Hayden Paddon’s good at history. Or good at writing history. A month or so ago he became the first ever non-European to lift the coveted European Rally Championship crown. And this weekend he leads the charge back to the library to hit the history books once more.
Saturday’s subject will be the return of one of New Zealand’s most popular events in history. The Daybreaker Rally’s back. Last run in 2013, this event’s real history dates back more than four decades, when the hardcore started at 10pm, then ran through the night, through daybreak and into the following day.
“It’s not like that anymore,” said Paddon. “But it’s still going to be a challenge. I’m looking forward to it, there is a real history to this event – admittedly it’s a bit before my time, but everybody knows about the Daybreaker and how it went through the night.
“It’s a little bit of the good old days and really nice to be doing something different.”
After a ceremonial start in the Manawatu township of Fielding on Friday evening, the real action starts at 5.30am the following morning – with the first stage an hour later.
“We should have enough light by the time the first stage starts,” said Paddon, “but it’s nice to be doing this kind of thing.”
Morning people maintain the break of day is when the world’s at its best. We’ll see on Saturday.
Event organizer Tony McConachy is confident his event has found the right roads. He said: “Even after all these years the Daybreaker name runs deep – as an event with fabulous roads that are a joy to drive but have plenty of challenge to them to keep you sharp.
“We’ve forgotten how good the roads are in this part of the country and when you give people an opportunity to compete, they respond by entering. A lot of that has to do with how the Manawatu and Rangitikei Districts look after them and while the weather has done them no favors, they’re still in great condition considering.
McConachy’s fellow organizer, Paul Fallon, says the support of the local communities has been pivotal in returning an event once ranked second only to Rally New Zealand.
“We’ve been really impressed at how everyone in the community has worked alongside us at bringing this idea to life to deliver a Daybreaker,” Fallon said. “Right from the first conversations it was the key stakeholders like the Manawatu and Rangitikei councils and Manfeild, that took the concept seriously and showed us the right doors to open for this to happen.”
Paddon will lead an impressive 91-car field away on Friday night, with Supercar star Shane Van Gisbergen in an Audi AP4.
One expected name missing from the entry list is Emma Gilmour after she suffered damage to her ribs in a Sardinian practice shunt in Extreme E.
Gilmour said: “It is the total opposite of everything I’d been planning and preparing for. The journey back home will leave no time for rest and recouperation before the rally, so if I can’t be my full self then experience says you don’t do it.”
