Union Européenne du Trot (UET) is thrilled to announce the six European drivers who will represent Europe at the 2025 World Driving Championship (WDC) in New Zealand from November 1st to 12th. Following a selection process and a voting period that concluded on March 31st, 2025, the final list of drivers has been confirmed.

The selection process for the 2025 WDC involved a new system approved by the UET General Assembly in January 2025. This system replaced the former European Championship for Drivers, which last took place in Belgium in 2022, where Italian driver Alessandro Gocciadoro was the winner. The new process aimed to identify the top European talent to compete alongside drivers from New Zealand, Australia, the USA, and Canada. The six drivers representing Europe include three designated drivers from Group 1: Pierre Vercruysse (France), Antonio Simioli (Italy), and Mats Djuse (Sweden), who qualified based on their status. The remaining three drivers were selected through a voting process: Jaap van Rijn (Group 3), Santtu Raitala (Group 2), and Michael Nimczyk (Group 2). The voting process saw participation from 18 European representatives, with the final list published post the voting deadline.

The 2025 WDC promises to be an exciting event, showcasing the best driving talents from around the globe. The UET is proud to support these exceptional drivers as they prepare to compete on the world stage. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to their outstanding performances in New Zealand.

Peter Truzla, President and Camiel Mellegers, Technical Advisor, April 2nd, 2025

A website dedicated to this international competition will be available soon, providing ongoing coverage of the next stages and the performances of our European talents on the world stage.