New Zealand rally star, Hayden Paddon, has dominated the field on the opening day of the Drivesouth Otago Rally, winning all but one stage in his Hyundai i20 AP4.

Hayden Paddon was uncatchable on the opening day of the Otago Rally. Photo: Peter Whitten

The former World Rally Championship star beat his stage record on each of the day’s stages he won, missing a clean sweep when he picked up a puncture on the final stage around the streets of Dunedin.

Paddon also leads the opening round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, but is not registered for NZ title points this year.

His overall lead is more than three minutes ahead of the New Zealand Rally Championship leader, Dylan Turner, in an Audi AP4, with the Subaru WRX STi of Ben Hunt a further 12 seconds in arrears.

Norway’s Mads Ostberg is nearly half a minute clear of fellow Ford Escort RS1800 driver, Regan Ross, in the battle for the International Otago Classic Rally, while veteran Ray Wilson has his Audi Quattro on top in the 4WD Classic Rally.

APRC

Dropped from the Hyundai WRC team this year, Paddon has his sights set on the Asia Pacific title this year, and showed impressive form over the day’s eight stages.

He lies over six minutes clear of the Mazda 2 AP4 of Andrew Hawkeswood, with his son, Jack Hawkeswood, less than a minute further back in third place.

Dylan Turner leads the national championship field in his Audi AP4. Photo: Luke Whitten

NZRC

Dylan Turner is a surprise leader in the New Zealand Rally Championship, after long-time leader, Australian Brendan Reeves, retired two stages from home when his Ford Fiesta AP4 suffered alternator failure.

This left Turner ahead of Ben Hunt, with Phil Campbell (Ford Fiesta AP4), and Andrew and Jack Hawkeswood rounding out the top five.

High profile retirements during the day included David Holder (Holden Barina) and Emma Gilmour (Suzuki Swift), who both suffered mechanical problems.

CLASSIC

Mads Ostberg was on track for classic victory in 2018, only to suffer a host of mechanical dramas in his Rossendale Rally Team Ford Escort.

With a break in his WRC program, he’s returned to try and claim the coveted classic title, and looks well on track for victory.

Last year’s winner, Regan Ross, showed hot pace to be second, only for a 50 second time penalty to relegate him to third place.

This put Gore driver, Derek Ayson, up to second spot, with a brace of Escort RS1800s following he and Ross, with Stewart Reid, Jeff Judd, Graham Ferguson and Grant Walker all pushing hard.

The first non Escort is the Nissan Bluebird of Karl Robinson.

Deane Buist was runner up last year in his VW Golf GTi, but suffered mechanical woes and didn’t finish the opening day.

A strong day sees Mads Ostberg leading the Otago Classic Rally in an Escort RS1800. Photo: Luke Whitten

ALLCOMERS

A strong field of Allcomers competitors took to the dry and dusty stages, with Garet Thomas finishing the day as leader in a Subaru Impreza.

Scott Simpson’s VW Polo lies second, with Brynley Smith third in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.

Day two of the 2019 Drivesouth Otago Rally heads north of Dunedin for a further seven gravel stages totalling a distance of 140 kilometres, before the podium finish back at the historic Dunedin Railway Station.

Results after Day 1

Drivesouth Otago Rally

1. H. Paddon / J. Kennard, Hyundai i20 AP4, 1h13m41.9s

2. D. Turner / M. Read, Audi AP4, +3m05.5s

3. B. Hunt / T Rawstorn, Subaru Impreza WRX, +3m17.0s

4. P. Campbell / M. Peden, Ford Fiesta AP4, +4m29.7s

5. A. Hawkeswood / J. Cress, Mazda 2 AP4, +6m17.0s

6. J. Hawkeswood / A. Parkin, Mazda 2 AP4, +7m3.4s

FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship – Pacific Cup

1. H. Paddon / J. Kennard, Hyundai i20 AP4, 1h13m41.9s

2. A. Hawkeswood / J. Cress, Mazda 2 AP4, +6m17.0s

3. J. Hawkeswood / A. Parkin, Mazda 2 AP4, +7m3.4s

4. D. Holder / J. Farmer, Holden Barina AP4, +28m19.9s

Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship

1. D. Turner / M. Read, Audi AP4, 1h16m47.4s

2. B. Hunt / T Rawstorn, Subaru Impreza WRX, +11.5s

3. P. Campbell / M. Peden, Ford Fiesta AP4, +1m24.2s

4. A. Hawkeswood / J. Cress, Mazda 2 AP4, +3m11.5s

5. J. Hawkeswood / A. Parkin, Mazda 2 AP4, +3m57.9s

Winmax Brake Pads Otago International Classic Rally

1. M. Ostberg / T. Eriksen, Ford Escort RS1800, 1h20m55.8s

2. D. Ayson / N. Gibson, Ford Escort Mk2, +1m01.7s

3. R. Ross / S. Gray, Ford Escort RS1800, +1m17.5s

4. S. Reid / J. Mortimer, Ford Escort Mk2, +3m38.6s

5. J. Judd / S. Brennan, Ford Escort RS1800, +3m47.6s

6. G. Ferguson / R. Moody, Ford Escort RS1800, +3.56.3s

7. G. Walker / T. Dewhurst, Ford Escort RS1800, +4m46.9s

8. K. Robinson / T. Aimers, Nissan Bluebird Turbo, +6m10.0s

9. R. Chadwick / R. Chadwick, Toyota Corolla, +7m09.8s

10. A. Martin / M. Hayward, Mazda RX3, +7m45.1s 

Classic 4WD Rally

1. R. Wilson / D. Elder, Audi Quattro S2 Coupe, 1h26m27.7s

2. P. Collins / T. Spark, Audi Quattro Coupe, +1m37.2s

3. T. Bond / N. Wookkey, Subaru Legacy, +2m9.2s

4. M. Marshall / C. Thompson, Subaru Impreza WRX, +2m36.8s

5. Z. King / M. Thompson, Subaru WRX, 2m54.3s

Leviathan Hotel Allcomers Rally

1. G. Thomas / G. Thomas, Subaru WRX Sti, 1h21m48.9s

2. S. Simpson / M. Crook, Volkswagen Polo, +43.6s

3. B. Smith / A. Beck, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9, +54.7s

4. J. Williamson / B. Williamson, Subaru Impreza STi R4, +1m03.0s

5. E. Creugnet / P. Delrieu, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9, +2m56.8s