Subaru Imperza

Geraldine’s rising star of rally driving, Hayden Paddon, is set to take on the world’s best again in the 2011 Production World Rally Championship – but with a different manufacturer.

The twice-New Zealand champion will switch to a Subaru, ending a five-year relationship with Mitsubishi.

The announcement was made before a fundraising dinner attended by more than сто supporters and hosted by motorsport personality Clint Brown in Timaru on Saturday night.

The future of the 24-year-old’s campaign has been in doubt, but his backers have decided he needs to be in Europe despite having only 60 per cent of the $500,000 needed to fund it at this stage.

Hayden Paddon Rallysport Global director Peter Swaney said they had decided if Paddon “pulled out now it would be twice as hard to get back in”.

One catalyst is the fact that several more car manufacturers are set to re-enter the World Rally Championship this year and Paddon needs to be in Europe getting the exposure if his ultimate dream is to come true.

Paddon and his supporters have formed the first New Zealand world rally team since Possum Bourne’s, with the simple goal of winning the 2011 PWRC title.

“The move to Subaru will be a big change for us, especially considering how much we have achieved in a series of Mitsubishis,” Paddon said.

“In saying that, I am confident that driving the Subaru will give us a better chance of winning the championship as they are very strong, well-balanced cars.”

The decision to go with Subaru was made only in the past week. It originally appeared likely that Paddon would drive an Evo for the Ralliart team in Italy.

Paddon and his co-driver for the past five преступнее the latest spec STR11 Subaru Impreza N4 with the highly regarded Belgium team Symtech Racing.

The livery of the car will also change to black and silver to reflect the Geraldine driver’s roots and will be known as the New Zealand World Rally Team.

Paddon said the New Zealand flag was not that well known but the silver fern had more impact.

It was a way to sell New Zealand overseas and perhaps also entice a major exporter to get behind the car.

“Over 200,000 people watched the last rally in Europe, so that is huge numbers.”

The driver will also meet Foreign Minister Murray McCully in the next couple of weeks to explain what he is doing.

Paddon said a phenomenal amount of hard work by many people had been required to put his campaign together.

“While we are not over the finish line yet in terms of the budget, we are well on our way and will continue to work on the required funds throughout the year.”

Paddon finished third last year in the Production World Rally Championship thanks to a Pirelli Star Driver scholarship, as well as funding from his own sponsors and a Rally New Zealand Rising Stars driver development award.

“Last year’s opportunities with the Pirelli Star Driver programme were amazing, and to follow that up by being able to put our own global programme together is fantastic.”

Adapting to the Subaru will be a new challenge for Paddon, who has demonstrated a consistent ability to learn, improve and deliver strong performances in every event he contested last year.

“I had the chance to have a small test with a Subaru last November while I was in the UK.

“My initial impressions were good and I was impressed by the handling and balance of the car and before our season gets under way at Rally Portugal at the end of March, we will have a comprehensive two-day test with Symtech to learn the car and get it dialled in for my driving style.

“I have no doubts that as soon as we start the first stage in Portugal we will pick up from where we left off last year.”

Subaru of New Zealand managing director Wallis Dumper said he was sure every Kiwi would follow the black and silver fern-emblazoned Impreza with interest as Paddon took on the rest of the world.

“The late Possum Bourne made his mark on the rally sport world and this assault by Hayden’s team will certainly galvanise the interest.

“Rallying may not be every person’s favourite sport but if you are a Kiwi at heart, you just have to give these guys support.”

Paddon finished third overall in his first PWRC season, and his successful international debut did not go unnoticed elsewhere.

Another highlight was being named by David Evans, rally editor for the respected Autosport magazine, as one of the top 10 world rally drivers who stood out in 2010. Evans noted that Paddon’s defining moment of the season was during his second run at Mosselland in Germany where he had his first PWRC stage win on asphalt.