Paddon pips van Gisbergen for Daybreaker Rally win in Manawatū

Against the elements and presumption connected the heavy gravelled roads of Manawatū and Rangitīkei, Cromwell’s Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard won the Daybreaker Rally.

Finishing successful 2nd was Gold Coast-based Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen and co-driver Glen Weston, with Auckland’s Raana Horan and co-driver Dave Neill climbing to assertion the last podium position.

Departing Feilding astatine 5.30am connected Saturday, conscionable arsenic time started to break, the 88-car tract headed for the archetypal of 9 peculiar stages that would find the finishing order.

The lawsuit was resurrected to see being a circular of the New Zealand Rally Championship.

Leading the tract into the archetypal stage, Paddon acceptable the fastest clip successful his Hyundai i20N Rally 2 car with van Gisbergen second.

The brace maintained the aforesaid positions for the time arsenic the lawsuit travelled done sunny lukewarm and dusty sections astir Taihape and the bluish portion of the route.

By aboriginal afternoon, the forecast rainfall greeted the travelling event, dramatically changing the roadworthy conditions.

While the situation of the lawsuit overstretched the driving quality of some, mechanical issues plagued others.

Sixty made it to the decorativeness ramp, having completed the Super Stage astatine Manfeild successful Feilding successful atrocious bedewed conditions.

“It was awesome to acquisition these roads for the archetypal time,” said Paddon, who extended his pb successful the five-round title with the win.

“They are precise unsocial to the remainder of the country. Very twisty and a batch much method than I expected. It was 1 of the twistier rallies we’ve done for a portion truthful having afloat spot successful the gait notes we’ve ne'er checked was interesting, but they worked and John did an awesome job.

“It was rather absorbing successful these conditions erstwhile it is truthful loose. You person to find that equilibrium betwixt pushing and not having the car sliding excessively much. It was a rally of 2 halves with the rainfall successful the day but precise enjoyable.”

For van Gisbergen, it was a reliable tally successful his loaned Audi S1 AP4 car, redemption for an electrical contented that halted his erstwhile title rally attempt.

Running 2nd connected the roadworthy down Paddon, van Gisbergen acceptable the 2nd fastest clip connected each 9 stages.

“It was pugnacious successful the greeting learning the roads and successful the dust. Then with the rainfall successful the day it was slop successful the end. It was hard but truthful overmuch fun.

“Hayden was truly speedy astatine the commencement and managed the pb well. I felt I got amended passim the time and hopefully I don’t consciousness arsenic rusty erstwhile I adjacent get into the car successful a month’s time.

Horan’s 3rd spot decorativeness successful the Skoda Fabia R5 keeps the rally title rubric pursuit alive.

Now 14 points down Paddon’s full of 118, Horan inactive has a mathematical accidental of being champion.

Top Manawatū operator Geof Argyle and co-driver Kester Olivicorona finished eighth successful a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 7, portion the fastest two-wheel thrust rival was Rangiora’s Marcus van Klink and co-driver Toby Marsh (Mazda RX8) successful 11th overall.

Taupō’s Mason Grimmer and co-driver Leighton Spurdle won the Don Locke Memorial Trophy for spirited competition.

Grimmer’s dada Peter was 1 of the trophy contributors, celebrating the semipermanent household engagement successful the sport.

Co-event organiser Tony McConachy awarded the inaugural Starlet Cup to Upper Hutt’s Brendon Cantwell and co-driver Lee Herd successful designation for his effect arsenic a caller rival successful a Toyota Starlet.