Hayden Paddon. Photo / Michael Vettas
New Zealand World Rally Championship driver Hayden Paddon has taken a stunning victory in the Otago Rally, round two of the 2015 New Zealand Rally Championship.
Paddon and co-driver John Kennard showed the class that has taken them to the World Rally Championship by winning the event outright in an
Historic class BDA Escort, the first two wheel drive victory in the national championship since Neil Allport in 1987.
Tauranga driver Phil Campbell started the final day with a 16.4 second advantage which he extended on the mornings four stages to 30.3 seconds. But a determined charge by Paddon and co-driver John Kennard over the next two stages saw the deficit trimmed to just 7.8seconds going into the final 15 kilometre test at Kuri Bush.
Paddon produced a scintillating drive in the Stadium Finance BDA over the super fast and undulating stage, to be 10.4 seconds faster and snatch the rally win by a 2.5 second winning margin.
"The results a surprise. 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," stated Paddon at the rally finish.
