MCRAE TAKES ON PADDON
Scot Alister Mcrae will take on current World Rally Championship star Hayden Paddon at New Zealand’s Ashley Forest Rallysprint next month.
Mcrae will drive an ex-possum Bourne Subaru Impreza WRC while Paddon will run the Hyundai i20 AP4++ with which he’s leading this year’s NZ domestic Rally Championship. The Australian-based Scot has a power advantage with his 750bhp car sitting at the bottom of the mile-long gravel hillclimb.
Mcrae knows the Vantagebacked car well, having won New Zealand’s famous Race to the Sky Hillclimb in 2015 and the Leadfoot Festival for the last two years.
Former British Rally champion Mcrae said: “The Ashley Forest Rallysprint has a lot of history and, of course, everyone wants to win it. Competing back down in New Zealand is great and being in the Vantage Subaru should make for a great weekend.
“The Subaru is almost 20 years old, but with the extra power and some testing beforehand on gravel, I think we can be competitive. Thinking back to Race to the Sky [in 2015], the car was amazing fun to drive on gravel.”
While Mcrae’s car brings a big horsepower advantage, Paddon’s machine will be fitted with more modern suspension allowing for greater wheel travel and grip. The Scot is ready for the fight.
“Beating Hayden certainly won’t be easy but we will give it a good try,” said Mcrae. “But, equally, I’m sure there will be more than just Hayden to fight against on the day.”
The South Island event runs across September 22/23, which means Paddon will arrive back home match-fit following his run at Rally Turkey the week prior to the Ashley Forest Rallysprint.
Paddon’s participation comes as no surprise given that he is competing more at home and Bourne was a childhood hero of the multiple domestic champ.
Vantage boss Craig Vincent, Bourne’s co-driver, got the car from Possum Bourne Motorsport after Bourne’s death and has “continued to race it in memory of our great mate”.