Kiwi rally driver Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard delivered a considered and determined performance to win the opening round of the 2023 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) in Portugal on 12 March (European time).  

In wet, muddy and challenging conditions, the Kiwis say they weren’t expecting the win but are very happy.  

In their first ERC event with Italian team BRC, personnel from Paddon’s Hyundai New Zealand Rally team worked alongside BRC to prepare and run the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car.  

The first action for ERC Rally Serras de Fafe e Felgueiras was a qualifying stage on Friday afternoon where Paddon and Kennard were eighth fastest, just outside the top runners who were able to select their road position for Saturday’s schedule. Paddon described the conditions as being muddy and tricky and the competition intense with less than two seconds covering the top nine.  

The rally officially got underway on Friday evening with a slippery, cobblestoned super special stage in the city of Fafe with Paddon saying he took no risks to set a fourth fastest time in their i20 N.  

Running eighth on the road, Paddon went into Saturday’s eight stages with a plan and pace he aimed to stick to. Only five of the stages were run with organisers cancelling SS5, 8 and 9 due to fog and deteriorating conditions, and SS7 was cut short after one competitor crashed.  

Consistency was Paddon’s watchword with a set of top three stage times, except in SS4 when heavy rain made the challenging conditions even more difficult. Nonetheless, he was happy with the car and to finish the day in third place overall, 17 seconds off the leader Finnish driver Mikko Heikkilä with Norwegian Mads Ostberg in second.  

The top 20 were reversed for Sunday’s running order, meaning Paddon ran 14th on the road. In drier conditions, ruts and stones – with a touch of fog – became the day’s challenges with nearly 85km to complete. With some changes made to the car during the evening service, he was happy to take the stage win on Sunday’s opening SS10. The improved feeling in the car helped Paddon stick with his plan and he whittled down the margin to the two competitors in front of him on the standings, finishing Sunday morning’s four stages with just 4.6 seconds between himself, Ostberg second and Heikkilä in first place.  

Paddon started Sunday afternoon with a relatively conservative, and still second-fastest run through SS14 saying it paid to be cautious with the rocks and potential for punctures. He pushed a bit harder in SS15 for another second-fastest time, taking second place in the overall standings from Ostberg and reducing the margin to Heikkilä down to three seconds. All the top runners pushed hard in SS16 where Paddon was two tenths of a second quicker than Heikkilä, moving into second place, just 2.8 seconds off the lead.

It was all on for the final 14.90km of competition on SS17 and the power stage. While that stage was won by Irishman Craig Breen who’d had an up-and-down weekend, all eyes were on Paddon and Heikkilä. Paddon delivered a competitive time of 9m, 23.7s for the stage. Meanwhile Heikkilä punctured a tyre and dropped out of contention to give Paddon the win. He said: “Sorry for Heikkilä, we wanted to try and overcome those 2.8 seconds fair and square. But we're happy, very happy.”  

Paddon becomes the first Hyundai driver and first New Zealander to win a round of the ERC.  

He says it was a really good weekend. “Certainly much more than we expected. Given the level of competition that was here this weekend, even a top five finish would initially have been a good goal but everything gelled really well with the team and the car.  

“We were a little bit on the back foot at the start with not such a great qualifying result so that compromised our road position for day one, making it more about damage limitation.  

“But today (Sunday), together with some changes for the car, everything felt really good. We were driving within ourselves throughout the rally so to come away with the win – and a final stage battle – was certainly very pleasing.”  

This is the best possible start to Paddon’s first-ever European championship bid and he says there’s still more to come.

“More improvements to the car are possible and we can improve our driving so it all bodes well for the rest of the season.”  

On his first event with Italian team BRC, Paddon says everything went well. “The team did a really good job and we enjoyed working together. Conditions were super tricky yesterday and a lot more settled today. Overall, much nicer driving conditions, more consistent grip and road surface, although still some rough sections which you expect here. It’s good to finally come through with a result in Portugal. We’ve often had good speed here in the past, but never been able to put together a result until now.”  

Paddon and Hyundai New Zealand Rally appreciate the support of Hyundai New Zealand, Mitre 10 Trade, Z Energy, Makita, Open Country, Bars Bugs, Pirelli, OMP/Racer Products, Winmax Brake Pads, South Canterbury Road Safety, Ben Nevis Station, Bailey Caravans, Repco NZ, Highlands Motorsport Park, MITO, ETCO, Jacanna Freight, Pak N’ Save, Machinery House, Bartercard, Mike Greer Homes, Provident Insurance, Zealandia Systems, Carters Tyres and Signbiz.  

Kiwi rally driver Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard are ready for the opening round of the 2023 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) when it gets underway on Friday evening in Fafe in northern Portugal.  

The rally, ERC Rally Serras de Fafe e Felgueiras, runs 10 to 12 March with 17 special stages totalling 180.29km on mainly gravel roads with some asphalt sections.  

They are working with Italian team BRC to contest seven of the eight ERC rallies, with personnel from Paddon’s Hyundai New Zealand Rally team working alongside BRC to prepare and run the car.  

