Your basket is currently empty!
Tag: Asia Pacific Rally Championship
-
Paddon drives to fourth International Rally of Whangarei win; Sumiyama tops APRC field
Hayden Paddon, winner of International Rally of Whangarei. Photo: Geoff Ridder Whangarei, 6 May 2018: Fastest across all 18 of the weekend’s special stages at the ENEOS International Rally of Whangarei, WRC driver Hayden Paddon and co-driver Mal Peden clinched in their Hyundai i20, here on Sunday. Paddon comfortably won the opening round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and the second round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) by a margin of 7mins, 26.3secs.
“It’s been a a very good weekend. Everything has gone according to plan and I’ve enjoyed the roads up here. The others have also done a very good job, so the event has been great. I’ve been pretty comfortable with how everything has gone this weekend and it’s paid off,” said a measured Paddon, just before lifting the kauri trophy at the ceremonial finish.
A total of 29 cars returned to Whangarei for the ceremonial finish at the quayside town basin. Of the four international entrants, only two made to the finish after today’s eight special stages, held south of Whangarei.
APRC topper Yuya Sumiyama. Photo: Geoff Ridder Running second to Paddon after the first three of the weekend stages ex-pat Kiwi Mike Young and co-driver Malcolm Read were unable to resume competition for today’s final leg, after retiring on the Saturday with radiator damage in their Toyota Vitz. Fuyuhiko Takahashi and co-driver Mitsuo Nakamura (Subaru) left the road in the morning’s third test while a mistake in the earlier loop of today’s stages by overnight leader Fabio Frisiero and Simone Scattolin in their Peugeot allowed Yuya Sumiyama and Takahiro Yasui to climb ahead in their Skoda Fabia. Sumiyama finished 11th overall while Italy’s Frisiero finished 15th.
“I’m very very happy but very very lucky. The roads have been very fast, and I have liked the weekend. Today I just tried to go faster and I am lucky to win,” said Sumiyama.
Contesting the New Zealand roads for a third time in his career, Frisiero said the level of competition was very high: “I’m feeling a lot better this afternoon and I’ve enjoyed it so much. It’s been the best. We tried to catch Sumiyama this afternoon but it was impossible, he was just too fast and congratulations to him for getting the win.
“It’s also been a surprise for us to even be here, and in this position so I’m extremely happy. The roads have been very slippery and narrow in some places but very fast. You have to know the roads to be able to drive them fast and my compliments go to the NZ drivers who went very fast.”
Standing alongside Paddon and Peden on the podium was Auckland’s Ben Hunt and Tony Rawstorn (Subaru) while Australian Rally Champion Nathan Quinn and David Calder (Ford) finished third, a further 1m04.6sec behind Hunt.
“It’s been a fantastic weekend. To get second at Otago and second here in Whangarei is an awesome result for the team and the car – that’s come a long way. I love the roads up here and the way we hop in and out of them is fantastic – so overall it’s been a great event,” commented Hunt.
Celebrating 30 years of APRC competition, the internationals ship their cars to Australia for the series second round: 1 – 3 June. The NZRC series heads back to the South Island for the 3 June running of the Lone Star Canterbury Rally.
ENEOS International Rally of Whangarei Results (Top-10 Overall, provisional): 1. Hayden Paddon / Mal Peden, Hyundai i20; 2. Ben Hunt / Tony Rawstorn, Subaru WRX +04:02.4; 3. Nathan Quinn / David Calder, Ford Fiesta +05:03.3; 4. Emma Gilmour / Anthony McLaughlin, Suzuki Swift +05:08.5; 5. Dylan Turner / Sarah Breenan, Audi S1 +05:16.4; 6. Josh Marston / Andrew Graves, Holden Barina +06:04.2; 7. Eugene Creugnet / Philippe Delrieu, Mitsubishi Lander +06:12.0; 8. Regan Ross / Samantha Gray, Ford Escort +07:27.5; 9. David Holder / Jason Farmer, Ford Fiesta +08:00.7; 10. Marcus van Klink / Dave Neill, Mazda RX8 +08:07.1.
FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship: 1. Yuya Sumiyama / Takahiro Yasui (Skoda Fabia); 2. Fabio Frisiero / Simone Scattolin (Peugeot).
-
Paddon takes commanding lead after first day of International Rally of Whangarei
Hayden Paddon at full blast in International Rally of Whangarei. Photo: Geoff Ridder Whangarei 5 May 2018: Wanaka’s Hayden Paddon and co-driver Mal Peden park their Hyundai after today’s eight special stages at the ENEOS International Rally of Whangarei holding an advantage of 4mins, 02.4secs. Placed second at the overnight halt is Ben Hunt and Tony Rawstorn in a Subaru while third is Emma Gilmour and Anthony McLoughlin in a Suzuki.
Opening the six-round FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and the second round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC), the event is contested across 277 kms of fast, flowing Northland New Zealand roads.
Starting Friday night with a double-run of a 1km long Super Special Stage, Paddon set the scene taking a near 5-sec lead into today’s eight high-speed tests, held north of host city Whangarei.
Autumnal weather conditions included fog for the opening stages, causing angst for some. While Paddon added a further 38 secs on the field after the opening test, it caught out Australian pairing Richie Dalton and Dale Moscat who left the road at speed.
Mechanical issues then slowed leading international entry Mike Young and Malcom Read in the Toyota Vitz, eventually grinding them to a halt mid-morning after sitting second overall behind Paddon.
Fabio Frisiero. Photo: Geoff Ridder The journey returned the teams to Whangarei for a midday service break before repeating the loop of stages in the afternoon. Paddon again set fastest time in each test to stretch his advantage. Italy’s Fabio Frisiero and Simone Scattolin in the Peugeot head the international field, 19th overall with Yuya Sumiyama and Takahiro Yasui from Japan 21st, in a Skoda.
“I’ve been really happy with how today has gone. We were trying to look after the tyres this afternoon and manage the through the stages with them. It’s been a really enjoyable day and everything has gone according to plan. With the slightly different stages tomorrow we will hopefully manage to keep pushing on and hopefully maintain what we have gotten from today,” said three-time winner Paddon after the day’s action.
“This afternoon has gone a lot better on the second time through. It’s been a surprise to be leading international but we’re happy,” said Frisiero. “As the day has gone on, our confidence got better. Our feeling for the car got better and so did the grip. Hopefully, we will be able to keep it going for tomorrow.”
With the pleasant weather set to continue, Sunday’s remaining eight stages take the teams south of Whangarei. Starting at 7am, the journey heads south through Waipu Caves and Millbrook areas before heading west and north through Waiotira and back to Whangarei for a service break mid-morning. Following the late morning-early afternoon repeat run, the cars then arrive back in Whangarei for the ceremonial finish, to be held at the Quayside Town Basin from 3pm.
ENEOS International Rally of Whangarei – top-10 Overall (provisional): 1. Hayden Paddon / Malcolm Peden (Hyundai i20, 01hr, 34mins, 56.2secs); 2. Ben Hunt / Tony Rawstorn (Subaru WRX Sti) +04:02.4; 3. Emma Gilmour / Anthony McLoughlin (Suzuki Swift) +05:03.3; 4. Nathan Quinn / David Calder (Ford Fiesta R5) +05:08.5; 5. Dylan Turner / Sarah Brennan (Audi Quattro S1) +05:16.4; 6. Graham Featherstone / Dave Devonport (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII) +06:04.2; 7. Josh Marston / Andrew Graves (Holden Barin) +06:12.0; 8. Grant Blackberry / Ric Chalmers (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X) +07:27.5; 9. Geof Argyle / Joelle Eyre (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VIII) +08:00.7; 10. Matthew Jensen / Kieran Anstis, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX) +08:07.1.
