Hayden Paddon has underlined his FIA European Rally Championship title intentions by confirming he will be competing in the Rally Islas Canarias, after initially not planning to enter the event.
The New Zealander tops the European Rally Championship standings following his dramatic final-stage victory on the season-opening Rally Serras de Fafe.
With ERC regulations allowing drivers to count all but one event, Paddon and his BRC Racing Team hadn’t originally planned to include the all-Tarmac Rally Islas Canarias on their schedule for 2023, however, after winning the opening round, missing the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria-based event from 4 – 6 May is now not an option.
“After Portugal we met with the team to discuss what was going to strengthen our championship bid the most and, while originally, we planned to have Canarias as our ‘drop’ round, we decided together it was too early in the season for that,” said Paddon. “From what I have seen, Rally Islas Canarias looks like a beautiful rally and I can’t wait. To help us prepare, we will compete at Rally di Alba as we have not yet driven the new Hyundai i20 N Rally2 on Tarmac – so a perfect test rally.”
“I must say a huge thank you to the team. Not only a world-class team to work with as in Portugal, but the way we are working together with these extra events and plan for the season will give us all the best chance of trying to win the ERC.”
Hayden Paddon
Gabriele Rizzo, Team Principal of BRC Racing Team, said: “Fafe’s success boosted our commitment for the season so we are happy to confirm with Hayden the participation at these two great events. Thanks to the support of our partners and Pirelli.
“Alba is our home rally we have already won in past years. It’s a great event, that we really look forward to seeing included in the FIA ERC in the next few years, it’s well organised by passionate people in a fantastic location with challenging roads.”
“We will approach it without specific preparation as it will be used to build up mileage on Tarmac, both for the team and for Hayden, with our Hyundai i20 N Rally2 before Canarias.”
Rally Regione Piemonte (formerly Rally di Alba) takes place from 13 – 15 April and counts as round two of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship. For this event, Paddon will have another young Kiwi, Jared Hudson as his co-driver.
