Paddon dominates in New Zealand

4th July 2010

By Giles Wade

Pirelli Star Driver Hayden Paddon has dominated the latest round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, the International Rally of Whangarei, which ended in New Zealand today.

Paddon’s Mitsubishi ran faultlessly throughout the event, building the double Kiwi champion’s confidence ahead of his next PSD outing on Rally Finland at the end of the month. Emma Gilmour was a distant second on the event, with Proton driver Alister McRae collecting a much-needed second in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship to vault both him and the Malaysian manufacturer up the series standings.

Paddon said: “To stand on the top of the podium at the end with the New Zealand national anthem in the background is a very special feeling and now the target is to carry this confidence and the development we have done with my driving this weekend onwards into the World Rally Championship with the remaining Pirelli rounds. It’s been the perfect weekend: first overall, first Asia Pacific Championship, first Pacific Cup and first New Zealand Rally Championship.”