It is a rare rallying event on New Zealand soil when Hayden Paddon is not the centre of attention.
But the Cromwell-based driver knows more eyes might be on a special guest than himself at Rally New Zealand this weekend.
Paddon is a warm favourite in the WRC2 category alongside regular co-driver John Kennard in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car as the World Rally Championship returns to New Zealand for the first time in a decade.
He heads a field containing six other Kiwis and five international drivers for the 17-stage rally around Auckland.
One of the New Zealanders is better known for his exploits on the Australian tarmac but few doubt his ability behind the wheel of any vehicle.
Supercars superstar Shane van Gisbergen — the petrolhead fans’ beloved "Giz" — is having another crack at rallying this weekend, having already won the Far North Rally.
"He’s definitely been pretty impressive with the rallying he’s done so far," Paddon told the Otago Daily Times.
"I think he’ll be fast and very competitive. We’re expecting a close fight with him.
"I’ve helped him a little bit, just with some advice in the background, so it’s cool to see him involved.
"It brings a bit more attention but he’s taken it very seriously as well. It’s great for the sport."
Apart from van Gisbergen, Paddon can expect to be challenged by fellow New Zealand driver Ben Hunt as well as leading Australian rally exponent Harry Bates.
A WRC2 category win would make Paddon the top-placed New Zealander, an honour he has earned four times previously at two non-WRC and two WRC editions of Rally New Zealand.
The event counts as two rounds of the New Zealand Rally Championship, which Paddon leads following three wins at the first three NZRC events of the season, so he will also be aiming to secure his sixth national title.
He knows he and Kennard will be considered the car to watch.
"Yeah, the target’s firmly on our back, and I’m not sure if I like that. I prefer being a dark horse, to be honest.
"But we’re focusing on what we can do, and we’ve got some stage records we’ve done in other cars that we can chase, and things like that."
Paddon is extremely excited New Zealand rally fans can finally get up close to some of the best drivers and fastest cars in the world after a decade off the WRC calendar.
He has been so busy with development, testing and overseas racing in recent months that this weekend has rolled around quicker than he would have liked.
And, he acknowledged, there was a grain of disappointment that he was not in one of the elite cars in the WRC1 category.
"It’s a double-edged sword for me," Paddon said.
"I’m so proud to have it back here. Obviously rallying is my life, so to have the premier sport back in your home country is something to be pretty proud of.
"But to not have the opportunity to be in a Rally1 car to fly up the front is a bit of a bittersweet pill.
"It is what I is. We can’t do anything about it, so we just have to focus on making sure we do a good job with our WRC2 programme."
If people had forgotten, the WRC was a phenomenal sporting event, Paddon said.
"The WRC1 cars are pretty spectacular. They’re definitely a sight to behold.
"Once you put those cars and the best drivers in the world on to these roads, it will be spectacular, and I think it will be a close field that goes down to the wire."
Paddon will be in his third different Hyundai in as many events this weekend.
He won his first all-tarmac event in Wales, part of the Tour European Rally championship, in an i20 R5, and won the Ashley Forest Rallysprint in the all-electric Kona, 80% of which was designed and developed by his team.
Paddon and co-driver John Kennard in action at Rally Finland. PHOTO: TIMO ANIS
Paddon used the i20 N Rally2 car to place third in Rally Finland in August, and with the amount of experience under his belt, he is not bothered by the challenge of jumping in and out of different seats.
"You work out pretty quickly what the strengths and weaknesses are, and once you get through the first couple of corners, you feel comfortable and just get on with it."
Paddon and Kennard had a test run with the Hyundai i20 N on a closed road near Tauranga on Sunday before spending Monday and Tuesday doing reconnaissance of the Rally New Zealand stages.
"Everything’s looking pretty good so far but we’re expecting the weather to change a little bit, so that could change things up," Paddon said.
"The roads are just in primo condition and I’m pretty excited to get on to them."
The rally begins with the ceremonial start and a super special stage around the Pukekawa Auckland Domain tonight.
- Hayden Meikle. Main photo: Tayler Burke
