Motorsport: Ogier wins, Paddon superb

Frenchman Sebastien Ogier has defended his Rally of Portugal crown after holding off the challenge of reigning world champion and compatriot Sebastien Loeb.

Citroen driver Ogier finished 31.8 seconds ahead of teammate Loeb.

Meanwhile Kiwi Hayden Paddon has made a commanding start to the production class world rally championship season.

Paddon cruised through the final stages today to claim victory in the production car category of Rally Portugal, his first event of the season.

Paddon and co-driver John Kennard held a comfortable advantage of six minutes and 35 seconds over their nearest competitor, Mexican Benito Guerra, after two days of competition and extended the margin on the third and final day, finishing 7:39.90 ahead of Finland's Jukka Ketomäki with Martin Semerád, of the Czech Republic, third and Guerra dropping to fourth.

Paddon set up the victory on the first two days, winning five of six stages on the first day and ending the second day with three wins and three second placings.

"It's a really good start and better that we expected considering that it is our first time in the Subaru," the 23-year-old from Geraldine said.

"We know that the season just started and there's a lot more to come but we'll keep working hard and do always our best."

The New Zealand pair were competing in their new Subaru Impreza WRX STI in the first of their 2011 production world rally championship (PWRC) events.

Semerád, who won the season-opening Swedish rally, leads the overall standings on 40 points, with Paddon second following his 25-point haul for winning in Portugal.

Paddon will contest the final five PWRC rounds, taking the two-time New Zealand rally champion to Argentina, Finland, Australia, Spain and Great Britain for his 2011 title bid.

- NZPA/NEWSTALK ZB