Although the Geraldine driver, who is leading the New Zealand Rally Championship, was not recognised in the results because of his international status, he took commanding unofficial victories in all stages of last Sunday's event.
"The main reason for us to go over there was not to win, really, but to complete every stage and gain experience for Malaysia," he said, after returning to New Zealand on Wednesday.
Paddon (21) is New Zealand's front-runner for the Pirelli star driver scheme, in which five under 27-year-olds from four international regions will be sponsored in six World Rally Championship events, piloting Group N or Super 2000 cars.
Being the first eligible driver home at the International Rally of Whangarei last month netted him $10,000 towards attending the Malaysian rally on October 11 and 12.
This qualifying event effectively becomes the Asia-Pacific star driver final, at which the top regional contender will emerge.
To improve his prospects, Paddon took the opportunity to compete in the Thai rally, based around Pak Chang, north of Bangkok.
Contacts made through the tyre company Michelin, which helped him out at Whangarei, led to its sister syndicate BF Goodrich facilitating the drive in a Group N Mitsubishi Evo 6, prepared locally by the K45 team.
While the company smoothed the way through the language barriers and his Kiwi co-driver John Kennard retained a sense of normality in the car, nothing could have prepared Paddon for the roughness of the roads.
He described them as "very narrow in places" with overhanging trees and vegetation often hampering his visibility.
"Even down the middle of the roads, the grass and undergrowth was higher than the car."
The demanding landscape was coupled with a 38degC day - with the temperature reaching about 50degC inside the Evo.
Paddon experimented with not wearing a cool suit but "it felt like you were burning", meaning the under-the-overalls system will be a must for his next Asian outing.
He also stored away knowledge about the car's durability and will apply it to strengthening certain parts of his left-hand-drive Mitsubishi Evo 9 which will be shipped to Malaysia.
When Paddon tackles his next international event, the culture, food, countryside and heat will not be "such a shock to the system" and he can apply his desired focus to the task at hand.
"It [star driver] is such a big prize, I'm going to need to be really pumped up."
Paddon will defend his 23-point lead in the fourth round of the New Zealand Rally Championship, Rally Hawkes Bay, next weekend.
