Rally Wales is unpredictable
The challenge for Hayden Paddon and John Kennard this weekend in Wales is the uncertain grip levels on unpredictable road conditions affected by equally unpredictable weather.
After three tarmac World Rally Championship rallies, the pair will relish the gravel forestry roads of this weekend’s Wales Rally GB.
It’s the penultimate round of the WRC, and the Hyundai Motorsport pairing are fourth on the points table with a favourable chance of finishing second place in the standings behind Sebastien Ogier who has already secured the 2016 drivers’ championship title.
Rally Wales is known for its unseasonable weather that can bring snow, rain, ice and fog, offering very slippery muddy conditions.
However, the long-range forecast for the rally is showing warmer and dryer weather than normal. The 22-stage rally will be run over a total of 332.87 km.
A huge 962.87 km of touring stages will see competitors travel south from the Deeside service park on the northern coast to further stages in the middle of Wales and back each day. bfPaddon offers scholarship Paddon has taken time out from his WRC duties to create an opportunity for young Kiwi rally talent.
Paddon and Hyundai New Zealand have collaborated to create the Hyundai NZ Young Driver Shootout and Scholarship with an impressive prize for the winner – the opportunity to drive the Hyundai NZ AP4 i20 rally car in two rounds of the 2017 New Zealand Rally Championship.
This is the car that Paddon drove to an impressive victory at Rally Otago earlier this year. There will also be the opportunity for testing and training with Paddon, plus the potential for an expanded programme in 2018. Open to drivers aged 16-25, applicants will attend a two-day shootout course in Auckland in December. Big F1600 field The ever popular six round South Island F1600 Championship gets underway in Christchurch over the weekend.
Formerly known as Formula Ford, the F1600 series has attracted a large entry with over 25 cars expected to line up for the first three races. Southland drivers Ethan Anderson and Jordan Michels are set to continue their rivalry on the track. Anderson won a nail-biting finale in last season’s series, winning the title by just one point from Michels who finished runner up and top rookie driver. Others joining the fast Class 1 category include rookies Liam Lawson from Pukekohe and Dunedin top level karter Josh Bethune.
Fourteen-year-old Speedsport Scholarship winner Liam Lawson made his single seater debut last season in the North Island Formula First competition and will use the opening round of the SIFF as preparation for the national NZF16000 Championship that gets underway in November.
Christchurch’s Anna Collins moves up to the Class having won the Class 2 national title last season while her brother Michael, a two-time winner of the series, will compete in a Class 2 car.
The opening round is part of the Canterbury Car Club’s Speed Festival at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park. Practice for the opening round takes place on Friday with qualifying and race one on Saturday and two more races on Sunday.