Hayden Paddon is aiming to add another major victory to his collection this weekend when he contests the Grand Final of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
He and co-driver, John Kennard, have shipped their Hyundai New Zealand-backed i20 AP4 to Australia for the Coffs Coast Rally after another dominant season.
Paddon has already won the New Zealand Rally Championship this year, and took a convincing victory in the WRC2 category at Rally New Zealand.
Now, he’s hoping to add his name to the illustrious list of APRC winners that includes Possum Bourne, Ross Dunkerton, Carlos Sainz, Kenneth Eriksson, Cody Crocker and Alister McRae.
Disappointingly though, only six drivers will contest the final on the New South Wales coast, with Paddon the only non-Australian.
No other New Zealand drivers took up Motor Sport New Zealand’s assistance package to head to the final, meaning that Paddon’s competition will come from Australian brothers Harry and Lewis Bates in their factory Toyota GR Yaris AP4s.
The Bates’ have their own battles to fight, however, with the Australian title up for grabs in Coffs Harbour as well.
That won’t phase Paddon who has a good record on the roads that were used for Rally Australia from 2011 to 2018.
“We’ve got a lot of good history there. The last couple of times we were on the podium in the WRC and it was a rally we always enjoyed,” he said.
“While it’s a different format this year it will be equally enjoyable.
“We will be starting first on the road so will have to adapt to the conditions – as the weather can change it quickly. We’ve seen how it can turn to mud or if it’s dry, be very dusty.”
The other drivers in with a chance of winning the APRC are Richie Dalton (Toyota Yaris AP4), WRC regular Luke Anear (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Daniel Gonzalez (Skoda Fabia R5).
Bates brothers set for a family feud
Harry Bates needs to win the ARC component of the rally, win the final Power Stage and hope that his brother, Lewis, finishes lower than second.
If Lewis finishes the rally lower than second overall, Harry, the 2019 champion, will need to be at the top of the field to take his second Australian title this weekend. It won’t be easy.
The older Bates had a strong lead in the series midway through the year, but retirements due to mechanical problems on the past two rallies have put him well behind the eight ball.
Lewis won both those rallies and needs to bring his car home in Coffs Harbour in a strong position to take what would be an unexpected championship win.
“After Tassie I was hoping to have ARC wrapped up by now, but if anything I’ve learned a very good lesson, don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” Harry Bates said.
“Now, the objective is pretty basic when you’re the hunter rather than the hunted – drive flat out.”
Family harmony will need to be put aside for 14 stages this weekend when the brothers put on the gloves and battle it out like never before.
One would imagine that their father Neal – a four-time Australian champion himself – is already wishing it was Sunday afternoon!
May the best Bates win.
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