With a third place finish in the season finale, former Hyundai works driver Hayden Paddon once again secured the title in the European Rally Championship
Hayden Paddon is European Rally Champion for the second year in a row. A third-place finish in the season finale in Poland was enough for the former Hyundai works driver and his co-driver John Kennard to successfully defend the title in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 of the Italian BRC team.
Paddon led the Rally Silesia with a 6.8-second lead over Skoda driver Andrea Mabellini before the last day. With a 20-point lead over his closest rival in the championship, the New Zealander took it easy on the final day and concentrated on bringing the result home.
However, he had a moment of shock on the penultimate stage, when he briefly came off the road. In the end, Paddon crossed the finish line 19.8 seconds behind winner Mabellini and Jon Armstrong (Ford) in third place, celebrating a successful title defense.
Weak start, dominant victory and nail-biter
“I’m relieved, it was a season of two halves. We didn’t show the speed we wanted, but with determination and fighting spirit, the whole team made it,” says Paddon.
After a slow start to the season, with only one podium finish in the first six rallies, it did not look for a long time as though he would successfully defend his ERC title. However, a dominant victory at the Rali Ceredigion in Wales last month put him in a position to win the championship.
Cheers to our champions! FIAERC RallySilesia pic.twitter .com/Qj9CyyYnRG
— FIA European Rally Championship (@FIAERC) October 13, 2024
However, it was not clear at the time whether Paddon would have the necessary budget to take part in the season finale in Poland. The New Zealander made it and was rewarded with the title.
No clear plans for the future
“The most important thing this year was that we didn’t give up. Halfway through the season, we were all a bit discouraged, so a big pat on the back to the team and everyone involved,” said Paddon.
Looking ahead, Paddon, who has already hinted that this year could be his last in the European Rally Championship, added: “I’m going to enjoy every day and if this is our last rally in the European Championship, I want to thank all the fans here who have supported us and made us feel at home.”
“We feel like one big family and who knows what’s next, but we’ve taken this step and we’re going to enjoy it,” Paddon continued.
Victories for Fourmaux and Rovanperä
The weekend was also a success for M-Sport driver Adrien Fourmaux. The Frenchman won the Rallylegend in San Marino in a Ford Puma Rally1. Fourmaux had a lead of 1 minute 56.1 seconds over Luca Pedersoli in a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC after twelve special stages.
Former Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen came in third. The Finn shared a Citroën C3 WRC with Janne Ferm, the recently retired co-driver of Esapekka Lappi.
Reigning world rally champion Kalle Rovanpera ended his first circuit racing season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux with his third victory in the season finale at Zolder. Prior to that, the Toyota works driver had already won at Imola and at the Red Bull Ring.
