Injured Paddon taken to hospital
KIWI rally driver Hayden Paddon has been airlifted to hospital after crashing out of Rally Portugal yesterday.
The 31-year-old suffered back pain following a crash on the second run at the Ponte de Lima test and has been taken to hospital in Porto as a precaution.
Hyundai Motorsport said that ‘‘due to the severity of the impact’’ doctors advised Paddon to remain in hospital overnight for observation.
Paddon’s co-driver Marshall was uninjured.
In a statement, Hyundai Motorsport described Paddon’s condition as OK.
The crash was a cruel blow for Paddon.
He had just retaken the lead of the event in their Hyundai i20 on the previous stage with his second stage win of the rally. Seb
Paddon earlier revealed how the incident unfolded just 2.4km into special stage seven.
‘‘Near the start of SS7 there was a big rock on the inside of the corner, which was concealed. I had to steer out a little for the corner to avoid it, but then the speed was too great and the car ran wide,’’ Paddon said.
‘‘The problem then was a big culvert on the exit of the corner, which stopped the car instantly.’’
The impact was on Paddon’s side of the car.
Paddon and Marshall were able to exit the vehicle on their own accord, but Paddon was taken to hospital for precautionary checks after experiencing lower back pain.
Paddon was transferred back to the start of the stage by ambulance but was later airlifted to hospital in Porto.
‘‘I’m gutted for the team as a good result was possible but for a third year in a row this stage bites us,’’ Paddon said.
Paddon took to Facebook to explain his disappointment.
Rally Portugal is just Paddon’s second event of the year, in his newly abbreviated calendar on the World Rally Championship, and his first in three months.
The rally had already taken its toll on WRC drivers’ championship leader Sebastien Ogier, who also crashed out yesterday.