It was a result that wasn’t in doubt from the get-go, Hayden Paddon dominating the WRC2 field to take honours at Rally New Zealand.
A total run time of over 17 stages was enough to put 2:30 on second-placed getter Kajetan Kajetanowicz over three full days of racing.
Paddon took the lead on Thursday’s Super Special Stage at the Auckland Domain and never looked back, building on his lead throughout the rally.
So dominating was the performance, Paddon and co-driver John Kennard claiming 13 of the 17 stages to Kajetanowicz’s two, Australian Rally champion Harry Bates also taking two stages.
Shane van Gisbergen rounded out the WRC2 podium a week before taking part in the Bathurst 1000, demonstrating his skillset is not just limited to the track.
The difficulties faced by the drivers in the WRC also saw the trio, and Bates, claiming WRC points as they finished in the overall top 10.
Paddon was the best of the Kiwis in sixth, whilst van Gisbergen was ninth overall.
In the WRC, Kalle Rovanpera became the youngest-ever World Rally Champion the day after his 22nd birthday, overall honours in Rally New Zealand helping him achieve the feat.
Heading in to the final day with a 29 second lead, Rovanpera only needed a clean days running to all but wrap up the title, which he managed to do so.
The Finn also claimed maximum bonus points after winning the power stage to conclude the rally, further stamping his authority over the field as he claimed the 2022 crown with two rounds to go, in Spain and Japan.
| Overall | Driver | Time/Gap |
| Winner | K. Rovanpera | 2:48’01.4 |
| 2nd | S. Ogier | +34.6 |
| 3rd | O. Tanak | +48.5 |
| 4th | T. Neuville | +1’58.8 |
| 5th | O. Solberg | +3’55.3 |
| 6th | H. Paddon | +10’03.7 |
| 7th | L. Bertelli | +10’39.0 |
| 8th | K. Kajetanowicz | +12’36.8 |
| 9th | S. van Gisbergen | +13’28.8 |
| 10th | H. Bates | +15’51.6 |
| WRC2 | Driver | Time/Gap |
| Winner | H. Paddon | 2:58’05.1 |
| 2nd | K. Kajetanowicz | +2’33.1 |
| 3rd | S. van Gisbergen | +3’25.1 |
| 4th | H. Bates | +6’47.9 |
| 5th | A. Kremer | +10’58.1 |
| 6th | T. Bawden | TBC |
| 7th | L. Anear | TBC |
| 8th | B. Hunt | TBC |
Stage-by-Stage
SS14: Whitford Forest – Te Maraunga Waiho 1– 8.82km
A fast, flowing stage, the conditions had finally improved come the first run at Whitford Forest, only a damp track laden with muddy puddles indicative of the downpours of the last two days.
Rovanpera started the day where he can clench the WRC title well, a stage win with a 4:55.7 pipping Ogier by .6 of a second with Tanak a further .8 back in third.
Paddon was the fastest of the WRC2 runners as his overall lead extended well beyond 2 minutes, 5:16.0 topping Bates by 1.2 seconds. Van Gisbergen was the third fastest, 5.3 seconds off Paddon.
SS15: Jacks Ridge Haunui 1– 6.77km
The first run of the only rally-specific man-made stage of Rally New Zealand saw Tanak return to form and take the stage with a 4:52.6, 1.7 seconds to the good over Rovanpera.
In WRC2, Paddon claimed his 12th stage, this time over Kajetanowicz by the narrowest of margins, .1 of a second the buffer.
Van Gisbergen continued his charge towards the WRC2 podium finishing third, 6.1 seconds off the top.
An impressive stage saw the majority of the runners comment how much they enjoyed it post-stage, a sell-out crowd on hand to potentially catch a glimpse of history when the field returns for the final, power stage come SS17.
The rain returned as the final of the WRC2 runners took to their runs, hinting at a wet afternoon ahead over the final two stages.
SS16: Whitford Forest – Te Maraunga Waiho 2- 8.82km
The rain continued for the fields second run at Whitford forest, the penultimate stage of Rally New Zealand.
Ogier was the fastest on the stage, 4:52.4 pipping Rovanpera by .8 of a second.
There was a hairy moment for Neuville midway through the stage, heading into a sharp right-hander off-line and sliding through the turn. Putting his foot to the floor was his saving grace, the car gaining traction right on top of a small embankment.
Rovanpera heads into the final stage with a 31.2 second lead over Ogier, closest championship rival Tanak some 47.9 seconds off the pace in third.
The result of this means Rovanpera only needs to remain incident free over the power stage to be crowned world champion, indications are, however, he will compete for the lions share of championship points available on the second running at Jacks Ridge.
It was the Australian rally champion Bates who took the stage by the narrowest of margins, .1 second, over Paddon, van Gisbergen making up the top three.
SS17: Jacks Ridge Haunui 2 (Wolf Power Stage)– 6.77km
Unlike the previous 16 stages, it was the WRC2 cars who ran first over the final stage. As the overall leader, Paddon was the first to go and set the benchmark with a 5:07.8, giving him stage honours, half a second ahead of Kajetanowicz .
Van Gisbergen rounded out the top three of the stage, claiming a WRC2 championship point in doing so.
As a power stage, held on the final stage of the rally, bonus championship points are awarded to the top five WRC runners and top three WRC2 runner.
Tanak set a fast time in the WRC field but it was not enough to stop Rovanpera who claimed the stage, Rally New Zealand and the World Rally Championship in one sweep.
