Against-the-odds wins are what Paddon does best

Hayden Paddon lands into Zlín with one aim this week: to lengthen his seven-point lead at the top of the table as he chases back-to-back European titles.

It’s a big week for the Kiwi and his countryman and co-driver John Kennard. So was this one. The Girardo & Co. Archive has delivered a South American corker in the shape of the podium shot of Paddon’s 2016 Rally Argentina victory.

Eight years ago, the New Zealander was on top of the world. His success in Villa Carlos Paz arguably moved him ahead of Thierry Neuville in the Hyundai squad’s pecking order and confirmed him as a genuine title threat for the world title. Rival Sébastien Ogier was in no doubt of Paddon’s pace. Back in those days, few people beat the Frenchman in a straight race and almost nobody did it in a straight race through Sunday.

Paddon did.

The final stage in Argentina, 2016 was El Condor. The absolute classic: one of the most technical, twisty and challenging stages in the world. Speed is nothing without the pinpoint accuracy demanded to thread the eye of those wooden bridge needles. Paddon went in 2.6 seconds ahead of Ogier. We’d seen this story before. Second would still be a good result for the Hyundai man.

No chance. Paddon and Kennard won the stage by 11.2 seconds – the #20 i20 WRC was more than a second per mile faster than anybody. It was an outstanding drive that more than merited a re-write of Kiwi history in the world championship.

That should have been the start of a championship challenge from Paddon. I believed then, like I believe now, that he had the speed and the consistency to remain at the top for years to come. Sadly for him, Hyundai didn’t see it the same way and ditched the future for a slice of the past in the shape of Sébastien Loeb. Admittedly, if you’re going to lose your seat, losing it to the most successful driver in the history of the sport might’ve sweetened the bitterest of pills a touch.

Through thick and thin, Paddon has remained loyal to Hyundai and Hyundai New Zealand and he now finds himself leading the Korean firm’s charge in a Rally2 car – nobody else is managing to fend off the Škodas, Toyotas and Citroëns the way he is.

Let’s see what this week brings.