Paddon and Kennard Make History with Dominant Win at Forest Rally ARC Round
New Zealand rally duo Hayden Paddon and John Kennard have etched their names into the history books by securing their first-ever EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) victory at the 2025 Forest Rally in Western Australia. The pair clinched both Heat 1 and Heat 2 wins, marking a significant milestone in their illustrious careers.
Credit: Australian Rally Championship
The Forest Rally, held from May 23 to 25, presented challenging conditions with a mix of slippery and high-grip surfaces due to recent rainfall. Despite these hurdles, Paddon and Kennard showcased exceptional skill and determination in their Hyundai i20 Rally 2 car. In Heat 1, they faced stiff competition from Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall but managed to secure a 12.3-second victory after winning the final two stages of the day.
Heat 2 saw an even more intense battle. Paddon and Kennard started conservatively but gradually increased their pace, ultimately winning the heat by a narrow margin of 5.4 seconds over Harry Bates and Coral Taylor. The victory was sealed during the Power Stage, where Paddon's performance edged out his closest rivals.
This triumph propels Paddon to third place in the ARC drivers’ standings, trailing behind Lewis Bates and Scott Pedder. The win is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first time in 23 years that a Kiwi crew has stood atop an ARC event podium.
Reflecting on the achievement, Paddon expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "It was a really good weekend and we’re really happy to come away with the win on both days. It was more than we expected, especially as the conditions were very challenging. We had to really dig deep to try and get the result."
The 2025 EROAD Australian Rally Championship continues with the Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland in Ipswich, scheduled for July 4-6. Fans can look forward to more thrilling action as Paddon and Kennard aim to build on their momentum in pursuit of the championship title.