Hayden Paddon stormed to victory at the Bay of Plenty Rally, driving his Hyundai New Zealand i20 Rally2 to a dominant win, finishing a massive three minutes and 13 seconds ahead of a resurgent Emma Gilmour in her Vantage NZ Citroen C3. Championship leader Ben Hunt rounded out the podium in his Škoda New Zealand Fabia Rally2, despite suffering a puncture early on that nearly derailed his race—and his title hopes.
Hunt’s weekend took a turn when a puncture during the legendary Manawahe stage dropped him to fifth, momentarily shifting the championship momentum firmly in Paddon’s favour. However, Hunt battled back with a gritty performance, securing second place in the power stage to recover to third overall and maintain a slender 12-point lead in the championship standings.
For Gilmour, this podium marked a significant personal achievement—it was her first top-three finish since her debut rally victory back in 2016. The Kiwi driver, who also serves as a factory driver for McLaren, showcased her skill and determination throughout the rally, cementing her place as one of the sport’s top competitors.
Young gun Zeal Jones (Smith & Sons Škoda Fabia R5) faced a series of minor setbacks, but managed to bring his car home in fourth place, while Robbie Stokes (Stokes Motorsport Ford Fiesta AP4) was forced to retire after a cracked manifold ended his run.
**Defending Champ Thomson Secures Double 2WD Titles**
Dylan Thomson (Ford Fiesta) dominated the NZRC 2WD and overall 2WD categories, securing both titles with a round to spare. His victory was made a little easier after his closest rivals encountered issues that put them out of contention.
In the Open 2WD class, Dave Strong (Honda Jazz) clawed back crucial championship points by taking the win over series leader Willy Hawes (Toyota 86) and Murray Percival (Ford Escort).
Anthony Jones made a triumphant return to the Historic 2WD class, piloting his Ford Escort to victory after stopping mid-rally to help tow his son Bryn out of a dangerous position. Jones surged back to beat current championship leader Paul Fraser (Ford Escort), while Mike Cameron (Mitsubishi Lancer) rounded out the podium.
In the Rally Challenge 4WD category, Caleb Macdonald (Mitsubishi EVO 6) put the disappointment of a recent DNF behind him to win and narrow the points gap to championship leader Andrew Graves. Carter Strange made a strong impression in his North Island debut, finishing second in his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 10, with local driver Gavin Feast (Subaru Impreza WRX) securing the final podium spot after a tight battle with Andy Martin (Subaru Impreza WRX).
Jared Parker extended his lead in the Rally Challenge 2WD class, bringing his Toyota Corolla home despite some damage. His title rival Pat Norris (Toyota Yaris) did not finish, leaving Parker in a strong position heading into the final round.
Bay of Plenty’s own Jay Pittams claimed victory in the Group A Challenge in his Subaru Impreza, adding a local touch to the podium celebrations.
With just one round remaining, the championship heads north to Whangarei next month for the grand finale. The title race is tighter than ever, and fans can expect a thrilling showdown as the drivers battle it out for the ultimate glory. Stay tuned to HHRally.com for all the latest updates and news!
Final Results
01: H. Paddon/J. Hudson (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) – 1h 19m 29.9s
02: M. Young/A. Hudson (Toyota Yaris AP4) + 2m 27.2s
03: E. Gilmour/M. Read (Citroen C3 Rally2) + 3m 13.8s
04: B. Hunt/T. Rawstorn (Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) + 3m 23.3s
05: P. Campbell/B. Little (Ford Fiesta AP4) + 4m 35.0s
06: Z. Jones/W. Jones (Škoda Fabia R5) + 4m 55.0s
07: T. Bawden/D. Neill (Ford Fiesta Rally2) + 5m 34.8
08: H. Mackenzie/S. Reynolds (Toyota Yaris AP4) + 5m 51.7s
09: R. Stokes/A. Mackay (Ford Fiesta AP4) + 7m 02.3s
10: Q. Palmer/N. Moloney (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V) + 7m 10.0s