Paddon to battle world stars
Hayden Paddon has been confirmed as one of the star drivers for the Race Of Champions (ROC) event, which is being held in Australia for the first time next year.
It will also be the first occasion New Zealand has had a team competing in the ROC Nations Cup and Paddon’s teammate will be announced in the lead-up to the spectacle in Sydney.
Other stars confirmed for the March 7-8 contest include French rally driver Sebastien Loeb, Germany’s “super team” of Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher, who both have Formula 1 experience, and seven-time Australian Supercars champion Jamie Whincup.
The ROC will run over the two nights on a purpose-built, one-kilometre tarmac track at Accor Stadium. On March 7, the ROC Nations Cup will feature drivers paired in teams based on nationality to bid for the title of “World’s Fastest Nation”.
The following night of action is the individual Race Of Champions, when teamwork goes out of the window as drivers battle for individual glory and the “Champion of Champions” crown.
Paddon, the 2023-2024 European Rally champion, says: “To be part of the Race Of Champions and especially represent the first Team NZ in ROC is a dream come true for me.
“I’ve been watching the Race Of Champions every year since my hero Colin McRae won ROC in Gran Canaria [in 1998], always hoping that one day I would be invited to compete.
“It’s a true honour to be able to represent New Zealand and compete against some of the best of the best. New Zealand has always proudly punched above its weight in world motorsport and this will be a chance for myself and my teammate, whoever that ends up being, to really fly the Kiwi flag on the world stage.”
Paddon, pictured, adds that he hopes a number of New Zealand fans will join him in Sydney as the ROC comes down under for the first time.
Fredrik Johnsson, ROC president and co-founder, describes it as long overdue for New Zealand to have a team in the ROC Nations Cup.
“Hayden has showed how fast he is just clinching his second European Rally Championship title and we now have to decide who his teammate should be to represent New Zealand at ROC Sydney,” he continues.
“New Zealand has so many great racing drivers, so it will not be an easy choice.
“We are excited that the Australian and Kiwi fans will have the chance to see Sebastien and Hayden in action on the spectacular ROC tarmac racetrack that we will build in Sydney’s former Olympic Stadium.
“I’m sure their super-fast and often sideways driving styles will be a big hit with the fans.”
