Motorsport: Paddon makes strides with third in Finnish rally

Hayden Paddon. Photo / Northern Advocate

New Zealand rally driver Hayden Paddon has roared into contention in the production class of the world rally championship after scoring a third placing in the Rally of Finland at the weekend.

Geraldine driver Paddon is now third in the PWRC standings on 40 points after completing two of his compulsory six events in the championship.

Portugal's Armindo Araujo leads the standings on 58 points from three of his scoring rounds, followed by Sweden's Patrik Flodin on 50 points.

Under PWRC rules, drivers nominate their six counting rounds from nine events which must include at least two outside Europe.

The final four rounds in Germany, Japan, France and Britain are where Paddon hopes to makes his charge for the PWRC title.

Mitsubishi driver Paddon was rapt to have achieved his goal of finishing on the podium in the PWRC and in the process take 21st overall in his debut in Finland.

"We have finished what has been a good event for us here in Finland - safely negotiating today's eight special stages without any major drama," Paddon wrote on his website blog yesterday.

The disappointment was not having the speed to match the local drivers "but I feel we have learnt a lot and really hope that we get the chance to compete here again next year, as we now have unfinished business".

- NZPA