The New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon has crashed out of the World Rally Championships latest event in Finland.
Plenty more roller coaster roads lie in store for Haydon Paddon in the Rally of Finland. Photo: Vettas Media
The 28-year-old hit a hidden rock on day two of Rally Finland overnight, breaking his steering and sending his Hyundai sailing into the trees before it rolled several times.
Paddon is fine but the damage to his car has forced his retirement from the rally.
The New Zealander had a very strong day before the crash on stage six, consistently in the top five and showing excellent pace to match splits with double world champion with Sebastien Ogier.
However the damage to Paddon's Hyundai i20 proved too significant for the team to repair so they were forced to retire completely.
Paddon said," Not the way we wanted to end our day - crashing on SS6. First roll in 42 WRC events so not a bad record."
"Feeling was good on the first stage of the afternoon and we were matching splits with Sebastien Ogier."
"However, near the end of the stage, I was about 1cm too tight on a flat right corner where we hit a hidden rock and lost the car."
"That broke the steering arm and from there we were just passengers. It sent us sailing into the trees and (rolling) over a couple of times."
"It's not the best result, but all in all we've got to be pleased about the speeds we've had, being ahead of our team-mates."
"There's still a lot of positives to take out it. Our first roll in a WRC event in 42 events is not too bad a record. "
"We'll learn from this, we'll pick ourselves up and get things back on track at the next rally."
"Both John (Kennard, Paddon's co-driver) and I are ok but feel sorry for all our fans and the team."
Paddon is in eighth place in the overall championship standings after 7 rounds, coming off a second in Italy and a fourth in Poland.
