The Pirelli-equipped BRC Racing Team driver,
who strengthens his grip on a second consecutive ERC title as a result, led the
spectacular Tarmac event from start to finish as the championship returned to
the United Kingdom for the first time since 2016 in style.
Andrea Mabellini banked his maiden ERC podium
finish for Team MRF Tyres after climbing from fourth to second on the Power
Stage with Michelin-equipped Mathieu Franceschi returning to the podium for the
first time since Rally Islas Canarias in May in third.
Co-driven by fellow New Zealander John
Kennard, Paddon began Sunday’s deciding leg with a commanding lead of 1min
18.7sec over Chris Ingram, the 2019 ERC champion, having won all but one of
Saturday’s eight stages.
But when Ingram crashed heavily on the day’s
opening test, Paddon’s advantage out front increased to 1min 30.8sec. Even when
the onset of rain made for slippery conditions and changeable grip levels
through SS13, Paddon maintained his composure, adding the Power Stage win – and
five bonus points – to his list of impressive achievements in Wales.
He heads to the all-new Rally Silesia in
Poland from 11 - 13 October leading the provisional standings by 27 points over
Franceschi. With a maximum of 35 points still on offer, a second consecutive
ERC crown for Paddon is by no means secure.
“It was a very good weekend,” said Paddon, who
piloted his Hyundai i20 N Rally2 to victory by 1min 47.3sec. “Everything has
just gone like clockwork. It’s full credit to the guys in the team because
they’ve been working hard all year to get things dialled in with the car and
everything has clicked a lot, even this weekend. Not only the car but the tyres
have been working well in the conditions, the pacenotes, John, when everything
works it’s easy. We’ve been chasing this feeling for quite a while and finally
this weekend we got that feeling.”
Behind third-placed Franceschi, Miko Marczyk
started the Power Stage in second place but the two-time Polish champion
couldn’t hold on and settled for fourth instead. It also rules Marczyk out of
the title fight with no chance of the Pole overtaking Paddon on his home event
in October.
“We took four wet tyres and two slicks [for
the final loop],” Franceschi said. “The first stage of the loop was fully wet
and we did quite an okay job there. But it was two hours before the Power Stage
and I decided to stay on the wet tyre. Probably if we had put two slicks then
[the podium] was possible to get.”
Jon Armstrong battled back from several delays
on day one to finish fifth in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 and claim a maiden
ERC stage win along the way, with Callum Devine and two-time Rali Ceredigion
winner Osian Pryce next up. Matt Edwards finished eighth with Meirion Evans
ninth and FIA ERC3 winner Jakub Matulka completing the top 10. Keith Cronin,
who was fifth after leg one, crashed out on SS11.
The 2024 FIA European Rally Championship
title-deciding Rally Silesia takes place in Poland from 11 - 13 October.
Chile
Poland
China