It’s the same on both sides: the biggest sporting rival is the one across the ditch. In cricket, it’s about the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. For rugby? Try the Bledisloe Cup. Australia and New Zealand are all about it. And now, rallying has returned to that trans-Tasman scrap.
Not since the late great Possum Bourne’s seven-year domination of the Australian Rally Championship has a Kiwi vaulted the ditch and returned with the crown.
Having marvelled at Bourne’s brilliance throughout his youth, Hayden Paddon will now follow in his tracks in an attempt to reassert New Zealand’s rallying authority.
Starting from Canberra in March, the former World Rally winner will contest all six rounds of the series aboard his Hyundai i20 N Rally2.
“It will be special to compete in Australia this year,” said Paddon, who recently conquered the European Rally Championship (twice). “After the many years of success that Possum Bourne had there and watching that as a kid, to now take our own Kiwi team across the ditch and rejuvenate that trans-Tasman rivalry is going to be an exciting and fun challenge.
“We know from previous times we have competed in Australia that everyone is very welcoming which adds to the experience.”
Throughout Bourne’s time in the ARC, Australian star Neal Bates was one of the drivers who kept him honest – which makes it even more fitting that Paddon will fight with Neal’s sons Harry and Lewis.
Paddon added: “I’m really excited to finally put together a campaign for the Australian Rally Championship, something we have been trying to make happen for a couple of years. It’s a championship that we have not yet tried our hand at, and I’ve been following closely the level of competition and calibre of the events, watching from the other side of the Tasman.
Kiwi Possum Bourne dominated Australian rallying for seven years with Subaru. Hayden Paddon was watching on, dreaming of the day...
“We are under no illusion that it will be a tough challenge, going up against some very fast competition on unfamiliar events and terrain, but we will treat it like any other rally or championship that we compete in, and know we have the best team with PRG (Paddon Rally Group) and a strong package with the Hyundai i20N Rally2 to give it our best shot.”
Paddon is, of course, well known to Australian rally fans, having come within an ace of winning the 2018 Rally Australia, when he finished second to Jari-Matti Latvala.
