Paddon locked in for Otago Classic Rally

New Zealand’s most successful rally driver, Hayden Paddon, will light up the 2025 Central Machine Hire Otago Rally aboard a special rally car.

Ten years on from his record breaking outright win in an Escort BDA, Paddon will again drive the famed model when the rally runs from April 4-6.

Steering the eye-catching blue BDA owned by Tim McIver, Paddon will take the fight to international star, Kris Meeke, in a bid to wrestle the International Classic Rally crown back to New Zealand.

Recently announced to complete a full program in the Australian Rally Championship, Paddon will begin his New Zealand program with the Dunedin event, just two weeks after the Canberra opener across the Tasman Sea.

Having won the Otago Rally on 10 occasions, more recently in Hyundais, he has also competed in the Classic Rally on three occasions, with mixed results.

First competing in the class in 2012, Paddon finished fourth after a puncture, and a return two years later ended in retirement.

It was 2015, though, where he delivered a stunning outright win to trump not only those in the Classic Rally, but also every New Zealand Rally Championship competitor.

Competition for the Classic win won’t be easy, especially with Kris Meeke travelling south to drive the Rossendale Wines BDA for the second year running.

“I’m looking forward to tackling the Otago Classic again, 10 years after our win there last time (pictured above),” Paddon said.

“Firstly, a big thank you to Hyundai NZ for allowing us to take up this opportunity, and Tim McIver for the use of his car.

“I have some very good memories from 10 years ago, and with Kris also being present this year, I think it will be a mega battle that will only amplify the experience.

“First and foremost it’s about fun for us all, but the competitive side will for sure come out in the stages, and I think we will be egging each other on.”

The Paddon-Meeke battle is not the first between former World Rally Championship round winners to occur in classic cars at Otago.

Bjorn Waldegard and Hannu Mikkola both contested the rally, seeded cars one and two, in 2003, while Didier Auriol would also go up against future WRC rally winner, Paddon, in 2014.

Intentions to enter the Otago Rally, regardless of class, have exceeded 130, with a great number coming from overseas.

More than a dozen Australians are planning to make the trip, while other teams are hoping to come from the United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Japan, Ireland, and many others.

Paddon and the Otago Rally will release another news item in relation to the 2025 event tomorrow.

The Central Machine Hire Otago Rally is grateful to the Dunedin City Council for Premier Event funding.