Two-time New Zealand rally champion Hayden Paddon has confirmed he is driving for a new team in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, which starts in Otago on 8 April.
 
The Geraldine-based 23-year-old is also competing in the Production World Rally Championship with his first round taking place in Portugal this weekend (24 to 27 March).
 

Paddon’s entry in the New Zealand series is an important part of his
preparation for the world series and the opportunity is thanks to
Palmerston North businessman and former rally scholarship champion
Robbie Leicester who initiated the formation of a new team to run Paddon
in New Zealand’s premier rally competition.
 
“I’d love to win the New Zealand championship again,” says Paddon, who
switched to a Group N Subaru for his PWRC campaign and, courtesy of
Leicester, can now compete inanother Subaru in the New Zealand series.
Leicester has purchased a Possum Bourne Motorsport-built
N15-specification Subaru Impreza WRX STI for Paddon to use.
 
“With the switch to Subaru for our 2011 PWRC campaign and the new
commercial partnerships we have, it’s fantastic to have the opportunity
to challenge for the New Zealand title and get more seat time in another
competitive Subaru,” says Paddon.
 
“The standard of competition we have here in New Zealand is one reason
my co-driver John Kennard and I have been so competitive on the world
stage [Paddon came third in his debut PWRC season in 2010]. So competing
in our local rally championship offers further opportunities for
improving our own performance.”
 
Paddon’s NZRC entry covers just two rounds at this stage.
 
“We haven’t the financial commitment to attend all rounds at this point,
but we’re working with new business partners to try extending our
involvement beyond April’s DriveSouth Rally Otago and July’s
International Rally of Whangarei events which puts us in with a serious
chance of winning the NZRC title for a third time.
 
“Our NZRC competition also means a chance to involve the shareholders in
Hayden Paddon Rallysport Global Limited, the company we set up last
year to help underpin my longer term rallying career. The Otago and
Whangarei events provide our shareholders, their friends and family an
opportunity to see us in action and see what we’re doing as a team.”
 
Leicester says the decision to purchase the Subaru from Possum Bourne
Motorsport was originally part of a plan for him to return to the sport.
The car was originally destined for competition in last year’s PWRC to
be driven by four-time Asia Pacific rally champion Australian Cody
Crocker.
 
“Obviously that campaign for Crocker never happened and the car’s been
parked, ready to go, ever since the start of 2010,” says Leicester. “So
we’ve got a car that is as good as they come.”
 
“Then a chance conversation with Hayden and his father Chris turned my attention to a new opportunity that benefits us all.
 
“Hayden’s major competitors in the PWRC are competing in different
continents every other weekend. Therefore Hayden also needs to be doing
that as much as he can, subject to funding. It all boils down to time in
the driver’s seat to help him get to his next goal of winning the PWRC
title. And for me, I’ve got a car that becomes a hotter commodity if
Hayden does well,” says Leicester.
 
“At present our biggest barrier is finding sufficient funding for the
team to contest more of the championship – and make the most of
opportunities for more seat time in a Subaru for Hayden. We’re all
looking for the partners who can work with us and enjoy the chance to
build their brand awareness through involvement with a star like Hayden
Paddon.”
 
Peter (‘PJ’) Johnston, chairman of Rally New Zealand, the organisation
which now runs the New Zealand Rally Championship, says it’s significant
for the championship to have Paddon’s involvement.
 
“With Hayden’s success in the 2010 FIA Production World Rally
Championship, his driving performance has clearly taken another step
up,” says Johnston. “So to have Hayden competing in the New Zealand
Rally Championship – albeit just two rounds at this stage – benefits
both Hayden for more seat time and other competitors with a real
incentive to match their pace against Hayden’s.
 
“It’s also significant to see Robbie Leicester’s involvement in helping
put together this opportunity for Hayden and we welcome this kind of
investment and commitment to New Zealand’s premier rally championship.”
 
The 2011 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, in
association with Neil Allport Motorsports, covers five rounds over five
months starting with DriveSouth Rally of Otago from 8 to 10 April. The
championship continues with Rally New Zealand based at Hampton Downs
from 6 to 8 May, Rally Wairarapa on 28 to 29 May, the International
Rally of Whangarei from 15 to 17 July and Rally Hawke’s Bay from 20 to
21 August.
 
A new-look NZRC website is now live – www.nzrallychampionship.co.nz –
and fans can also find out more information about any of the events on
the New Zealand Rally Championship Facebook page.

2011 New Zealand Rally Championship Calendar
Round 1 – DriveSouth Rally of Otago – 8 to 10 April
Round 2 – Rally New Zealand ‘High Octane at Hampton’ – 6 to 8 May
Round 3 – Rally Wairarapa – 28 to 29 May
Round 4 – International Rally of Whangarei – 15 to 17 July
Round 5 – Rally Hawke’s Bay – 20 to 21 August

Source: NZRC, Photo: Euan Cameron