Motorsport: Hayden Paddon loses lead in Rally Italy

Hayden Paddon. Photo / File.

Hayden Paddon has lost the lead in Rally Italy in the World Rally Championship.

The Kiwi driver maintained his lead until stage 17, before suffering a spin and eventually falling eight seconds behind Frenchman Sebastien Ogier.

Paddon had further issues on the 18th stage and thought his rally was over.

"I thought it was all gone in the last one. We hit a big rock in the driving line. I thought there would be no way we would get to here."

He got out of the car in tears.

"I don't want to be a drama queen but when it happened in the last stage, it ripped my heart out. All the had work that's gone into this - not just for me but the whole team - it's been a hard weekend for the team."

But, Paddon's made it through the day's last stage to be two minutes and 13 seconds behind Sebastien Ogier in second.

He's a minute and 12 seconds ahead of third-placed Mads Ostberg.