Hayden Paddon, from New Zealand, secured Production WRC title after his fourth class victory in-a-row in rallye Australia this week end.
24-year-old Hayden Paddon became the first driver from Southern Hemisphere to win a world rally championship. He made his debuts in rally in 2006, then took part to his first WRC event in rally New Zealand, in 2007, aboard a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII. He ran the rally New Zealand again in 2008, then the rally Australia in 2009, with an Evo IX.
He ran the whole 2010 WRC Production championship in 2010 with the backing of Pirelli Star Driver Scolarship, and took class win in rally New-Zealand aboard a Evo X.
In 2011, he took four wins out of four races in Production class (Portugal, Argentina, Finland and Australia), and secured the title even before the two last rounds of the season in Spain and Great Britain, after he switched to a Subaru Impreza WRC STI with codriver John Kennard.
"It’s probably the most satisfying thing about it because our success hasn’t been down to luck", he told to wrc.com.
"Okay, some of the guys have had problems but we put pressure on them. It wasn’t like we were well down and picked up the pieces. We have been there all season. Well we’re contracted to do the final rounds in Spain and Great Britain but maybe we can look to a different car for GB. Our budget is secure for this year but we’re already working on next year. We need to move out of Group N and step up. Super 2000 is an option but the budget is twice the amount and it’s a lot of money to find. We need to find a European partner to get in behind us and help us through but I’ve definitely got no doubt that I can move up to a higher level."
24-year-old Hayden Paddon became the first driver from Southern Hemisphere to win a world rally championship. He made his debuts in rally in 2006, then took part to his first WRC event in rally New Zealand, in 2007, aboard a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII. He ran the rally New Zealand again in 2008, then the rally Australia in 2009, with an Evo IX.
He ran the whole 2010 WRC Production championship in 2010 with the backing of Pirelli Star Driver Scolarship, and took class win in rally New-Zealand aboard a Evo X.
In 2011, he took four wins out of four races in Production class (Portugal, Argentina, Finland and Australia), and secured the title even before the two last rounds of the season in Spain and Great Britain, after he switched to a Subaru Impreza WRC STI with codriver John Kennard.
"It’s probably the most satisfying thing about it because our success hasn’t been down to luck", he told to wrc.com.
"Okay, some of the guys have had problems but we put pressure on them. It wasn’t like we were well down and picked up the pieces. We have been there all season. Well we’re contracted to do the final rounds in Spain and Great Britain but maybe we can look to a different car for GB. Our budget is secure for this year but we’re already working on next year. We need to move out of Group N and step up. Super 2000 is an option but the budget is twice the amount and it’s a lot of money to find. We need to find a European partner to get in behind us and help us through but I’ve definitely got no doubt that I can move up to a higher level."