It marks the start of a new challenge for the Kiwi duo, as it is the first time they have contested a full Australian championship.
It also marks their 20th year rallying together in a career which has taken them through the levels of rally competition from regional New Zealand events to becoming the only Kiwis to compete in the full FIA World Rally Championship and win a WRC event.
They are both looking forward to the fresh challenge of rallies in Australia, where they will be competing in their New Zealand championship-winning Hyundai i20N Rally2 car.
"It’s great to get our Australian campaign started," Paddon said.
"John and I are very much going into the unknown with new rallies, new stages and new competition.
"But we are looking forward to the challenge and we are ready to go."
With the Hyundai’s arrival in Australia slotting in after Paddon’s participation in the Race of Champions event in Sydney two weeks ago, he has given the car a brief run on Australian roads to ensure it is ready for competition on the fast and demanding forest stages running through the heart of the Australian Capital Territory.
"Our approach is to ease into it a little," Paddon, who is seeded No 2 to defending Australian champion Harry Bates, and has his Cromwell-based PRG team on hand to run the car in Australia, said.
"We know the locals will be fast on this rally and you don’t win the championship at the first round.
"Our goals are to be consistent and feel our way in for this first event.
"Points on the board is the target to give us a base to build the rest of our championship."
The Rally of Canberra takes place in the ACT’s Tidbinbilla and Kowen forests.
Teams undertake reconnaissance today and tomorrow before a rally show in Canberra opens the event tomorrow evening.
Saturday’s eight stages cover 112 competitive kilometres and another eight stages on Sunday cover 111km.
The pine forests and gravel roads of Canberra’s surrounds are renowned by local competitors for their complexity and speed.
Other rounds of the Australian championship are in Western Australia (May 23-25), Queensland (July 4-6), Victoria (August 22-24), South Australia (October 3-5) and Tasmania (November 7-9).
