Motorsport: Rough rally for Paddon

Hayden Paddon in action during Rally Great Britain. Photo / Honza Fronek

Kiwi driver Hayden Paddon has been left to wonder what might have been on Rally Great Britain.

Despite dominating day two and three in the SWRC class, Paddon has finished dead last after his car failed him on the opening day.

The Kiwi has won eight of the last 13 stages, making up three minutes on the leaders.

Paddon remains second in the championship standings.

With two events of the season still to run and 25 points for the winner up for grabs at each event, Paddon is now in a three-way fight for the championship title.

Next up is the Rally of France, an all-asphalt event taking place 4 to 7 October in the Alsace region, seven-time world rally champion Sébastien Loeb's home region, in the east of France.

"It has been a very challenging year to date, but it's from lack of trying. There is a lot of hard work going on in the background and I will go back to the drawing board, break down all the details so that we can learn from it and turn our season around," said Paddon.

"A win is a must, but in saying that, first and foremost, we also need to concentrate on having a trouble-free rally in France."

Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala won Rally Great Britain.

- NewstalkZB/nzherald.co.nz