Columbus, OH – James MacDonald, who won the 2017 World Driving Championship on his home turf in Canada, on Wednesday (Nov. 5) took the lead at this year’s event in New Zealand thanks to a performance that included two wins and a second in five third-round races.
Australia’s Gary Hall Jr., who led the 20-race competition after each of the first two rounds, dropped to second following Wednesday’s action. Germany’s Michael Nimczyk was third. Brett Beckwith, representing the U.S., had a best finish of third in his five third-round drives and was 10th in the standings as the WDC reached the halfway mark.
MacDonald headed into the third round in second, trailing Hall by 13 points, but emerged from Wednesday’s races with a 13-point lead. In addition to his two wins and a second, MacDonald had a fourth and a sixth in his five starts.
New Zealand’s Blair Orange also enjoyed a big day, picking up a win, two thirds and a fourth (with one scratch) as he jumped from ninth to fourth in the standings.
Ten races remain in the World Driving Championship, which after an off day Thursday in New Zealand resumes action Friday at Addington with four dashes. Racing begins at 5 p.m. at Addington (11 p.m. EST Thursday in the U.S.).
Following the races at Addington, the WDC visits Winton on Nov. 9 before concluding with a single race back at Addington on Nov. 11, New Zealand Cup Day.
To watch replays of the 10 completed WDC races, click here.
Complete information regarding the WDC can be found at the website wdc25.nz.
WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP
Points after 10 of 20 races
James MacDonald (Canada) – 98
Gary Hall Jr. (Australia) – 85
Michael Nimczyk (Germany) – 69
Blair Orange (New Zealand) – 68
Santtu Raitala (Finland) – 62
Mats Djuse (Sweden) – 57
Giampaolo Minnucci (Italy) – 54
Pierre Vercruysse (France) – 51
Jaap van Rijn (Netherlands) – 51
Brett Beckwith (USA) – 46