Hayden Paddon and Stephane Lefebvre head to Rome for the next FIA ERC round

i20 N Rally2 crew Hayden Paddon and John Kennard begin the second half of the FIA European Rally Championship season at Rally di Roma Capitale, holding the points’ lead for the first time this year. The Kiwi pair showed strong pace on the tarmac event last year and will be hoping to maintain momentum after the two strong runs on gravel roads in the two most recent events that have allowed them to build a ten-point lead at the top of the standings.

For the event, which starts with a Super Special Stage in central Rome, Paddon and Kennard will be joined by fellow Hyundai Motorsport customer crew Stephane Lefebvre and Anthony Hamard in a BMA-run entry. Lefebvre has already proven his credentials on tarmac, winning Rally Ypres in the Belgian championship on his debut with the i20 N Rally2. The Frenchman is a likely challenger this weekend to both the ERC regulars and the national crews contesting the event, including the Friulmotor Rally Team entered pair of Liberato Sulpizio and Alessio Angeli.