Competing in Hyundai machinery, Paddon claimed his first European Championship title last season and renewed the championship this year. The title was secured at the Rally Silesia on Sunday, where Paddon finished third.
The New Zealander was holding second place in the rally before the final stage, but he played it safe through the Power Stage and dropped one position, finishing behind Ford driver Jon Armstrong. However, that did not matter, as Frenchman Mathieu Franceschi was left in fifth place. As a result, Paddon took the title with a 21-point lead over Franceschi, who drives a Škoda.
“Relief! A season of two halves, through determination and grit the whole team did it. Halfway through, we were all disheartened and we never gave up. Massive thanks to the team, great to have the whole team with us and the Kiwis with us,” Paddon commented.
“You take it a day at a time, but if this is our last European rally then it’s a big thanks to all of our fans supporting us on the other side of the world, big thanks to everyone at home and the commentators and the broadcasters. We took this one off, we’re gonna go and enjoy it now.”
For Franceschi, the European Championship silver is no disgrace, as the Frenchman is still in the early stages of his career.
“I think the feeling is like all the end of the seasons, we have good points and bad points. Now we know which ones we need to work to be into the real fight in the championship for the future, if I have future I hope. I want to say thank you to everyone, I hope to see you soon,” Franceschi said.
Italian driver Andrea Mabellini took the victory in the Polish European Rally. Competing in a Škoda, Mabellini had claimed his first podium finish in the previous round in Wales and followed it up with his maiden European Championship win.
“”It feels great! The longest 11km of my life! I want to thank everybody it was an incredible journey, we started from Rally5, the Rally4, then Rally2 last year. I would like to thank Virgi (co-driver Virginia Lenzi), she always looks after and listens to me. All the sponsors, all the team and especially MRF Tyres for believing in me. Thank you, grazia!”
Mabellini secured the top spot with a margin of 18.4 seconds ahead of Armstrong. Paddon finished third, just 1.5 seconds behind the Irishman. The host nation’s Miko Marczyk took fourth place in the rally, ahead of Franceschi and veteran Yoann Bonato.
In the final European Championship standings, Marczyk claimed the bronze position, finishing just eight points ahead of Mabellini, who was the standout driver of the latter part of the season. Armstrong secured fifth place in the championship, ahead of Romanian driver Simone Tempestini.
Rally Silesia results:
| POS. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Andrea Mabellini | Skoda | 1:45.28,9 |
| 2. | Jon Armstrong | Ford | +18.4 |
| 3. | Hayden Paddon | Hyundai | +19.9 |
| 4. | Mikolaj Marczyk | Skoda | +24.1 |
| 5. | Mathieu Franceschi | Skoda | +53.2 |
| 6. | Yoann Bonato | Citroen | +1:29.2 |
| 7. | Grzegorz Grzyb | Skoda | +1:55.9 |
| 8. | Jaroslaw Szeja | Skoda | +2:16.3 |
Final Standings of the ERC:
| POS. | Driver | Car | Points |
| 1. | Hayden Paddon | Hyundai | 145 |
| 2. | Mathieu Franceschi | Skoda | 124 |
| 3. | Miko Marczyk | Skoda | 109 |
| 4. | Andrea Mabellini | Skoda | 101 |
| 5. | Jon Armstrong | Ford | 88 |
| 6. | Simone Tempestini | Skoda | 59 |
