WRC star Hayden Paddon smashed stage records to take control of Rally Otago yesterday.
The factory Hyundai star opened his domestic campaign with a dominant performance as he opened up a huge lead of nearly five minutes across the day's nine special stages.
He ran wide on the infamous Kuri Bush stage late in the day, which put minor damage in his car's steering but managed to get through the remaining two stages without further incident.
"It has been a good one today," Paddon told the Herald on Sunday. "The car has been going well. I just had that small little moment in Kuri Bush there which buggered the car up for the last couple of stages.
"It is going really well. Compared to the same car we had two years ago, it is handling so well. A good clean day so hopefully the same tomorrow."