APRC – Hayden Paddon and Jared Hudson topped 2024 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Champions
FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship – Worldwide Rally of Whangārei (spherical 6/6)
By successful the Worldwide Rally of Whangārei held from 8-10 November, New Zealand duo Hayden Paddon and co-driver Jared Hudson secured the 2024 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) title.
This victory marks the second time that 37-year-old Paddon has claimed the celebrated worldwide APRC title, following-on from his latest win within the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) in October.
Driving a Hyundai i20N Rally2 automobile, the pair set the quickest instances on all 18 particular phases of the occasion, which coated rural roads of Northland, New Zealand. Kiwi pair Ben Hunt and Tony Rawstorn (Škoda Fabia Rally2) completed in second place, with Emma Gilmour and Malcolm Learn (Citroën C3 Rally2) rounding out the rostrum in third.
“It’s a unbelievable consequence from a tricky occasion,” Paddon stated, reflecting on his new title. “The dry circumstances have been very arduous on tyres, as anticipated, so it was all about conserving it clear, managing our tempo, and having fun with it as a lot as we may. An enormous credit score to everybody on our group – the reliability of the automobile and the way effectively they’ve been working is second to none. I’m very pleased with this consequence.”
Second-placed Hunt expressed his admiration for Paddon, saying, “There’s nobody else I’d moderately end behind. He’s a world-class driver who’s at all times energetic within the automobile, whereas we solely compete in 5 or 6 rallies a 12 months. It’s an superior consequence for our group. It’s been an incredible weekend.”
Gilmour, thrilled together with her third-place end, stated, “Very, very comfortable. It’s been a tricky occasion, a protracted occasion, and the warmth made it much more difficult. We’ve had an superior weekend, and ending third within the APRC is a tremendous consequence given the competitors.”
New Zealand’s Jack Hawkeswood, together with co-driver Jason Farmer (Toyota Yaris AP4, New Zealand), claimed the Pacific Cup with Hawkeswood additionally claiming the Junior title. Tim and Lauren Mackersy (Ford Fiesta Rally4, New Zealand) gained the two-wheel-drive title.
Over the two-days, groups coated a complete of 237 aggressive kilometres on Northland’s iconic cambered and flowing roads. The dry climate created a tough, quick floor, though remoted rain patches on Sunday failed so as to add variability. Whereas 11 groups representing 4 nationalities entered the championship decider, 9 accomplished the occasion. Kiwi opponents Robbie Stokes and Ally Mackay went off the highway on Saturday’s third stage, whereas Zeal Jones and Waverly Jones have been sidelined by gearbox points on Sunday after the twelfth stage. Different retirements rejoined the rally with time penalties.
Along with the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship title, Paddon was awarded NZ$5,000 from the FIA APRC Working Group, with Hunt receiving NZ$3,000 and Gilmour NZ$2,000.
Paddon and Hudson might be formally offered with their title on the FIA Awards occasion in Kigali, Rwanda, on 13 December.
Remaining placings – 2024 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship
Pos No. Crew, Car, Time
1 1 Hayden Paddon/Jared Hudson (NZ), Hyundai i20N Rally2 2:24:49.8
2 2 Ben Hunt/Tony Rawstorn (NZ), Skoda Fabia Rally2 +4:42.1
3 5 Emma Gilmour/Malcolm Learn (NZ), Citroen C3 Rally2 +7:20.0
4 3 Mike Younger/Amy Hudson (NZ), Toyota Yaris AP4 +15:11.3
5 9 Tim Mackersy/Lauren Mackersy (NZ), Ford Fiesta Rally4 +20:27.5
6 7 Jack Hawkeswood/Jason Farmer (NZ), Toyota GR Yaris AP4 +35:49.1
7 10 Fuyuhiko Takahashi/Ken Takahashi (Japan), Ford Fiesta Rally4 +38:12.8
8 11 Naveen Puligilla/Santhosh R Thomas (India), Proton Satria +51:34.0
9 8 H Rihans Variza/Mochamad Fahrezi Fadh (Indonesia), Ford Fiesta R5 +1:01:17.2
dnf 4 Robbie Stokes/ Ally Mackay (NZ), Ford Fiesta AP4
dnf 6 Zeal Jones/Waverley Jones (NZ), Skoda Fabia R5
