Latest Kiwi world champ

[Mr Revhead]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorsport ... ying-world

Nice one!



we still kicked your arse two years running ;p

[GTTpower]

we still kicked your arse two years running ;p

Amazing effort, have followed him for the whole season and this is just reward for all the hard work and issues with $$$.

As much as I would love to see him in WRC; S-WRC seems to be the more likely next step.

[Leon]

He did a guest speaker night in Wellington not many months ago.

It was damn good, and I'd suggest he is worth listening to if you get the chance.

Also, if you follow him on Facebook, he does a TON of updates about things

[BZG Wagon]

Superb result.

What are his chances of getting into WRC - based on his age & previous results?

It seems like the line up in WRC doesn't tend to change much.

[GTTpower]

What are his chances of getting into WRC - based on his age & previous results?

Lack of driving spots I think would be the biggest hurdle. Limited amount of manufacturers with drivers already nested down. Maybe VW?

[Leon]

WRC drivers need to have a BIG sponsor dollar that comes with them.

So, chances of getting into WRC on talent alone = 0, or as near to 0 as makes no difference.

If the manufacturers go to three car teams, and if more manufacturers starting getting serious about WRC campaigns, then that will help his chances.

But, Paddon himself says, he probably isn't ready to jump from Group N to WRC and actually aquit himself well. He will do his long term plans more harm than good if he gets a WRC drive and makes a complete cock of it.

[GTTpower]

Ken Block being a good example of dollars over talent.

[Mr Revhead]

Ken Block being a good example of dollars over talent.

Depends what your goal is. He is really good at hitting things!

[DRFTIN]

Ken Block being a good example of dollars over talent.

Depends what your goal is. He is really good at hitting things!

and after he was done hitting things this weekend hayden was right on his tail every stage. how much faster should a wrc car be?

the amazing thing about him this year i think has been he isnt just winning the PWRC he's thrashing them

SWRC might be the best place to be too with WRC changing to cars more like them in a couple of years?

[fangsport]

Superb result.
It seems like the line up in WRC doesn't tend to change much.

wilson should bugger off and save dad some money, and then allow dad to gain some extra tin through sponsorship .

if the goverment are prepared to rtake a $30m hit with hosting the world cup, then $10m to put the Silver Fern on a WRC is a good investment .

[BZG Wagon]

SWRC sounds awesome - WRC has taken such a dive over the years it's good to finally see some initiative and a good variety of cars out there.
I only wish more people would turn out the the NZ events when they come around.

Ken Block shouldn't be out there. Then again - 1/2 of why I watch WRC is for the crashes... GO KEN!!!!

What's the typical age to get into WRC? If Paddons 24, it would seem like he doesn't have too much time to muck around if he wants to get in there.

...and where / when can I watch WRC / SWRC / PWRC highlights? Haven't spotted anything for quite some time.

[rolla_fxgt]

Glad to see him doing well.

If I were him I'd be camped outside Volkswagen HQ, and pestering them till I got a drive. After all they're testing Emma Gilmour, and her results are a bit patchy. Then he could do SWRC (in a skoda) for the next year or so, as well as testing/development, and then have WRC the year after.

Wouldn't be a silly option I woud have thought.

[MAC_HATER]

Ken Block being a good example of dollars over talent.

Depends what your goal is. He is really good at hitting things!

its those MASSIVE sunglasses he wears - inhibiting his vision!

[Leon]

the value of Ken Block to the sport shouldn't be underestimated.

He's a big name US sports guy.

If he brings even a small % of the US TV viewing population to WRC, that's going to be huge for the sport commercially speaking.

[Mr Revhead]

Yes as a marketing tool in the states Block is above all in the WRC.
And yeah Paddon drives rings around Gilmour.

[Leon]

Yup, and if they can capture some of the US viewing market, that's going to be great for getting more manufacturers interested. Not to mention more US based sponsors.

Particularly if they do a class that manufacturers don't have to create then develop an "Evolution special" to get involved. But that is a whole other discussion.

[Mr Ree]

Alot of motorsport is like that though, think about Karhikeyan and Chandok driving at the Indian GP this year, its all about creating new fans in countries where little interest has been paid to the sport...its all good if its brings new sponsors and allows the sports to grow outside their own yards.

Well done to Mr Paddon too, no small feat doing what he has done, and I truly hope he goes onto bigger and better things

[VR-4Squid]

Ken Block being a good example of dollars over talent.

Depends what your goal is. He is really good at hitting things!

In McRae's early years he was often called "McCrash" and "McCrazy" due to his penchant for hurling his cars at the scenery...

[BZG Wagon]

Ken Block being a good example of dollars over talent.

Depends what your goal is. He is really good at hitting things!

In McRae's early years he was often called "McCrash" and "McCrazy" due to his penchant for hurling his cars at the scenery...

True, but he was getting the occasional point along the way.

[Boost_4_Life]

I saw a comment by Ken block once, saying something along the lines of "sure im never gonna be top driver, but im out there doing something i love with a passion". for that comment, i like him. He's put together a deal to be out there having a blast, good on him.

Big ups to Hayden tho, hope it continues!