A broken alternator-power steering belt hampered top Kiwi rally driver Hayden Paddon from making a flying start as the Rally of Germany began on Thursday night local time (yesterday morning NZ time).
He remained positive and with co-driver John Kennard calling the pace notes, showed top-running pace in the second of Thursday's two twilight-run stages, to hold sixth place going into the first full day of WRC2 competition yesterday.
Paddon said only 2km into the first 23km stage, they lost the power steering in the S2000-spec Skoda Fabia, and then had battery voltage warning lights on for the rest of the stage.
''It became apparent that the alternator-power steer belt had broken and we had to nurse the car through the stage.
''And I tell you what, driving a modern-day rally car with no power steering is not like the cars of old which didn't have power steering. It felt like trying to bench press 100kg.''
He lost more than 1min 40sec to Robert Kubica, who at that stage was leading the WRC2 class.
Between stages Paddon and Kennard fitted a spare belt and the car was fine for the second stage. They were able to set the third-fastest time behind Kubica and Elfyn Evans - climbing the overall leader-board from ninth to sixth.
Paddon's time on this second stage was notably the 12th-fastest overall in the 76-strong field and he was placed 24th on the overall leader board after the two stages.
The German event is one of several WRC events this year utilising a four-day format. It ends on Monday NZ time.
