By winning the Pirelli Star Driver Competition for the Asia Pacific region Hayden Paddon has won himself a paid Group N drive on six World Rally Championship next year, therefore it was expected that would preclude the current Pacific Cup holder and NZ Rally Champion from competing in the APRC in 2010.

However that is not the case as Paddon commented “We see real value in the APRC because of the diversity of the events, so for sure we would like to enter in 2010, if not the whole championship, then some selected events. Having an additional rally programme to the WRC will keep us ‘race-fit’and at the same time build up our international experience.

We’re also looking at S2000 because to have a realistic chance at a full-time WRC drive in the future, then experience in these cars is important. APRC in an S2000 car would be ideal. Its really about finding drive opportunities to make that possible and a budget is always the hardest thing to find”.

Paddon’s WRC programme is expected to be events in Jordan, Portugal, Finland, Germany, France and Rally GB.  

By winning the Pirelli Star Driver Competition for the Asia Pacific region Hayden Paddon has won himself a paid Group N drive on six World Rally Championship next year, therefore it was expected that would preclude the current Pacific Cup holder and NZ Rally Champion from competing in the APRC in 2010.

However that is not the case as Paddon commented “We see real value in the APRC because of the diversity of the events, so for sure we would like to enter in 2010, if not the whole championship, then some selected events. Having an additional rally programme to the WRC will keep us ‘race-fit’and at the same time build up our international experience.

We’re also looking at S2000 because to have a realistic chance at a full-time WRC drive in the future, then experience in these cars is important. APRC in an S2000 car would be ideal. Its really about finding drive opportunities to make that possible and a budget is always the hardest thing to find”.

Paddon’s WRC programme is expected to be events in Jordan, Portugal, Finland, Germany, France and Rally GB.