Paddon back in the ERC title hunt
New Zealand rally legend Hayden Paddon secured his first FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) podium of the season at the Royal Rally of Scandinavia to get back into the title hunt for 2024.
Alongside co-driver John Kennard the defending ERC champions finished the Round 3 event in third place, gaining enough points to climb into equal first on the table.
Having placed their BRC Racing Hyundai i20 Rally2 in fourth and sixth for the opening Hungary and Canary Island rounds, they were deep in the fight in Sweden against eventual winner and WRC2 regular Oliver Solberg, before a final stage puncture dropped them into third.
“Obviously it’s good to be back on the podium, but it’s a missed opportunity to not get bonus points on the power stage,” Paddon lamented.
“Nevertheless, we’re pleased to be back in the lead of the championship, first equal with Mathieu Franceschi.
“It feels like a pretty challenging start to the year, but we’ve certainly got plenty of good things to build on when we head to the next ERC round in Estonia in July.”
Paddon and Kennard secure third place and the joint ERC lead in Sweden. Image: HMSG media
The #1 i20 Rally2 started out the gravel rally in ominous form, topping the opening Super Special Stage from Solberg’s privateer Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 entry.
The proceeding eight stages on the Friday saw quick 140 km/h + conditions, where they finished the day in second place despite the lively roads not suiting the grip affordable to the #1 Hyundai. Despite the fact, they remained only +3.3 seconds from the leading Skoda.
The remaining eight stages saw the pair zero on securing second as well as the bonus points available in the final stage, but yet another puncture at the death saw them lose out on the points, but they at least enter the next round in Estonia having broken their podium duck for the season.
“While it could have been better, it also could have been worse and there are still plenty of positives from the weekend and some progress with the car,” Paddon added.
“Now, I head home to contest the Southern Lights Rally in Invercargill on 22 June.”
After the NZ pair made history to become the first non-europeans to claim the coveted title in 2023, there was initial talk that they wouldn’t be back to defend their crown in 2024, and would instead focus on rally’s in the Southern Hemisphere.
But when the NZ Rally Championship record holders secured further funding through BRC Racing, Hyundai Motorsport, Hyundai New Zealand, and Pirelli, the push was back on, and with five rounds now remaining, they’re back in the hunt.
Next up in the ERC for the Kiwi chargers is Rally Estonia on July 5-7 on the fast paced gravel around Tartu.
2024 ERC Driver’s Championship after round 3 in Sweden
1= Mathieu Franceschi (FRA) 56
1= Hayden Paddon (NZL) 56
3 Simone Tempestini (ROU) 40
4 Oliver Solberg (SWE) 35
5 Yoann Bonato (FRA) 32
Paddon’s 2024 ERC event calendar
12-14 April – Rally Hungary (gravel)
2-4 May – Rally Islas Canarias (asphalt)
13-15 June – Royal Rally of Scandinavia, Sweden (gravel)
5-7 July – Rally Estonia (gravel)
26-28 July – Rally di Roma Capitale, Italy (asphalt)
16-18 August – Barum Czech Rally Zlín (asphalt)
30 August – 1 September – Rali Ceredigion, United Kingdom (asphalt)
11-13 October – Rally Silesia, Poland (asphalt)
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