Paddon and co-driver John Kennard headed into the asphalt rally geared up with a 55-point lead over nearest rival Martins Sesks after scoring a win within the season opener in Portugal adopted by 4 second place finishes and a 3rd.
A prime 5 end on the Barum Czech Rally Zlín would have been sufficient safe the title.
The previous manufacturing unit Hyundai World Rally Championship pairing had been sitting fourth earlier than gathering a tree on stage 9, inflicting terminal injury to their BRC Racing i20 N Rally2 machine.
Nevertheless, ERC laws state that rivals should drop their worst end result for the ultimate calculation of championship factors.
Paddon’s retirement from this rally made it the end result to drop and put the onus on Sesks to earn a minimum of 20 factors to take the title combat to October’s finale in Hungary.
In the long run, Sesks may solely end twelfth, which was sufficient at hand Paddon and Kennard the championship.
Hayden Paddon, John Kennard, BRC Racing Hyundai i20 N Rally2
Photograph by: Paddon Racing Group
“This rally can’t be underestimated and whereas, in the long run, it didn’t go fairly as we’d have preferred, we’ve realized loads and if we will come again subsequent 12 months, we’d be in a a lot stronger place than we had been after we began right here this 12 months,” mentioned Paddon.
“Positive, it wasn’t fairly how we deliberate to safe the title, however when it comes to championship wins that is our greatest achievement up to now.
“It’s a season’s value of labor, not only one rally, right here in Europe and again at residence with each crew and for John and me.
“We’re proud to carry this one residence and it’s the results of six actually good ERC rallies in a row. That put us in a very good place to have a foul spherical, so all in all, trying on the season as an entire, we will be pleased with the outcomes.
“They’ve [BRC Racing] been unimaginable to work with. Thanks additionally to John who’s made a giant dedication to be a part of this and our sponsors and followers again residence. It’s an superior end result for everybody concerned and hopefully it’s one thing we will construct on sooner or later.”
Paddon will now return residence to proceed his New Zealand Rally Championship marketing campaign.