The pair had their first drive of a new-to-them Hyundai i20 N Rally 2 car on Wednesday in conditions Paddon describes as wet and muddy.  

“While there wasn’t much we could conclude from the very wet and muddy conditions for our test, the car feels like our New Zealand one and it’s been great to get to know everyone from BRC,” Paddon said.  

“We’re expecting similar conditions for the rally so it may be more of a matter of survival to get to the finish.”  

On Thursday, European time, they get to see the stages during reconnaissance. This continues Friday morning before the qualifying stage for FIA and ERC1 priority drivers. Qualifying results determine the order in which drivers can choose their road position for Saturday’s start list.  

The rally officially begins on Friday evening with a 1.43km super special stage in central Fafe. Saturday’s eight stages get underway about 8am and finish around 6.30pm with two runs over a loop of four stages. Sunday’s schedule also has two runs over a set of four stages, including the 14.9km Lameirinha stage with its iconic Pedra Sentada jump, which has been part of European rallying folklore for decades.  

Paddon is seeded number two on the entry list, behind Spaniard Efrén Llarena who won the 2022 FIA ERC title and was runner-up to Andreas Mikkelsen in 2021. Number three on the Fafe entry list is WRC driver Craig Breen, also running in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car similar to Paddon’s.  

Paddon and Hyundai New Zealand Rally appreciate the support of Hyundai New Zealand, Mitre 10 Trade, Z Energy, Makita, Open Country, Bars Bugs, Pirelli, OMP/Racer Products, Winmax Brake Pads, South Canterbury Road Safety, Ben Nevis Station, Bailey Caravans, Repco NZ, Highlands Motorsport Park, MITO, ETCO, Jacanna Freight, Pak N’ Save, Machinery House, Bartercard, Mike Greer Homes, Provident Insurance, Zealandia Systems, Carters Tyres and Signbiz.

The severe weather that has battered much of New Zealand over the past three weeks has forced the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship to make some changes to the 2023 calendar.

Due to recent weather events and uncertainty of access to the areas, organisers have advised the championship that it is not appropriate to run events in either Hawke’s Bay or Coromandel this year.

Organisers will now look to instate replacement events to ensure a six-round calendar remains with as little disruption as possible.

“Our hearts go out to the thousands of people impacted by the serious weather we have endured in recent times,” said championship coordinator Blair Bartels.

“There are a lot of people who have been devastated by these tragic events and a little disruption to our calendar pales into insignificance compared to what many are going through.

“We have been following the news closely and have been in touch with personnel on the ground in both regions to assess the situation.

“The rally organisers at both Hawke’s Bay and Coromandel have informed us that there is no certainty the regions will be accessible or the roads available to run events there this year and we completely understand.

“I want to thank them for their communication and we certainly hope to be able to bring the championship back to both locations in the near future.”

Bartels said there is already work well underway at finding alternative events to join Otago, Whangarei, South Canterbury and Bay of Plenty on the six-round 2023 calendar. It is hoped that confirmation around those events and the dates on which they will run will be made in the coming weeks.

“We will certainly try to keep the calendar as close to what had been planned as possible regarding dates but we do intend to run a full championship this season.”

“We are devastated for those regions and the people affected by the cyclone,” said MotorSport New Zealand CEO Elton Goonan.

“Whilst it’s a shame these events aren’t able to go ahead as planned in 2023, we know everyone will be working on their return to the calendar in future years and contributing to the economic recovery of those areas.”    

Kiwi rally star Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard are taking on a new challenge for 2023 with their entry into 2023 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally 2 car.  

The ERC season gets underway in Fafe, Portugal on 11 March and promises highly popular rallies and massive competition for Paddon and Kennard as the pair start their 18th season of competition together. They’ll contest seven of the eight ERC rounds, visiting Portugal, Poland, Latvia, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic and Hungary, while missing the Canary Island event in early May. This year’s ERC campaign marks Paddon’s first full championship season in Europe since 2017.  

The ERC was first run in 1953 and, during its 70-year history, the championship title has never been won by a non-European. Previous champions include Walter Rohl, Miki Biasion, Piero Liatti and Andreas Mikkelsen, so Paddon appreciates the intensity of the competition he’ll face.  

Paddon has also confirmed a new partnership with the BRC Racing Team, based in Cherasco in northern Italy and has wide ranging motorsport experience across Europe. Paddon’s close-knit team at Hyundai New Zealand Rally and PRG will work closely with BRC towards the ultimate goal of securing the ERC title.  

Paddon’s 2023 season will be complemented with a full New Zealand campaign and an expanded programme with the Hyundai Kona EV rally car to cover about 20 events in 40 weeks.

Speaking of his ERC plans, Paddon says: “Following the European events we contested in a Hyundai Rally2 car last year, there was plenty to consider about the events and budgets. This year we have made the decision to focus on ERC for a couple of key reasons.  

