Canada's Lonnie Bissonnette won the IBSF Para-bobsleigh World Cup event in Igls, Austria ©IBSF/Facebook

Canada’s Lonnie Bissonnette increased his lead in the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) Para-bobsleigh World Cup to 78 points after claiming victory in Igls in Austria.

Bissonnette posted a time of 1min 47.03sec to finish ahead of Latvia’s Alvils Brants, 0.19 seconds back, and the United States’ Aaron Lanningham, 0.80 off the pace. 

The 50-year-old now sits on 576 points in the World Cup standings going into tomorrow’s final race.

Lanningham is second on 498 points, while compatriot Jason Sturm, who came fifth today, is third on 494.

In the Para-skeleton race, America's Eric Eierdam clocked 1:54.70 to take victory ahead of Great Britain’s Matthew Richardson, 0.60 behind, and fellow American Ryan Gautieri, 1.12 back.

Eierdam’s tally of 188 points sees him lead the World Cup standings ahead of tomorrow’s final race.

Richardson is second on 180 and Australia’s Brendan Dover, who did not compete today, is third on 118. 

The United States' Eric Eierdam proved too strong for the opposition in the Para-skeleton race
The United States' Eric Eierdam proved too strong for the opposition in the Para-skeleton race ©IBSF/Facebook

The IBSF told insidethegames in October that it will submit a bid to have Para-bobsleigh and Para-skeleton included on the Winter Paralympic Games programme at Beijing 2022.

The body was invited to apply by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) after they opened the application process for the Games on October 1.

There are currently six sports on the programme for Pyeongchang 2018 - Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice sledge hockey, snowboard and wheelchair curling - and the IPC have set a limit of seven for Beijing 2022.

International Olympic Committee member and two-time skeleton Olympian Adam Pengilly of Britain had told insidethegames in December 2014 that the IBSF were "very optimistic" of having a strong candidature and having their bid ready for 2022.