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Day Two update: Paddon continues to lead with four stages to go

New Zealander Hayden Paddon continues to lead of this weekend’s International Rally of Whangarei despite the worsening weather conditions to extend his advantage to nearly three minutes over closest rival fellow Kiwi Emma Gilmour.

Not only does Paddon lead the rally outright, but he also tops the Asia Pacific and New Zealand rally championship fields. Gilmour is second among the New Zealand rally contenders, with international star Alister McRae just 17 seconds behind in third place overall to be the second best Asia Pacific Rally Championship contender. At the lunchtime break, Australian Brendan Reeves and New Zealand’s Chris West rounded out the top five.

Running first on the road, Paddon says he knew there would be a bit of loose gavel on the morning’s opening stage. “We drove a steady pace through there, and in the next two we pushed quite hard, trying to break a stage record that’s stood since 2004. We have a good lead, but I still wanted something to keep aiming for, so stage records is the aim today. It’s been going well; the most fun I’ve ever had in the car!”

Heavy rain has affected competitors during Sunday morning’s stages with several cars going off the road in stage 12, ‘Waipu Caves’. A major accident on State Highway 1 near Oakleigh meant that rally competitors joined regular traffic having to be diverted through rural roads to return to Whangarei for their lunchtime service.

The event’s clerk of the course, Steve Foster, says competitors were given an additional 15 minutes to get to their allocated service slot. “The main road remains closed which means competitors must take the diversion back to contest the afternoon’s four stages inland from the Ruakaka coast. We have added another 15 minutes to their touring time, therefore all Sunday afternoon’s stages will start 30 minutes later than originally scheduled.

Foster adds: “Given the deteriorating weather, the event’s ceremonial finish has been moved undercover to the Tennix building off Port Road, Whangarei. This will now take place at 4pm.”

Rally officials and their St Johns personnel have been thanked by St Johns Northland for assisting the accident victims in the main road accident. Rally personnel made the decision to deploy the rescue helicopter to ensure prompt assistance.

Competitors have a repeat run of the morning’s four stages before the event concludes later today.