Paddon all set for WRC Rally Germany

Hayden Paddon RallySport Global Ltd
Media statement
22 August 2013

Paddon all set for WRC Rally Germany

Everything’s gone to plan for New Zealand’s top rally driver Hayden Paddon and John Kennard during the build-up to this weekend’s ADAC Rallye Deutschland where they’re competing in the WRC2 championship category.

Having finished on the WRC2 podium in Finland earlier in August, Paddon and Kennard aim to repeat – or better – this result in Germany where the 22 to 26 August FIA World Rally Championship event runs in the southwest of Germany around the town of Trier.

Competing in a Baumschlager Rallye & Racing (BRR) prepared S2000-spec Skoda Fabia, Paddon knows he faces intense competition on the German event’s asphalt roads especially from competitors such as former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica in a Citroën DS3 RRC and Elfyn Evans in one of the new Ford Fiesta R5 cars. WRC2 category winner in Finland Jari Ketomaa is not contesting the German event.

Paddon reports: “Our recce over the past few days has gone well and we have a good set of pace notes. There is quite a variation of roads here, from the tight technical vineyard roads to the army/country roads with changing road surfaces. But it is also an enjoyable rally that I’m looking forward to.

“This afternoon [Wednesday, European time] we completed shakedown, and after two runs through the stage we were happy with the package we have. We tried some different set-ups to prepare for different conditions we may encounter in the rally. The car is feeling great and the team have been doing a great job!”

The rally starts on Thursday afternoon with a ceremonial start in Cologne before heading towards the event’s home base in Trier via two brand-new special stages on Thursday evening. The first stage starts at 5.53pm local time (3.53am NZ time).

Paddon says: “These opening stages are quite similar to the stages we did in Ypres, with long straights and many junctions, so this should suit us.”

With six stages on Friday, another six on Saturday and four on Sunday, the German event is one of several WRC events this year utilising a four-day format. Paddon and Kennard have 371.92 competitive kilometres ahead of them on windy, narrow vineyard roads and a mix of country roads including the famed Arena Panzerplatte in the Baumholder military reserve.

Fans can follow live stage times throughout the rally at www.wrc.com or join more than 70,000 Facebook fans with Paddon’s personal updates, videos and audio blogs on www.facebook.com/haydenpaddonwrc or Twitter (@haydenpaddon).

After the German round of the World Rally Championship, Paddon and Kennard head down-under for September’s running of Rally Australia. The team is running a fan tour to the event, with more information available on the website, www.haydenpaddon.com.

Paddon and the Stadium Cars New Zealand World Rally Team appreciate the support of VINZ, Giltrap Group, PlaceMakers, Z Energy, Stadium Cars, Telecom New Zealand, CP-Carrillo, Saddle Hill Quarries, Heartland Potato Chips, New Balance, Scott Sports, Total Automotive Timaru, Coxy’s Panel Repairs, Resene, All About Signs, Reaction Racing, In-Tune Automotive, Racetech, Chicane, Endless Brakes, Nichibo, Choice at Team Ralliart, Andar The Front Store, MCA Suspension, Tyre General, Dunlop, Pope Print, Bluebridge Ferry, ION, and 1Group.

ENDS/

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