James MacDonald Wins Second World Driving Championship

Summary:

• James MacDonald clinched his second world title at the 2025 World Driving Championship in New Zealand.
• The Canadian driver finished with 168 points, 17 ahead of Australia’s Gary Hall Jr.
• The 2027 championship will return to Canada, where MacDonald will defend his title.

James MacDonald captured his second world driving championship and reaffirmed his place among the sport’s elite.

The 39-year-old Canadian driver, originally from Prince Edward Island and now based in Guelph, Ontario, secured the title during the final leg of the 2025 World Driving Championship at Addington Raceway in New Zealand. 

A seventh-place finish behind trotter Alotoftrouble in the last of 20 races was enough to seal the win.

MacDonald finished the series with 168 points, comfortably ahead of Australia’s Gary Hall Jr., who ended 17 points behind. The six-day competition took place at racetracks across New Zealand, drawing top drivers from around the world.

This marks MacDonald’s second world title, his first coming in 2017 when the event was last held in Canada. He’ll have the chance to defend his crown on home soil in 2027, when the championship returns to Canada for multiple track events.

Hall Jr. had set the early pace, leading through the first two legs at the Kaikoura Trotting Club. MacDonald, who started the competition in sixth, gradually climbed the standings, moving into second place before the third leg at Cambridge Raceway. 

That’s where he grabbed his first of two wins on the day, taking control of the leaderboard.

He added another victory in the fourth leg at Addington Raceway, holding steady through the remaining races and ultimately securing the championship with one solid drive to close out the event.

Canadians Stand Out 

Canada’s record in the competition continues to stand out. With MacDonald’s latest win, Canadian drivers have now claimed four of the 11 world driving championships, more than any other country. Since the event’s debut in 1970, Canada has lifted the trophy six times overall.

MacDonald’s personal record is equally impressive. A four-time Canadian Driver of the Year, he has amassed 4,282 career wins and nearly $85 million in purses across North America. This season alone, he has already notched 282 victories and over $12.3 million in earnings.

For MacDonald, who has long been one of the country’s most consistent and respected reinsmen, the second world title reinforces what those in the sport have known for years, that his blend of skill, patience, and instinct keeps him at the top of the harness racing world.