Motorsport: Trans-Tasman rivalry at Rally Coromandel

Hayden Paddon in action during Rally Poland on June 30. Photo / Getty Images

Australia's best will go head-to-head with New Zealand's best at this weekend's Goldrush Rally Coromandel.

Kiwi World Rally Championship star Hayden Paddon will line-up for his first event on New Zealand soil this year in the Hyundai New Zealand i20 AP4+ car while Australian Brendan Reeves will look to defend his title in a brand new Mazda 2 AP4.

The two are good friends. Reeves even helps Paddon out as part of his gravel crew at WRC events - they worked together last weekend at Rally Germany.

"Hayden and I have raced against each other going back to 2008 I think," Reeves told The Herald.

"I have done Rally Whangarei and Rally New Zealand before. I even drove Hayden's personal car - his EVO 9 once in Rally Whangarei as well so we are good friends.

"I'm always trying to support him [in his Hyundai WRC role] and help him along and try to improve his pace notes.

"Last week we were in Germany together so there has been a lot of banter in the team talking about how we are racing against each other this weekend and how he will be sweeping the roads for me."

Paddon will be the first car on the road with Reeves following directly behind on the one-day event.

For the Australian it is a great opportunity to test himself the top level.

"Your competition only makes you stronger," he said. "To drive against one of the world's best drivers in Hayden Paddon is excellent - in a similar spec car.

"I think having him there, the whole field will put him at the top of the ladder and will just all be pushing as hard as we can to see what we can do."

Reeves will run in a brand new Mazda 2 AP4 car built by fellow competitor Andrew Hawkeswood. Aucklander Hawkeswood has helped make a number of the new generation AP4 cars competing in the New Zealand Rally Championship but the new Mazda is a first.

It will be the first true AP4 Mazda Hawkeswood has a built - a 1.6L direct injection turbo rather than the 1.8L AP4+ cars many rivals will drive.

Having run an AP4+ Mazda last year Reeves is keen to have a crack with the newer version in 2017.

"The decision to come back to Coromandel was easy - I just had to convince Andrew really.

"We went last year with no expectations. We just wanted to go and do an event outside of Australia and have fun.

"To come back and do the event this year, in a brand new car, the expectations and pressure is a lot higher.

"Our aim is just the same - come over, drive one of these new AP4 cars and have some fun."

Meanwhile Paddon is excited to finally be able to contest an event on home soil.
"I always look forward to coming home - it is good to come home and do a rally for a change," he told The Herald.

"It is going to be a nice weekend away with the team and friends and family.
"The championship is very strong in New Zealand now so we certainly can't come home and relax too much.

"You have always got a target painted on your back when you come home and do a local rally but I look forward to that."

A strong field will contest the seven-stage event based out of Whitianga with series leader Matt Summerfield taking a 10-point championship lead into the event from Rhys Gardner.

Championship Standings
Matt Summerfield 77 points
Rhys Gardner 67
Andrew Hawkeswood 63
Graham Featherstone 51
Ben Hunt 50
Dylan Turner 47