Motorsport: In-form Paddon set for Otago rally

Hayden Paddon's performance in Portugal was nothing short of spectacular. He's contesting Rally Otago this weekend with fresh livery on his Impreza. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand's top driver Hayden Paddon heads to this weekend's Rally of Otago aiming to polish his skills for his international campaign.

Fresh from victory in the Rally of Portugal, his first round in the production world rally championship (PWRC) a fortnight ago, Paddon will pilot a similar Subaru for the opening round of the national championship.

"There are several benefits for us in being able to run a very similar Subaru in New Zealand to the car we are now running in the PWRC with our Europe-based team, Symtech," the Geraldine driver said.

"Going into this event, we're also testing new things which came from Possum Bourne Motorsport. All this adds to our learning and hopefully our on-the-road performance."

Paddon, a double national champion, feels Friday's three night stages near Dunedin added a new challenge.

"I have done only a little bit of night rallying a few years ago, so that's going to be something relatively new.

"It's kind of like driving in a tunnel and the pace notes have to be spot on."

Paddon is seeded second number behind defending New Zealand champion Dean Sumner, of Rotorua.

Paddon, whose win in Portugal was the by the biggest margin ever in the PWRC class - seven minutes, 39.3 seconds - is not expected to have everything his own way this weekend.

Besides Sumner, Masterton's former national champion Richard Mason and Christchurch's Chris West will throw up serious challenges along with Emma Gilmour, of Hamilton.

Mason and West are among the few drivers at the rally who have experience of its night stages.

Gilmour, third overall in the 2009 championship and runner-up last year, is targeting a good start to her season.

"We have lifted our game in each of the past two years and it's time to do so again," said Gilmour, who is seeded third for this rally.

"I am aiming, again, to be on rally-winning pace. This weekend we will see if all the hard yards the team and I have put into preparing for the year pays off."

After Friday's three night stages just south and west of Dunedin, the focus of the event shifts to the former goldfields town of Lawrence for four stages on Saturday morning followed by a tarmac super special stage in the afternoon.

Sunday's route includes repeats of some stages used on the Friday and Saturday, as well as three further stages, all in the hills either side of the Taieri Plains.

After Otago, the championship continues with Rally New Zealand based at Hampton Downs on May 7-8, Rally Wairarapa on May 28-29, the International Rally of Whangarei on July 16-17 and Rally Hawke's Bay on August 20-21.

- NZPA