America but has many differences as well. It is amazing to be able to navigate through the differences and adapt as you go, and it truly speaks for the quality of the competitors that have the whole world watching you yet remain poised while containing the excitement and trying to be professional."
Norway's Ove Bakkevold Reime didn't win any of the nine races, but his consistent performance landed him atop the leaderboard with 72 points. That was just one point better than Spain's Antonia Vaquer Staschel (71 points) and New Zealand's Cheree Wigg (69 points).
Here are the final standings in the 2024 World Championship for Amateur Drivers.
1. Ove Bakkevold Reime (Norway) - 72 points
2. Antonia Vaquer Staschel (Spain) - 71 points
3. Cheree Wigg (New Zealand) - 69 points
4. Patrik Fernlund (Sweden) - 68 points
5. Martin Andreasen (Denmark) - 66 points
6. John Calabrese (United States) - 65 points
7. Andrea Fazekas (Hungary) -64 points
T8. Sami Nummi (Finland) - 60 points
T8. Cliferty Calleja (Malta) - 60 points
10. Maximiliano Lacunza (Argentina) - 55 points
11. Nello Guglielmi (Canada) - 51 points
12. Xavier Bovay (Switzerland) - 47 points
(Standardbred Canada)