FIA ERC Champions 2023 Paddon & Kennard

Haydon Paddon & John Kennard FIA ERC Champions 2023

Leading the championship from start to finish and never finishing below third until today the New Zealander

Paddon went into this weeks Barum Czech Rally Zlin holding a 55 point lead and just needed a solid finish to confirm the championship with one round to go, Unfortunately things changed dramatically heading into SS10, Sitting in fifth place, Paddon lost the rear of the car ripping a wheel off and ending his rally.

With his nearest challenger Sesks needing a sixth place finish or higher + full power stage points to take the championship to the final round, It became a tortuous few hours for Paddon, Watching on knowing he could do no more in Zlin.

It was well worth the wait as Sesks could not score enough points to stop Paddon becoming the first Non-European to take the title.