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FIA ERC leader wins every stage of New Zealand national event
Hayden Paddon dominated the Daybreaker Rally (September 13-14) in his native New Zealand, taking victory by over six minutes in hi i20 N Rally2. Paddon, who currently leads the FIA European Rally Championship standings, shared the car with Jared Hudson for the event for their third start of the 2024 national season together.
From the very start the pair were unstoppable. They were three seconds faster on the 1.44km Super Special stage that kicked off the event on Friday evening and their lead had expanded to over a minute by the end of the first two-stage loop on Saturday. Even when firmly established in the lead they show no sign of relenting as they won all eight stages run – two were cancelled, including a second run on the Super Special that was to have been the finale.
Despite the loss of the stage kilometre, Paddon and Hudson took full advantage of the strength and reliability of the i20 N Rally2. This was clear on the rally’s three longer stages – over 30km each – where the time they gained over their nearest challengers accounted from nearly half of their total winning margin.
