Kiwi rally legend Hayden Paddon will treat Otago Rally spectators to a spectacular display of WRC power when he tackles the iconic Kuri Bush stage in his 2016 Argentinian WRC-winning Hyundai i20.
This unprecedented run, scheduled for April 4-6, marks the first time a World Rally Championship car will take on the famed 15.05km stage. The event promises a thrilling contrast as Paddon also competes in the Otago Classic Rally, battling against Irish rally ace Kris Meeke in a classic BDA.
Rally organisers granted Paddon permission to contest Kuri Bush in the historic Hyundai i20 WRC, which currently resides in New Zealand after its WRC victory in Argentina in 2016. This will be a unique spectacle, given the stage’s fast, cambered lines.
Paddon, the current holder of both the overall and classic stage records for Kuri Bush, achieved a 2023 time of 7 minutes, 12.8 seconds in his Hyundai Rally 2, averaging 125.18 km/h. His 2015 time of 7 minutes, 52.7 seconds in a BDA remains unbeaten by international guest drivers in the Otago Classic Rally. He’s also competing in the Classic Rally category, driving a BDA and facing a fierce battle with Meeke.
Meeke, who dominated the 2024 Otago Classic Rally with his BDA, finishing seventh overall, has expressed a desire to compete directly against Paddon in a similar car in the future.
Paddon, absent from last year’s Otago Rally due to competing in Rally Hungary, is thrilled to return to one of his favourite events.
“Firstly, a big thank you to the Otago Rally organisers for allowing this opportunity,” he said. “Driving a WRC car on Kuri Bush, one of New Zealand’s most famous and challenging stages, has always been a dream. We’ll aim to put on a good show, but also drive cautiously to protect this unique and special car.”
Ahead of the event, Rally Otago organisers will confirm approximately when in the running order Paddon and the WRC car will do their timed run through Kuri Bush. After completing the stage in his BDA, he’ll immediately switch to the 2016 WRC car for this one-off event.
The 2025 Otago Rally begins with a ceremonial start in Dunedin’s Octagon on Friday, April 4th, with two further days of action covering 15 stages and 280 competitive kilometres.
Header Image: Supplied
