Fresh off a history-making win in Western Australia, Kiwi rally star Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard continued their charge in the 2025 Australian Rally Championship (ARC), storming to a commanding victory at Rally Queensland after an intense two-day battle in Gympie.
Round 3 of the championship not only marked the ARC’s 350th event since its 1968 inception, but also delivered a drama-filled weekend over 193 kilometres and 14 demanding stages.
The competition was fierce, with top contenders Paddon and long-time rival Harry Bates (with co-driver Coral Taylor in a Toyota GR Yaris) locked in a thrilling duel throughout Saturday’s opening leg.
Bates came out firing early, taking several morning stage wins, but Paddon’s tenacity showed through in the afternoon loop.
The Hyundai i20N pilot clawed back time by winning three of the final four stages, slicing the gap from 9.4 seconds at midday to just 3.7 seconds by the end of Day 1, setting up a blockbuster finale for Sunday.
Elsewhere, it was a tough start to the rally for fellow Kiwi Bella Haggarty and co-driver Stewart Reid, whose Mitsubishi Mirage exited the road on Stage 2. Despite the setback, the pair rejoined for Day 2 under Super Rally regulations.
Sunday’s action began with the Brooyar Loop 1 (SS9), where Paddon immediately seized control. He clocked an 8:10.5, winning the stage by 1.8 seconds over H. Bates, with Lewis Bates/Anthony McLoughlin third.
“We were expecting wet conditions, and it wasn’t, so we were struggling,” Paddon explained.
“Then after Harry had his issue, it was about managing that gap for the rest of the day. The conditions made it difficult to manage tyres and keep a good speed, but [I’m] happy for the whole team that we could get it home and bank maximum points.”
Haggarty and Reid returned to action with a cautious approach, ending the stage 3 minutes and 48.1 seconds adrift.
In SS10 (Glastonbury Long 1), Paddon delivered another masterclass. His time of 13:50.0 was a staggering 14 seconds quicker than the next-best crew of Alex Rullo and Steve Glenney.
Disaster struck for early rally leaders H. Bates and Taylor, who dropped over 90 seconds and fell out of contention, effectively handing the rally lead to Paddon with four stages to go. Reid and Haggarty began to find their rhythm again, placing seventh.
SS11 (Gympie Gold 1) saw Paddon continue his momentum, winning with a 2:56.8, 1.2 seconds ahead of L. Bates/McLoughlin, while H. Bates could only manage fifth. Reid and Haggarty delivered a strong seventh-place stage finish as their pace improved.
The second run through Brooyar Loop (SS12) proved decisive. H. Bates and Taylor went wide early, ending up in a ditch with damage that forced them to retire from the rally.
Paddon, meanwhile, posted his fastest run of the loop at 8:04.9, nearly six seconds faster than his morning time, and won the stage by 2.9 seconds over L. Bates. Reid and Haggarty placed sixth.
There was no slowing the Kiwi pair down. In SS13 (Glastonbury Long 2), Paddon shaved an impressive 14.9 seconds off his morning time, winning again by 10.6 seconds over Rullo/Glenney. Reid and Haggarty impressed with a fourth-place stage finish.
The final stage, SS14 (Gympie Gold 2), doubled as the Power Stage. While L. Bates/McLoughlin took top honours with a 2:52.0, Paddon was just 1.5 seconds behind, finishing second and improving on his morning time by over 3 seconds. Reid and Haggarty capped their comeback with fifth.
With five stage wins from six on Sunday, and rivals falling away, Paddon and Kennard secured the Rally Queensland victory by 42.5 seconds. L. Bates and McLoughlin finished second, with Rullo and Glenney rounding out the podium 1:04.7 behind.
Despite losing valuable time on Day 1, Reid and Haggarty mounted a determined comeback to secure a commendable 10th-place finish overall.
The result hands Paddon and Kennard another full haul of championship points, 90 for Sunday’s performance, to extend their lead atop the standings. The duo now sit on 256 points, with a 35-point buffer over L. Bates/McLoughlin. H. Bates/Taylor drop to third, now 64 points off the lead.
“We didn’t expect to win this weekend, but once again, the PRG team did an incredible job,” said Paddon.
“It’s nice to build a bit of a lead in the championship, but we’re only halfway through, and lots of things can happen at each event; it’s pretty unpredictable.”
Reflecting on the season so far, Paddon acknowledged the steep learning curve of competing in unfamiliar Australian terrain.
“It can be tough going when you’re trying to push on an event you’re not familiar with, but that’s why we’re here, to challenge ourselves,” he said.
“Each rally you’ve got to treat on its own merits. The rounds coming up may suit us a bit better, whereas these rougher ones haven’t so much, but it’s all new territory for us and we’re learning at each and every rally we go to.”
After three intense rounds, the ARC takes a short break before returning for Round 4, the Gippsland Rally in Victoria, set for 22–24 August. With momentum firmly on their side, Paddon and Kennard will be looking to maintain their lead and inch closer to a maiden Australian Rally Championship title.
Header Image: Tayler Burke / Shots By Tay B
