Hayden Paddon has romped to a dominant win at the Daybreaker Rally while Ben Hunt has taken control of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship lead.
In wet and challenging conditions, Paddon showcased his world class ability to power his Hyundai New Zealand Rally 2 car to a six-minute win over Hunt and set up what now looks to be a two-horse race for the 2024 title.
Hunt will take an 18-point advantage over Paddon to the fifth-round next month.
Youngster Zeal Jones produced a superb drive to secure his maiden NZRC 4WD podium in third place in his Smith & Sons Skoda Fabia R5.
It was a nightmare event for the man who led the championship coming into the second half of the season – Robbie Stokes – who suffered mechanical problems throughout the day that saw retire his Stokes Motorsport Ford Fiesta AP4.
Australian Brendan Reeves finished fourth in the Hyundai New Zealand i20 AP4 while Emma Gilmour completed the top five in her Vantage New Zealand Citroen C3 and Haydn Mackenzie was sixth in his Toyota Yaris.
Dylan Thomson continued his stranglehold on the NZRC 2WD class, as he overcame an overnight deficit to win his class by two and a half minutes.
Bryn Jones (Ford Fiesta) held off a fast-charging Jack Stokes (Ford Fiesta) for second place while Tim Mackersy’s debut in his new Ford Fiesta Rally 4 earned him fourth place in the class.
Dave Strong took full advantage of Open 2WD championship leader Willy Hawes’ (Toyota 86) mechanical issues to claim maximum points in his Honda Jazz. Hawes was able to limp to the finish line to collect some valuable points.
Paul Fraser powered his Ford Escort to another full complement of points in the Historic 2WD class, while Mike Cameron (Mitsubishi Lancer) was second to stay in the title fight.
Andrew Graves proved his class in the Rally Challenge 4WD class as he made a successful first venture onto North Island roads.
Graves won the class in his Mitsubishi EVO 3.
James Macdonald (Subaru Impreza) took an impressive second place while Jay Pittams earned a solid third place finish in his Subarua Impreza.
Title contender Caleb MacDonald dropped time later in the day and then couldn’t get his Mitsubishi EVO 6 back to the finish in a costly problem.
Pat Norris has thrust himself into Rally Challenge 2WD class championship contention with a first place in his Toyota Yaris.
Defending champ and current class leader Jarrod Parker was forced out due to a gearbox issue in his Toyota Corolla.
The championship has a three-week break before heading further north to the Bay of Plenty next month.
2024 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship – points (Top 10)
1/ Ben Hunt 108
2/ Hayden Paddon 90
3/ Robbie Stokes 84
4/ Zeal Jones 82
5/ Emma Gilmour 78
6/ Dylan Thomson 65
7/ Jack Hawkeswood 63
8/ Jack Stokes 55
9/ Tim MacKersy 52
10/ William Hawes 43
Daybreaker Rally Overall Results (Pos, Driver 1, Driver 2, Car, Class)
1/ Hayden Paddon/Jared Hudson, Hyundai i20 Rally2 1
2/ Ben Hunt/Tony Rawstorn, Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo 1
3/ Zeal Jones/Waverley Jones, Skoda Fabia R5 1
4/ Brendan Reeves/Amy Hudson, Hyundai i20 AP4 1
5/ Emma Gilmour/Malcolm Read, Citroen C3 Rally2 1
6/ Haydn Mackenzie/Shane Reynolds, Toyota Yaris AP4 D
7/ Andrew Graves/Hayden Graves, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3 5A/5C
8/ Geof Argyle/Kester Olivecrona, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 D
9/ James Macdonald/Josh Edwards, Subaru Impreza H6 5A/5C
10/ Karl Robinson/Chantelle Robinson, Subaru Impreza D
11/ Dylan Thomson/Bayden Thomson, Ford Fiesta Rally4 2
12/ William Menzies/Doug Dolan, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 D
13/ Pierre-Henri/Brunet Mal Peden, Ford Fiesta Proto 1
14/ Bryn Jones/Sean Lockyear, Ford Fiesta Rally4 2
15/ Nelson Law/Antonio Korikalo, Mazda 2 AP4 1
16/ Jay Pittams/Jean-Paul Van Der Meys, Subaru Impreza 5A/5C
17/ Julien Lenglet/Ben Huband, Subaru Impreza 5A
18/ Jack Stokes/Sarah Faulkner, Ford Fiesta R2 2
19/ Tim Mackersy/Lauren Mackersy, Ford Fiesta Rally4 2
20/ Ben Harding/Charlotte Harding, Mazda RX7 C
21/ Shane Murland/Kane Seymour, Ford Escort Mk2 C
22/ Jason Weld/Jeremy Sinclair, Datsun 180B C
23/ Brendon Cantwell/Aaron Clarke, Toyota Starlet C
24/ Bruce Herbert/Campbell Tannock, Mitsubishi Lancer EX Turbo C
25/ Phil Macquarie/Andrew Brooks, Subaru Impreza 5A
26/ Andrew Spier/Daniel Baines, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5 D
27/ Dan Cowper/Andrew Bielby, Subaru Impreza D
28/ Cameron Ross/Matthew Buer, Ford Fiesta Proto D
29/ Dave Strong/Rob Scott, Honda Jazz RS 3
30/ Bradley Stewart/Josh Alexander, Subaru Impreza E
31/ Greg Browne/Sean Browne, Honda Integra C
32/ Adam Fisher/Marty Bertelsen, Toyota Starlet A
33/ Willy Hawes/Jason Dwyer, Toyota 86 3
34/ Keith Stewart/Carol-Ann Perfect, Ford Escort Mk1 B
35/ Dean Astill/Andrew Hughes, Toyota Starlet A
36/ Paul Fraser/Len Fisher, Ford Escort RS1800 4
37/ Nick Stewart/Rhys Knauf, Toyota Corolla A
38/ Gordon Diggle/Jody Seabright, Mitsubishi Mirage C
39/ Mike Cameron/Helen Cameron, Mitsubishi Lancer 4
40/ Mark Rutherford/Alan Groves, Ford Ka A
41/ Chris Clarke/Graeme Robertson, BMW 316i C
42/ Pat Norris/Clint Hayman, Toyota Yaris 5B
43/ Jilly Fisher/Kylie Cotton, Toyota Corolla B
dnf Robbie Stokes/Ally Mackay, Ford Fiesta AP4 1
dnf Stewart Reid/Bella Haggarty, Mitsubishi Mirage AP4 1
dnf Caleb MacDonald/Larisa Biggar, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 5A
dnf Tim Smith/Ben Trevelyan, Subaru Magnum H6 D
dnf Gavin Feast/Matt Hayward, Subaru WRX Sti 5A
dnf Amy Keighley/Grant Marra, Subaru Magnum H6 5A/5C
dnf Paul Tulloch/Craig Strachan, Mitsubishi Lancer E
dnf Jared Parker/Kyle Shears, Toyota FX Corolla 5B
dnf Rhys Musson/Aidan Smith, Toyota Corolla B
dnf Brian Terry/Brendan Olsen, Toyota Starlet A
dnf Cam Mckay/Jonny Kay, Toyota Starlet B
dnf Chris Bellis/Tiwai Bellis, Subaru Impreza E
dnf Geoff Warren/Sarah Jaggs, Subaru Impreza D
dnf Callum McKenzie/Darryn Fulton, Mazda MX5 B
dnf Murray Percival/Kyle Percival, Ford Escort Mk2 3
dnf Andrew Lowe/Ian Barr, Toyota Corolla B
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