Radio Sport and Radio Hauraki back Hayden Paddon’s 2010 rally campaigns

Paddon%20Kennard%20and%20Team Radio Sport and Radio Hauraki back Hayden Paddons 2010 rally campaigns

Hayden Paddon, the young Kiwi driver off to contest several rounds of the World Rally Championship as a Pirelli Star Driver, has secured the support of two of New Zealand's most popular radio stations: Radio Sport and Radio Hauraki.

"We're absolutely delighted to have Radio Sport back our WRC Pirelli campaign and Radio Hauraki will feature on our Team Green Mitsubishi for the additional events we are contesting as part of the Production World Rally Championship (PWRC)," says the 22-year-old Paddon, who leaves for Europe on 9 March for fitness testing and car testing as part of the Pirelli Star Driver (PSD) campaign.

Like many successful Kiwi sportspeople, Paddon's rallying successes to date have largely been due his own hard work and dedication, complemented by the support and effort of a small team, primarily friends and family.

"Being able to secure the support of major sponsors like Radio Sport and Radio Hauraki, and our other new sponsors Contiki Tours and Timaru's All About Signs, takes time, perseverance and hard work," says the Geraldine-based double New Zealand rally champion.

"With my hugely-valued co-driver John Kennard, from Blenheim, still with me, I'm at an exciting point in my career ? we're up for a very major step forward with this year's international rally campaign taking us from Whangarei to Turkey, Germany and several points in-between," says Paddon.

The Radio Network?s special projects manager Stuart Dwight says the organisation is very pleased to have joined Paddon's team.

"We look forward to sharing his progress, results and exciting tales with our listeners as he embarks on the next stage of his journey to becoming the World Rally Champion," says Dwight.

"The Radio Network utilises many of its stations to promote motorsport in New Zealand and around the world. Recognising that the sport is only second to rugby in popularity, TRN has associations with all forms of motor racing in New Zealand. As we continue to bring our listeners the very best motorsport news, we are sure that we have joined one of the best in Hayden Paddon."

Paddon adds: "It's great to have the continued support of some of our long-term partners ? EDL Fasteners, Castrol, Pirelli, RallyTours, Endless Brakes and Paddon ? which have all played a vital role in helping me to get to this point and it's also fantastic that these organisations continue to support us as we head overseas for this year?s exciting two-pronged programme."

In the Pirelli Star Driver events, Paddon's bright-yellow Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X will feature Radio Sport's logo, while in the other three events, the team's distinctive green Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX carries the equally-distinctive Radio Hauraki guitar emblem.

Paddon also credits the Rally New Zealand Rising Stars International Award with contributing much-valued funding and mentoring to assist his goal of completing a full PWRC campaign in 2010.

"The successful completion of this goal to run competitively in the Production World Rally Championship ? to achieve some podium finishes ? is critical to my overarching goal of being the first New Zealander to compete in the World Rally Championship."

The Paddon RallySport team also acknowledges the support of MCA Suspension, Vicarage Lane Wines, Northend Ford, In-Tune Automotive, Total Automotive, Resene, FMG, Reaction Racing, Pope Print, 1Group, Steelplus and Bluebridge Ferries.

Paddon has recently revamped his comprehensive website, www.hayden-paddon.com, with full details of his 2010 programme.
ENDS/

Hayden Paddon's 2010 calendar
16-18 April - Rally Turkey (PSD)
6-9 May - Rally New Zealand (PWRC)
28-30 May - Rally Portugal (PSD)
2-4 July - International Rally of Whangarei, New Zealand
29-31 July - Rally Finland (PSD, PWRC)
20-22 August - Rally Germany (PSD, PWRC)
10-12 September - Rally Japan (PWRC)
30 September-3 October - Rally France (PSD, PWRC)
11-14 November - Rally Great Britain (PSD, PWRC)