Paddon wows Ashley Forest fans with WRC car win

New Zealand rally star Hayden Paddon delighted motorsport fans attending the Ashley Forest Rallysprint north of Christchurch over the weekend of 21 and 22 September by unveiling his “mystery” car in which he went on to win the event after a close battle with Rotorua’s Sloan Cox.

Paddon’s “mystery” car was the Hyundai i20 WRC car in which he won the Argentinian round of the FIA World Rally Championship in 2016.

Having revealed the WRC Hyundai at Gary Cockram Hyundai in Christchurch on Thursday night, Paddon headed out for his seventh attempt at the 1.7 km Ashley Forest hillclimb, running both the WRC Hyundai and the Hyundai Kona EV rally car during Saturday’s practice sessions.

Regrettably technical issues sidelined the Kona EV, so the focus went onto the iconic WRC event-winning Hyundai for Sunday’s run-off. Setting a time of 55.31 seconds in the top 32 run-off, Paddon then set a time of 55.32 seconds in the top 16.

When it came down to the top two, Paddon smashed out a time of 53.88 seconds, just 0.11 of a second faster than Cox, but not quite enough to beat his own Ashley Forest event record of exactly 52 seconds set in his Hyundai AP4++ car last year.

Paddon says it was a great weekend. “The biggest thing has been to drive this car and let people enjoy seeing it in action in New Zealand. Obviously we, as a team, enjoyed it as well. For me personally, it’s pretty special to drive this car again and at one of our favourite events.

“It went down to the wire with Sloan with super close times. He was driving really well and I had to push a little more than I would have liked to with this special car. So overall, a very cool result to win in this car, it’s cool for the team and adds the car’s history in a fun way.”

Run on Mt Gray Road near Rangiora by the Ratec Motorsport club, the Ashley Forest Rallysprint has an impressive history dating back to 1979 with previous winners including Paddon’s idol Possum Bourne. Paddon is the only driver to have won the event five times.

Paddon Racing Group appreciates the support of Hyundai New Zealand, Mitre 10 Trade, Z Energy, Valvoline, Makita, Bars Bugs, Pirelli, OMP/Racer Products, Winmax Brake Pads, South Canterbury Road Safety, TrailLite, Repco NZ, Stedi, Highlands Motorsport Park, MITO, Machinery House, Design Windows, Bartercard, Mike Greer Homes, Provident Insurance, King Gee Clothing and Signbiz.

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