Rattvik, Sweden — At the end of the second-to-last day of the World Driving Championship, two drivers are clashing for first place. The stand-off is between Swedish driver Ulf Ohlsson and Canadian driver Doug McNair. However, with five races left to be decided on Friday (May 31), the other drivers still have a shot at joining them in the lead.

Ohlsson started the day by placing second and finished it with a victory with Spickleback Face, making him Driver of the Day and allowing him to take the lead from the former overall leader, McNair.

Norwegian Eirik Höitomt was just one point short of Ohlsson in today’s points following a triumphant victory with Fagur.

“The competition has had its ups and downs. This was my third victory after all, but there has been bad payoffs on the other horses,” Höitomt said when he visited Rättvik for the first time and as a result of the victory took fourth place in the overall standings.

The Nordic drivers appear to have an advantage due to the competition taking place in Sweden, as evidenced by Mika Forss also fighting for first place in the overall standings. He and Faks Nils placed first in today’s cold-blood race.

If there was a prize for Trainer of the Day, Jan Ove Olsen would probably receive it. In addition to training Faks Nils, he also trained Livi Mistress, who Yannick Gingras won with in today’s first WDC race. Gingras was also the winner of a race outside of the World Driving Championship, meaning that he was a double winner by the end of the evening.

German driver Michael Nimczyk has had a tough week, but he took his first victory tonight when he placed first with Fast Food Hanover.

“Trainer Jörgen Westholm had told me before the race that the horse was really tough in the last 300 meters and that was true,” said Nimczyk.

There is only a two point difference between Ohlsson and McNair in the lead, as they enjoy their free day Thursday before the WDC is finally settled in Gävle on Friday (May 31) at lunchtime.

The leaderboard after leg five of the 2019 WDC appears below.

1. Ulf Ohlsson (Sweden) – 166.5
2. Doug McNair (Canada) – 164.5
3. Mika Forss (Finland) – 154
4. Eirik Höitomt (Norway) – 151
5. Yannick Gingras (USA) – 149.5
6. Rick Ebbinge (The Netherlands) – 146.5
7. Matthew Williamson (New Zealand) – 135.5
8. Michael Nimczyk (Germany) – 125.5
9. Franck Nivard (France) – 121
10. Rodney Gatt (Malta) – 111
11. James MacDonald (Canada/ITA) – 109
12. Todd McCarthy (Australia) – 103

For more information, go to the official World Driving Championship website.