Although the "green season" has already started in most of the main driving countries, the seven qualified four-in-hand drivers for the FEI World Cup Driving Final in Göteborg are preparing for their last indoor battle.
Title defenders Michael Freund (Germany) and Ysbrand Chardon (the
Netherlands) will compete in the Scandinavium arena against home drivers Tomas Eriksson and Fredrik Persson, who amazingly qualified by winning the FEI World Cup competition in Stockholm with a wild card, which brought him an invitation in Geneva where he also performed well.
Werner Ulrich (Switzerland), Zoltan Lazar (Hungary) and Koos de Ronde (the Netherlands) complete the strong competitor's field. For the first time in the five-year history of the FEI World Cup Driving, the drivers will start from scratch, which will result in a very exciting competition since the form of the day will most probably play an important role in the performances.
Dr. Wolfgang Asendorf, who was also responsible for the World Cup courses in Hannover and Leipzig, will design the course. The warm-up competition is scheduled on Saturday evening 15 April, while the decisive World Cup competition takes place on Sunday, 16 April.
Press contact in Göteborg is Lotta Amnestål,
phone: +46 709 79 56 35 , e-mail: Lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se, website: www.goteborghorseshow.se
Created in 2001, the Driving World Cup has provided an innovative new style of competition for indoor events, with courses combining marathon and cone driving obstacles. The 2005/2006 season of the World Cup includes seven
competitions: Hannover (GER), Stuttgart (GER), Stockholm (SWE), Geneva (SUI), Mechelen (BEL) in 2005; Leipzig (GER) and Göteborg (SWE) in 2006. The top 6 after 6 events will qualify for the 7th event in Göteborg.