Paddon to headline star-studded event

Paddon to headline star-studded event

Hayden Paddon. PHOTO: GEOFF RIDDER.

Cromwell driver Hayden Paddon is set to headline one of New Zealand’s strongest domestic rally fields.

 

The World Rally Championship star has confirmed he will compete in the Battle of Jacks Ridge rally sprint near Auckland on November 15.

It is expected to attract the strongest field so far assembled for a domestic rally.

The 33-year-old will race the 3km sprint stage at the purpose-built facility in his Hyundai i20 AP4.

The full 6km stage, located in Whitford, was to be a feature of Rally New Zealand when the WRC returned to the country for the first time sine 2012, before the Covid-19 pandemic led to the event being cancelled.

"This is going an amazing event and one I am really looking forward to,” Paddon, who became the first southern hemisphere driver to win a world championship event in 2016, said.

"Andrew has done an amazing job constructing a world-class rally stage that will be a real test for drivers while giving spectators an amazing show.

"There are some technical bits that will put drivers to the test while the jumps will take some serious commitment and will be spectacular to watch."

He will also contest the City of Auckland Rally, using stages that would have made up the WRC event, the day before.

"It is such a shame that Covid-19 has disrupted the sport so much and that we weren’t able to hold a WRC Rally New Zealand on those awesome stages," Paddon said.

"It will be great to be able to drive some of those iconic stages and compete with New Zealand’s best too.

"My team will be working hard converting our Hyundai i20 overnight and setting it up for the Battle of Jacks Ridge on the Sunday, where the extra horsepower will be needed.

"It sounds like there will a lot of competition and I can’t wait to get amongst it.”

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