Bram Chardon (NED) has gained the first advantage after competition one in Bordeaux (FRA) with a clear round and winning time of 146.83. He steered his horses through a smooth and precise route, which balanced accuracy in the two marathon-style obstacles with speed on the longer stretches in the arena, and he could not be caught.

Photo – Bram Chardon during the FEI Driving World Cup Final 2026 (© FEI / Artiste-Associé Photographes)

“It was a beautiful course here. Michael Mayer (SUI) did a fantastic job. It’s quick enough for a final but still very flowing, and there were some very good rounds. I could put pressure on the others because I was the fourth one to go in. I was keen to stay clear and I was pretty confident with the routes that I drove. Anything is possible tomorrow. Dries is very close behind, and my father is nearby too. Boyd has a little distance to gain but he will fight and put the pressure on us”, Bram Chardon said.

“My horses have grown so much this season. In Geneva and London I was flabbergasted that I didn’t have the pace, but in London, in the end, it got better. I made a mistake in Leipzig but today it went well. Tomorrow we will analyse the videos then decide on the final strategy.” – Bram Chardon (NED)

Only 0.83 separates former champion Bram and title contender Dries Degrieck (BEL). Last year’s runner up was also clear and had a similar pace to the leader, with similar split times on the course. Despite trying to pick up the pace over the latter stages of the course, he couldn’t quite get ahead of Bram, and crossed the line in 147.66.

“I was happy with the horses and they did a good round. I made two mistakes and was a bit slow on two turns. Now we have to focus on tomorrow and we will try to stay clear and make better turns. My horses have done every prize giving this season and been in the top three. I have a new wheeler this season and he’s done a fantastic job. He is a fighter and never gives up, he has a great brain and is doing so well.” – Dries Degrieck (BEL)

As Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) followed his son into the arena, the applause was still ringing from what had gone before. Setting out at a competitive pace, he nearly matched the pace but added four penalty seconds for a rolled ball. The clocked stopped at 150.23 but his total of 154.23 was good enough for third and a place in the prize giving and victory parade, a part of the competition that Ijsbrand makes his own.

Defending Champion

Defending champion Boyd Exell (AUS) was the last to drive but didn’t produce the type of emphatic winning round that earmarked the early stages of the season when he was unassailable. A hesitation in an obstacle then a roll meant that time and penalties accumulated and he finished fourth on 155.59. Keen to win an unprecedented 12th World Cup title, Boyd will come out fighting on Sunday, despite having to start with a few seconds on the clock due to the scoring system.

Delighted to have qualified for the final, Christoph Sandmann (GER) was another who collected four extra seconds to total 163.65. The host nation’s wild card Benjamin Aillaud (FRA) was first to try out the course and went clear in 164.38. Jérôme Voutaz (SUI) was not far off the pace but had to add eight seconds to his time for 167.46.

Michael Mayer designed his first World Cup final course and said beforehand that he was excited to ‘set the stage’ for the drivers, horses and competition. The consensus was that it was an excellent course which flowed and provided a few options within the obstacles.

Different Format

The final has slightly different format and scoring system, and there is no drive-off in the first competition. For competition two, 50% of the difference between the leader’s score and the remaining drivers is carried over so all except Bram, who starts on zero, will have a few seconds on the clock when they start their rounds on Sunday afternoon.

Although Bram was victorious in the first competition at the 24th FEI Driving World Cup™ final, calibre of all the drivers and teams in this final is so high, the result and positions could change again.

FULL RESULTS