The defending champion is locked in a close fight for ERC title glory with the rising French star, who starts round six of the season just seven points adrift.
“We know many locals will be fast but, at this point of the championship, our sole focus is on Franceschi as our main title rival,” BRC Racing Team driver Paddon said. “We can’t control what he does so will be doing the best job we can and making sure we can get the right feeling with the car.”
Paddon, who pilots a Pirelli-equipped Hyundai i20 N Rally2 alongside co-driver John Kennard, is chasing what would be his second podium of the season on Barum Czech Rally Zlín, the only event on which he came unstuck during his title-winning campaign in 2023 by crashing out on the final day (below).
“We didn’t have the end here last year that we wanted but the experience gained will help us a lot for this year to be better prepared for what is a very unique event.”
He continued: “It is hugely dependant on weather as to what we will face on the rally. Yes, it’s a Tarmac rally, but it’s often bumpy, dirty Tarmac, so in places, it’s more like tackling a gravel stage than Tarmac. To be fast on such a rally, you need to be confident.”
BRC Racing Team chief Gabriele Rizzo said: “We know this event since many years and we consider it one the most tricky rally on Tarmac of the current international calendar. Both the team and the crew need a lot of respect towards these stages. We have seen in the past, and we proved on ourselves last year, how many challenges there are along these roads. It’s one of the events where my admiration towards the crews is the highest ever. To drive crazy speed along these forests on changeable grip conditions, from pure Tarmac to almost gravel, often in a mix of dry, damp, wet and mud on the same stage, it’s incredible and need hats off since the beginning in front of all the crews are approaching this event.
“On our side we’ll focus to provide to Hayden and John the usual reliable and fast Hyundai i20 N Rally2 and we’ll offer specific set-up solutions to boost his confidence during the pre-event test.”
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