Motorsport: Paddon takes solid lead

Geraldine driver Hayden Paddon on the track. Photo / NZPA

Geraldine driver Hayden Paddon has taken a solid lead after the first day of the international motor rally of Whangarei.

Paddon holds a one minute, ten second advantage over India's Gaurav Gill going into tomorrow's second and final day.

Hamilton-based Emma Gilmour is in third in the event which doubles as a round of both the Asia Pacific and New Zealand rally championships.

Current Asia Pacific championship leader Katsu Taguchi, from Japan, was hindered by engine problems with his car and is 23rd.

Paddon dominated the day by winning six of the day's eight stages.

Paddon said he wanted to go hard from the outset, but the 23-year-old two-time New Zealand champion almost went too hard during the event's opening and longest stage, Mititai, southwest of Whangarei.

"We had a bit of a moment about halfway through and pretty much had all four wheels down a bank."

Competitors will negotiate another eight stages tomrrow.

- NZPA