Solid hit-out as Paddon readies for rally

Story by: Hayden Paddon Rallysport Global Ltd - Photo by: Geoff Ridder

Top New Zealand rally duo Hayden Paddon and John Kennard has a solid hit-out this morning when they completed the official shakedown session for Brother Rally New Zealand in their Skoda Fabia S2000 rally car.

 

Paddon says the team needed him to make one quick run through the 4.86km Komokoriki Hill Road shakedown stage near Kaukapakapa, north of Auckland.

 

“Then we had the opportunity for two sponsor rides and that was all we needed to do,” says Paddon.

 

The 25-year-old production world rally champion set the quickest time through the time stretch of windy, gravel road. Paddon’s time of 3:12.7 was more than two seconds quicker than his fellow Super 2000 World Rally Championship competitor Yazeed Al-Rajhi, from Saudi Arabia, in a Ford.

 

“The times don’t count for much though; it’s more about checking everything’s okay with the car.

 

“We’re expecting overnight rain tonight and it’s supposed to dry out tomorrow, which will suit us better running immediately behind the 14 WRC cars.”

 

Paddon invites rally fans to visit the New Zealand World Rally Team marque outside the rally headquarters at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland where they can race a special rally similar and this season’s official team merchandise is on sale.

 

Paddon’s 2012 campaign is supported by PlaceMakers, Giltrap Group, Skoda, ENZED, Z Energy, Cameron Sea and Airfreight, Granger Design, Castrol, Raiseys, New Balance, Pope Print, Racetech, Chicane Racewear, Endless Brake Pads, 1 Group web design, Brita Safety, Rally Tours, MAK-Corp, EPS International, Saddle Hill Quarries, Monit Rally Computers, Bluebridge Ferries, Stadium Finance, and Ewing Engineering Contractors.

 

Friday’s action sees Paddon and Kennard tour south from Auckland to tackle 209.60 kilometres of competitive stages around Te Akau, west of Huntly, and Raglan. On Saturday, they head north for 143.01 km of special stages through the Kaipara and Whangarei regions. Sunday, the final day, includes 63.39 km of competition through the tarmac runs around Auckland Domain super special stage and stages around Puhoi and Kaukapakapa before the ceremonial finish at Silo Park on Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter.