Aussie eager to take on pal Paddon
Australia’s best will go headto-head with New Zealand’s finest at this weekend’s Goldrush Rally Coroman- del.
World Rally Championship star Hayden Paddon will line-up for his first event on New Zealand soil this year in the Hyundai New Zealand i20 AP4+ car while Australian Brendan Reeves will look to defend his title in a brand new Mazda 2 AP4.
The two are good friends. Reeves even helps Paddon out as part of his gravel crew at WRC events — they worked together last weekend at Rally Germany.
“Hayden and I have raced against each other going back to 2008 I think,” Reeves told the Herald. “I even drove Hayden’s personal car — his EVO 9 once in Rally Whangarei.
“I’m always trying to support him [in his Hyundai WRC role] and help him along and try to improve his pace notes.
“Last week we were in Germany together so there has been a lot of banter in the team talking about how we are racing against each other this weekend and how he will be sweeping the roads for me.”
Paddon will be the first car on the road with Reeves directly behind in the one-day event on Saturday.
For the Australian it is a great opportunity to test himself at the top level.
“Your competition only makes you stronger,” he said. “To drive against one of the world’s best drivers in Hayden Paddon is excellent — in a similar spec car.
“I think having him there, the whole field will put him at the top of the ladder and will just all be pushing as hard as we can to see what we can do.”
Reeves will run in a brand new Mazda 2 AP4 car built by fellow competitor Andrew Hawkeswood.
Meanwhile Paddon is excited to finally be able to contest an event on home soil.
“I always look forward to coming home — it is good to come home and do a rally for a change,” he said.
“It is going to be a nice weekend away with the team and friends and family.
“The championship is very strong in New Zealand now so we certainly can’t come home and relax too much.
A strong field will contest the seven-stage event based out of Whitianga with Matt Summerfield holding a 10-point championship lead over Rhys Gardner.