Delivering another masterful performance Paddon and his team also secured the Pacific Cup title for the antipodean operation, this time using the Hyundai i20N Rally 2 car.

Fastest across all 16 stages of the rally held in the Northland region of New Zealand, Paddon returned to the ceremonial finish with a commanding 3min 35sec lead.

Second was Ben Hunt and Tony Rawstorn (Skoda) while Raana Horan and Michael Connor finished third (Skoda). Horan won the Ken Block Memorial trophy – the first time it was awarded.

“I’m really proud of our team and being able to take the Pacific Cup again – against strong competition like Ben and Raana,” said Paddon after the finish.

“The event has been nice to us over the years so are honoured to make it win number eight and we look forward to next year. It was a flawless effort from the team. The car ran perfectly, so is a credit to their performance from the workshop to the event.”

At the championship podium the top-three also received prize money courtesy of Indian businessman and promoter Mr Vamcy Merla. Chairman of the APRC Working Group Mr Vicky Chandhok welcomed Merla’s support: “Vamcy has obviously set his goals onto the international scene in his mission to support competitors in the APRC. Having contributed towards the earlier South India Rally & the Rally Otago he has shifted focus to the Rally of Whangerei where competitors will benefit from double their prize money and the organisers will benefit from the organisation subsidy he has provided in return for branding at the event and on the cars.”

The title deciding final round of the APRC will be held at Indonesia’s Danau Toba Rally – 24 to 26 November.