It is Paddon’s seventh NZRC title — a New Zealand record — and Kennard’s sixth co-driver’s championship title.
Paddon and Kennard, from Cromwell and Blenheim respectively, won the rally by 29.6sec from Kiwi Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen who had Australian co-driver Glen Weston alongside.
It was not quite the dominant win fans are used to seeing from Paddon in the Hyundai i20 Rally 2 car in a situation he described as "a few small issues meant things didn’t gel quite as they normally do".
Paddon and Kennard topped the time charts for eight of the 11 special stages, while van Gisbergen won the other three stages.
It has been a big year for the Paddon, who recently secured his first FIA European Rally Championship title in commanding style, as well as winning the 2023 Tour European Rally title courtesy of his victories at Rally Otago and Rally Barbados.
Winning the New Zealand Rally Championship still means a lot to Paddon and Kennard.
"Obviously it’s awesome to get the job done and win the championship which is what we’ve come here to do," Paddon said.
"We’ve wrapped up a big year here in the Bay of Plenty with this win.
"Massive credit to the team and the amount of work everyone’s put in this year, and all in all, we’re delighted to top off a pretty successful season.
"While today didn’t go exactly to plan and, in some ways, it was a pretty tough day for us, we did what we had to do. We got the job done and we enjoyed it.
"We were very close to that 100% stage win record here, so while it’s a shame not to achieve that, it is what it is.
"Shane did an awesome job and you can’t take that away from him. But when things don’t quite feel right in the car, there is no point pushing too hard and taking unnecessary risks when things aren’t gelling.
"In my old age, I’m getting wiser and learn you’ve got to take the chill pill some days."
— Staff reporter
