Hayden Paddon leads the DriveSouth Rally of Otago after the opening three stages, held on Friday night near Dunedin, in New Zealand's South Island.

Paddon holds a 43.9 second lead on his first event in a Subaru on home
soil, with local favourite Emma Gilmour in second place, while reigning
NZ Champion, Dean Sumner, is third, a further six seconds in arrears.

Both Matt Jansen (Subaru) and Dylan Turner (Mitsubishi) retired on the
opening stage – Jansen with an engine failure, and Turner off the road.

In the Classic Rally of Otago, 1981 World Rally Champion, Ari Vatanen,
is in second place after winning the final stage of the night in his
Ford Escort RS1800.

Vatanen trails the Escort of Australian Stewart Reid, who has a four
second lead, while another Aussie, Jeff David, is third in his Porsche
911.

Shane Murland had led the event before crashing his Escort off the road.

The Rally of Otago continues on Saturday and Sunday, with huge crowds expect in the forests to watch Vatanen do his stuff.

View Rally of Otago results HERE

View the Day 1 photos HERE