Motorsport: Paddon on course for his third Whangarei title

Hayden Paddon during day one of the Rally of Whangarei. Photo / Alan McDonald

New Zealand rally driver and international Pirelli Star Driver contestant Hayden Paddon yet again proved the International Rally of Whangarei is a happy hunting ground.

After day one of the rally, round three of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), he's firmly on course to win the event outright for a third time and it's his to lose over today's eight stages.

He has a handy 1m 10s lead over Indian APRC driver Gaurav Gill.

"We kept a clean nose and found a bit more speed in the afternoon," said Paddon. "Once the tyres got heat into them, we got quicker and it's been a reasonably good day and fun in the car."

By the first service break yesterday afternoon Paddon was a comfortable 33.8s ahead of Gill and more than a minute up on Aussie Brendan Reeve.

"We set out with a really aggressive tyre set-up [soft compound]. The car's working really well but there's still room for improvement," said Paddon.

APRC drivers Chris Atkinson and fellow Proton driver Alister McRae have been beset by mechanical gremlins all season. It was no different in Atkinson's case this time out when the alternator belt let go, sidelining the Australian for the day.

"It's unfortunate as the car was showing great speed," said Atkinson. "We were second fastest on the longer stages and ahead of all the other APRC teams. We're looking to salvage some bonus points on day two."

Paddon continued his march towards winning day one of the rally in the afternoon, topping the times in all bar two stages.

Winner of the previous two APRC rounds, Japanese driver Katsuhiko Taguchi, slipped down the leader board due to a misfiring engine and finished the day well down the field. Emma Gilmour continued her good form this season by ending the day tucked in behind Gill in third.

New Zealand Rally Championship series leader Dean Sumner got off to a rocky start, smacking into a bank, and had to settle for ninth.

Day two of the rally launches into action at 8.13 this morning for stage nine, Batley near Maungaturoto.