Hayden Paddon is in a positive frame of mind as he looks forward to the next round of the WRC season in Mexico next weekend.A trip home has enabled Hayden Paddon to “press the re-set button” after a tough start to the World Rally Championship season.The first two rounds of 2017 have far from panned out as the Kiwi driver had hoped, and not just because seven points from a seventh-place finish in Sweden last month is all he has to show for his efforts.
Paddon’s participation in the season-opening event in Monte Carlo in January was short-lived when he hit black ice towards the end of the first stage, losing control of his car and slamming into a bank.
After a tough start, the Kiwi driver fought back to finish seventh in the snow at Rally Sweden.
Paddon expressed how it had been tough not being able to return home at the time and as he looked forward to round three in Mexico next week said getting back after Rally Sweden had “definitely” helped the healing process.
“New Zealand is the best place in the world and every time I come home I feel more relaxed.
“Especially after the start we’ve had, it’s a good way to press the re-set button. In general, I’m in a very positive frame of mind.
“[Monte Carlo] wasn’t an ideal situation, it’s not something you prepare yourself to deal with. We know the risks of competing but for people on the sides of stages it’s not a risk they should be taking.
“It was a shock for everyone and we’ve tried to deal with it as best we can. You have to keep moving forward and while unfortunate accidents are exactly that, we can’t let things like that stop us.”
As he did at the time, Paddon reiterated the most important take away from the incident was ensuring lessons were learned to prevent anything similar happening in future.
With faster and more powerful WRC cars this year seeing the popularity of the sport booming, he acknowledged controlling crowds often swelling into the 100s of thousands in an open environment at European events was a big challenge.
But he still believed more focus could be placed on spectator safety.
That theme of increased focus flowed over into what lies ahead as he attempts to kick-start his season next weekend.
“Straight after Sweden we had a test in Spain in preparation for Mexico and it was really positive,” Paddon said.
“I felt really at one with car and that is important moving forward. It’s also easy to forget, because we went out on the first stage in Monte, Sweden was effectively our first time in the new car.
“It’s an understatement to say it hasn’t been the best start but it’s a long year … we’re going back to gravel, my preferred surface. We’ve just got to stay positive, keep working hard and I’m sure the results will come.”
Paddon was speaking in Auckland after it was confirmed he would split the drive in the revamped 2017 New Zealand Rally Championship with defending champion David Holder and Hyundai scholarship winner Job Quantock.
The trio will drive two events each at the helm of the Hyundai i20 AP4 specification car, Paddon competing in the Rally of Coromandel in late August and the championship closing Rally New Zealand, returning in late November for the first time since 2012.
“This is probably one of the biggest and best looking New Zealand Championships there has been,” Paddon said.
“For me this is where it all started … we have the best roads in the world and it’s like a community here, coming back and competing is a bit of luxury and a nice way to relax and enjoy why I fell in love with rally in the first place.