“Firstly, the budget is more achievable while still competing in a top FIA championship. Secondly, from a personal perspective, fighting for rally wins rather than class wins is more appealing. I’m at a different point of my career now, and ERC looks like an enjoyable campaign to keep Hyundai NZ Rally and PRG in Europe while competing with a serious chance of winning rallies.  

“Also, when considering the logistics of competing on the other side of the world, we see the value of developing a close relationship with a highly-regarded European team like BRC Racing Team, while still using some of our own personnel too.”  

BRC Racing Team is the racing department of BRC Gas Equipment, a brand property of Westport Fuel Systems Italia.  

Speaking about Paddon’s ERC campaign, Gabriele Rizzo, BRC Racing Team Principal, says: “We are honoured to start this project with Hayden and all his partners and sponsors, including Hyundai New Zealand.  

“It’s a unique opportunity to expand our connections within the Hyundai world and return to the challenge of contesting the FIA ERC as part of our wider motorsport activities.

“Our team are looking forward to the first rally in Fafe. We will face the season with our usual professionalism and attention to detail, with the aim of showing solid results at each rally."   

Paddon’s commitment to Hyundai remains as strong as ever. Alongside an ERC campaign in a Hyundai Rally2 car, he’ll be competing in several New Zealand Rally Championship events, contesting a couple of hillclimbs and doing demos in his Hyundai i20 AP4+ car, as well as the ongoing development, demos and hillclimb competition with the Hyundai Kona EV car.  

“We are proud to continue representing Hyundai New Zealand,” Paddon says. “Everyone at Hyundai NZ Rally gained a lot of knowledge last year, with both the Rally 2 car and competing internationally. This year is about building on that knowledge while aiming for a European title, up against some very strong competition from the local European drivers and teams and manufacturer supported teams.”    

Hyundai New Zealand CEO Andy Sinclair says: “We're excited to support Hayden Paddon as he competes in the 2023 FIA European Rally Championship with the assistance of the BRC Racing Team. It's a fantastic opportunity for him and John to fight for rally wins on the world stage and build on last year’s success. We look forward to the year ahead with Hayden and his team as we work towards securing the ERC title on top of our domestic programme.”

Following the Portuguese ERC event, Paddon flies home to contest the MotorSport NZ Gold Star Hillclimb Championship near Lawrence, Otago in the Hyundai AP4+ over the weekend of 18 and 19 March. The Winmax Brakes-backed event in a one-off, winner-takes-all two-day hillclimb being run by the South Otago Car Club.  

And the following weekend, Paddon and the Hyundai Kona EV car take part in the Adelaide Motorsport Festival, running 25 and 26 March as part of a showcase of the latest electric and hybrid vehicles, electric race and rally cars, electric bicycles, scooters and motorbikes, and solar and battery technology from around the world.  

Paddon and Hyundai New Zealand Rally appreciate the support of Hyundai New Zealand, Mitre 10 Trade, Z Energy, Makita, Open Country, Bars Bugs, Pirelli, OMP/Racer Products, Winmax Brake Pads, South Canterbury Road Safety, Ben Nevis Station, Bailey Caravans, Repco NZ, Highlands Motorsport Park, MITO, ETCO, Jacanna Freight, Pak N’ Save, Machinery House, Bartercard, Mike Greer Homes, Provident Insurance, Zealandia Systems, Carters Tyres and Signbiz.

Paddon’s 2023 ERC event calendar

11-12 March – Rally Serras de Fafe, Portugal

20-21 May – Rally Poland

17-18 June – Rally Liepāja, Latvia

7-9 July – Royal Rally of Scandinavia, Sweden

29-30 July – Rally di Roma Capitale, Italy

19-20 August – Barum Czech Rally Zlín, Czech Republic  

7-8 October – IV. Rally Hungary, Hungary         

It is with sadness Rally New Zealand acknowledges the death of motorsport icon Ken Block, aged 55 in a snowmobile accident.  

Block’s relationship with Rallying in New Zealand was a special one, his first foray into rallying outside of North America saw he and Alex Gelsomino contest four rounds of the 2007 New Zealand Rally Championship.  

He would continue to return, in total contesting Rally New Zealand and International Rally of Whangarei three times each, as well as two attempts at the Otago Rally up to his most recent visit in 2019. Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts prevented his return to Repco Rally New Zealand for 2022.  

Block would consistently refer to New Zealand’s heavily cambered gravel roads as the best in the world to his millions of fans through social media across the globe.  

Rally New Zealand chairman Paul Mallard recalls many fond memories of working with Block and his team, and his infectious enthusiasm for competing in New Zealand.  

“To hear of Ken’s passing has come as a real shock. Ken was someone who has done so much for the sport we love globally, but also someone who has done plenty to enhance the reputation of rallying in New Zealand,” Mallard said.

“He was also someone who was a genuine pleasure to have compete in our events, a truly likeable personality with an infectious enthusiasm for life as well as rallying and someone the world is certainly poorer without.  

“The whole team at Rally New Zealand offer their sincere condolences to the Block family and team at this horrible time, sentiments I’m sure are echoed right throughout the New Zealand Rallying Community.”