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13 October 2010 – Following the success of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, the Driving world can expect more thrilling competition as the sport moves indoors for the 10th season of the FEI World Cup Driving.

Ten top class drivers, including eight from the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, will battle for the Driving World Cup title in seven competitions. For the first time ever, all three FEI World Cup Finals – the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping; the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage; and the FEI World Cup Driving – will be staged together in one venue at Leipzig in Germany.

Five World Champions

The qualification season consisted of 14 competitions throughout Europe and no less than five World Champions have qualified for the 2010-2011 season.

Zoltan Lázár (HUN), who finished top of the World Cup standings, returned to the circuit with his four-in-hand after having competed with a horse pair in the 2009 season. The 2004 World four-in-hand champion won the CAIO in Breda (NED) and the international Driving competition in Fabiansebestyen (HUN). With top performances at the CAIO in Vecsés (HUN) and at the CAIO in Aachen (GER), Lázár easily qualified for his fifth indoor World Cup season.

Four times World Champion IJsbrand Chardon (NED) won the international competitions in Zelhem (NED), Saumur (FRA) and Lähden (GER) and came second at the CAIO in Aachen. Chardon, who has won the Dutch championship 22 times, started to prepare his special indoor team of Lipizzaner horses on his return from Kentucky, where he took team gold and individual silver.

Werner Ulrich (SUI) has been part of the FEI World Cup Driving since it began in 2001. The 2008 World four-in-hand Champion came second at the CAIO in Breda, third at the CAIO in Vecsés and third in Nebanice (CZE), which put him third in the standings, together with Dutch driver Koos de Ronde.

The fourth World Champion on the list is the 1990 and 2000 World four-in-hand Champion Tomas Eriksson from Sweden, who has also been part of the FEI World Cup since it began. Eriksson won the CAI-A in Altenfelden (AUT) and came fourth in Nebanice, Lähden and Breda.

Title defender

Newly-crowned World Champion, double World Cup winner and title holder Boyd Exell (AUS) won the CAIO in Aachen and the international competition in Windsor (GBR). He also finished second in Lähden to secure his starting place in the 2010-2011 World Cup season.

Runner-up in the 2010 Final Koos de Ronde (NED) won at the CAIO in Vecsés and came third in Zelhem and Lähden, which left him joint third in the standings with Werner Ulrich.

Thanks to his victory at the CAI-A in Donaueschingen (GER), József Dobrovitz (HUN) entered the Top Ten at the last minute in fifth place.

Theo Timmerman, the third Dutch driver to qualify for the 2010-2011 season, together with Fredrik Persson (SWE) and Daniel Würgler (SUI), put in strong performances throughout the outdoor season and will undoubtedly contribute to the excitement of the 10th FEI World Cup Driving season.

FEI World Cup Driving 2010-2011

The FEI World Cup Driving series is made up of seven competitions in Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Belgium, and France. Five drivers from the Top 10 will compete at each event and organisers may give wild cards. The top six drivers in the standings after Bordeaux on 5 February 2011 will qualify for the Final in Leipzig from 27 April to 1 May 2011.

Competitors FEI World Cup Driving 2010-2011/ Final Standings World Cup Qualification:

1        Zoltan Lazar        HUN        84

2        IJsbrand Chardon        NED        77

3        Koos de Ronde        NED        69

3        Werner Ulrich        SUI        69

5        József Dobrovitz        HUN        67

6        Tomas Eriksson        SWE        66

7        Theo Timmerman        NED        63

8        Boyd Exell        AUS        62

9        Fredrik Persson        SWE        61

10        Daniel Würgler        SUI        59

CALENDAR

Hannover (GER) 28-31 October 2010:
Zoltan Lazar (HUN)
IJsbrand Chardon (NED)
Koos de Ronde (NED)
Tomas Eriksson (SWE)
Jozsef Dobrovitz (HUN)
Stuttgart (GER) 17-21 November 2010:
Zoltan Lazar (HUN)
IJsbrand Chardon (NED)
Koos de Ronde (NED)
Jozsef Dobrovitz (HUN)
Theo Timmerman (NED)

Stockholm (SWE) 26-28 November 2010:
Werner Ulrich (SUI)
Jozsef Dobrovitz (HUN)
Theo Timmerman (NED)
Boyd Exell (AUS)
Fredrik Persson (SWE)

Budapest (HUN) 3-5 December 2010:
Werner Ulrich (SUI)
Daniel Wurgler (SUI)
Boyd Exell (AUS)
Zoltan Lazar (HUN)
Koos de Ronde (NED)

Geneva (SUI) 9-12 December 2010:
Daniel Wurgler (SUI)
Tomas Eriksson (SWE)
Boyd Exell (AUS)
Zoltan Lazar (HUN)
IJsbrand Chardon (NED)

Mechelen (BEL) 26-30 December 2010:
Fredrik Persson (SWE)
IJsbrand Chardon (NED)
Koos de Ronde (NED)
Werner Ulrich (SUI)
Jozsef Dobrovitz (HUN)

Bordeaux (FRA) 4-5 February 2011:
Fredrik Persson (SWE)
Werner Ulrich (SUI)
Tomas Eriksson (SWE)
Theo Timmerman (NED)
Daniel Wurgler (SUI)
Leipzig (GER) 27 April – 1 May 2011 (FINAL)
The Top 6 drivers after Bordeaux qualify for the Final

More information: www.feiworldcup.org.