It could hardly be any other way, but Hayden Wilde has given up the battle – which wasn’t really much of a battle anymore anyway – for the WTCS title. After the cancellation of the WTCS opener in Abu Dhabi and subsequently missing WTCS Samarkand, WTCS Yokohama, WTCS Alghero, and WTCS Quiberon himself, the New Zealander understands all too well that there is no longer any chance of making a claim to a top ranking in the final standings.
The WTCS Abu Dhabi was cancelled earlier this year due to the war in the Middle East, after which Wilde missed the WTCS events in Samarkand and Yokohama due to other racing commitments, before falling ill and consequently having to skip WTCS Alghero and WTCS Quiberon. The final standings are ultimately based on the four best races plus the WTCS Grand Final in Pontevedra, but Wilde will now fall short by at least one race regardless.
This is mainly because WTCS Weihai clashes with the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, for which Wilde has qualified and where he intends to compete. “Which means my WTCS series title chase is over for 2026. Gutted to not fight for the title but health comes first and it’s been a pretty bumpy 3 weeks since Olbia. Finally back training and getting ready for the next race in July,” said the athlete who does still plan to start at the WTCS races in Hamburg, London, and Pontevedra.
