Paddon, Michels to join forces for endurance series
MOTORSPORT
NEW Zealand rally star Hayden Paddon has enlisted rising young race driver Jordan Michels to join him in the Hyundai i30N TCR for two endurance races scheduled for later this year.
Paddon and Michels, from Cromwell and Invercargill respectively, will share driving duties for the threehour race of the South Island Endurance Series at Levels Raceway in Timaru on October 17.
Then, assuming they are among the top 20 competitors in the South Island series, the pair aims to line up for the winnertakesall New Zealand Endurance Championship at Highlands in Cromwell on November 67.
This will be the first time Paddon has raced the Hyundai TCR in an endurance race, so Michels’ experience as the winner of class B in both the South Island and national series last season will be a positive contribution for the Paddon Rallysport team which has been building a wealth of knowledge on race cars over the past 18 months to add to its extensive rally car engineering expertise.
Ever competitive, Paddon is aiming for a top10 finish in the in Timaru against the higherhorsepower GT cars which dominate the endurance standings.
But he is not underestimating the intensity of competition among what looks to be a strong entry list.
Michels (22), who won the 201819 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship, has raced both single seaters and saloon cars in his career to date and is excited about the opportunity to race with Paddon in the two endurance events.
Paddon said he was really excited to team up with Jordan.
‘‘I have been keeping an eye on his career over the past few years since he first approached us looking for some career advice.
‘‘It’s impressive to see what he has already achieved but even more so, his motivation and ambitions for the future.
‘‘It’s great to be able to integrate him into our team for these races and help him develop further for a very exciting future he has ahead.’’