Kiwis aren’t really used to underdogs doing well. In a land where their national rugby team hasn’t been beaten at home since 2009, the formbook rules and is rarely deviated from. Hayden Paddon changed all of that this weekend.
Forty years ago, a Ford Escort Mk II was the weapon of choice throughout the rally world. But since the onset of turbocharging and drive being sent to the front – as well as rear – wheels, the good old Group 4 grunter has struggled to keep up.
Paddon and co-driver John Kennard faced plenty of total traction, blown opposition when he started last weekend’s Rally of Otago in a Historic-spec Mk II, but he put them all to shame in a showing of extraordinary driving talent to win the event after a final-stage thriller.
Going into the last test, Paddon was 7.8 seconds behind with 15 kilometres to run. That was when the 28-year-old turned on the style and emerged with a 2.5-second win over Phil Campbell’s Mitsubishi Lancer.
“The result’s a surprise,” said Paddon, who became the first two-wheel driver winner of a NZRC round since Neil Allport in 1987. “First and foremost we came here to enjoy ourselves in a rear-wheel drive BDA and we did just that. Thanks to Tony Gosling for the use of his car and to our entire team for their efforts. A great result before we head back to Europe and our next WRC event in Portugal.”
Didn’t somebody mention Ken Block was in town? What about the Ford Fiesta HFHV? Surely KB could trouble HP?
Hmm, not so much. The Hoonigan was hampered by an engine sensor which forced him out of Saturday, but he returned on Sunday and was quickest across day two by 35 seconds.
It takes a lot to deflect the conversation from Monster’s own tyre-slayer, but Paddon’s performance was all anybody was talking about post-event in Dunedin.
The Hyundai Motorsport star was pretty chuffed himself.
Story and Photo: Maxrally