Kiwi return to world rallying

Kiwi rally star Hayden Paddon returns to global competition this year with the recent news that he and long-time co-driver John Kennard will drive a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car in selected European events of the WRC2 category of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship. WRC2 is the home for all Rally2 cars, the sport’s second tier behind the new hybrid-powered Rally1 cars. In WRC2, drivers and co-drivers nominate seven scoring rounds and their best six results count towards the world championship.

After Europe, they’ll bring the Rally2 car home to contest Rally New Zealand, running 29 September to 2 October, when our iconic roads once again feature in the WRC – the first time since 2012.

Mitre 10 Trade continues its support for Paddon this year, following a highly successful debut partnership in 2021. “Our first year working together brought some awesome experiences for our Trade customers,” says Mitre 10’s Head of Trade and Commercial, Lance Spalding. “Even with our events calendar disrupted, the partnership enabled our customers to get behind the scenes with Hayden and his team. Hayden joined us at customer events, Trade BBQ breakfasts, a major Trade store opening, and our national conference.

“It’s fair to say our Trade teams and co-op members are now fully onboard, and our entire network of Trade stores from Kerikeri to Invercargill are right behind Hayden’s 2022 campaign. He and his Paddon Rallysport crew of talented young Kiwis have gained a lot of new fans here at Mitre 10 Trade and we’re backing him all the way to the top in 2022.”

I am really excited about doing this WRC2 campaign with our own Kiwi team.

Paddon, who counts Mitre 10 Trade among his key partners, is using this year’s WRC2 rallies in the 212kW Hyundai to prepare for a full seven-event campaign next year with the aim of winning the 2023 WRC2 Championship.

Kiwi star Hayden Paddon will compete in Europe and New Zealand this year. He’ll use this Hyundai AP4 car to target his sixth New Zealand rally championship title.

In an exciting twist, the New Zealand pair are taking their Kiwi engineers and technicians with them to Europe to create a 100% New Zealand rally team.

“I’m really looking forward to rallying in Europe again!” Hayden says, having not competed outside New Zealand for more than two years, with several possibilities to return to WRC competition interrupted by Covid restrictions.

“We have been trying so hard over the past two years to get back to the WRC. It’s been tough with everything going on in the world. So together with our commercial partners, we

Hayden is rapt to have Mitre 10 Trade’s support to equip Paddon Rallysport with a massive array of brand-new power tools and equipment from Makita. “Our guys are stoked to now have the best gear to do their job,” Hayden says.

decided to take matters into our own hands, and launch a Kiwi team to take on the WRC2.

“I am really excited about doing this WRC2 campaign with our own Kiwi team. Of course, it’s going to be challenging but we have a clear target for this two-year programme, and we will be putting our best foot forward to try and achieve that.”

Hayden doesn’t underestimate the challenges ahead, not least with logistics and travel. “But we’re so proud to be taking a Kiwi team to these offshore events, along with some support in Europe and backed by an incredible line-up of New Zealand companies including Hyundai New Zealand and Mitre 10 Trade to make this unique campaign possible.”

Hayden’s 2022 competition calendar (With Hyundai Kona EV rally car dates to be added)

8-10 April Rally of Otago (NZRC, Hyundai AP4)

13-15 May International Rally of Whangārei (NZRC, Hyundai AP4)

18 June South Canterbury Rally (NZRC, Hyundai AP4)

14–17 July Rally Estonia (WRC, Hyundai i20N Rally2)

4–7 August Rally Finland (WRC, Hyundai i20N Rally2)

29 September Rally New Zealand (WRC, Hyundai i20N Rally2) – 2 October About the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car

• 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged Hyundai Motorsport engine • Power output 285bhp (212kW)

• 4-pot Brembo brakes front and rear

• Permanent 4WD and 5-speed sequential gearbox • Sachs MacPherson suspension and Speedline 15” gravel wheels • 1230kg minimum weight

Before he heads to Europe to collect the Rally2 car, Hayden gets his New Zealand Rally Championship campaign underway with Rally Otago in April and the International Rally of Whangārei in May using the Hyundai AP4 rally car. Plus, he’s got a few events to add to his schedule for the Hyundai Kona EV car.

Meanwhile, he’s just won the Ben Nevis Station Golden 1200 Hillclimb for the second time. This is an event that Hayden created with the owners of Ben Nevis Station. He helps run it, while also driving the AP4 car in all-out, high-powered, dust-flinging hillclimb mode. This year he won with a best time 4 seconds faster than his winning time in 2020! Is there anything our flying Kiwi can’t do?

Follow the action and join us for the ride on Mitre 10 Trade Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Mitre10Trade

Mitre 10 Trade customers get access to competitive Trade pricing on a full range of leading and trusted building suppliers, backed up by one of New Zealand’s largest Trade store networks and a local Trade team with years of industry knowledge. All via your Mitre 10 Trade or SmartMate account. mitre10.co.nz/trade