VINZ partners with Hayden Paddon and NZ World Rally Team

18 June 2013

VINZ partners with Hayden Paddon and New Zealand World Rally Team

Leading New Zealand rally driver Hayden Paddon and his New Zealand World Rally Team have formed a new commercial partnership with Vehicle Inspection New Zealand Ltd (VINZ).

Paddon says VINZ will play a prominent role in the team’s international and national campaigns in 2013 with the new partnership allowing Paddon and co-driver John Kennard the opportunity to add a third round to their World Rally Championship (WRC) campaign. The Kiwi duo will now also contest Rally Australia later this year in addition to WRC events in Finland and Germany.

“Firstly, it is a real honour to have VINZ join our team,” says Paddon from his home in Geraldine. “The VINZ-New Zealand World Rally Team partnership is the first taste of motorsport for VINZ and we look forward to working with the VINZ team to help strengthen their market and showcase what VINZ can offer New Zealand motorists across the country.”

For many years VINZ has provided Kiwis with a valued range of motoring-related services such as warrant of fitness inspections and vehicle appraisals.

“It’s also a partnership that has many synergies around safety. While John and I compete at speed in the sport of rallying, at all times we are conscious of our own safety and the safety of fellow competitors, officials and spectators. In a similar vein, VINZ helps general road users ensure their vehicles are safe and legal on the roads, all part of keeping New Zealand motorists safe.”

As part of the partnership, Paddon and his car will undertake a road-show tour to the 10 bright yellow VINZ centres around New Zealand at the end of the year. The road-show offers members of the public the opportunity to come and meet the 2011 FIA Production World Rally Champion and double New Zealand Rally Champion at their local VINZ centre.

Auckland-based VINZ general manager Frank Willett says VINZ is delighted to partner with Hayden Paddon and the New Zealand World Rally Team.

“The partnership will provide valuable opportunities to further build the VINZ brand throughout New Zealand alongside Hayden’s rallying campaigns,” says Willett. “Hayden is well-known in the sport as an ever-approachable and professional personality, fronting the New Zealand World Rally Team.”

The new partnership, along with the continued support of Stadium Cars, PlaceMakers and Giltrap Group, has allowed the management team of Hayden Paddon RallySport Global Ltd (HPRG) to extend 2013’s competitive programme.

HPRG director Peter Swaney comments: “As well as the European Rally Championship’s Ypres Rally and the scheduled WRC rounds in Finland and Germany, we are now able to add Rally Australia to our schedule. We do still have some funds to still find, but with some good results we would like to get Hayden and John to further events beyond this in 2013 as well. We are all working hard toward this goal.”

The second half of 2013 also sees Paddon and the team continue their New Zealand Championship campaign.

Paddon says: “We currently lead the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) but will miss the next two rounds, Daybreaker and Canterbury, and will look to return to the NZRC field for the Possum Bourne Memorial rally in early September which runs the weekend before Rally Australia,” says Paddon. “I am very lucky to have such a great team around me, and all our guys here will be working hard on our Stadium Cars Evo9 to get it ready for this event while we are competing in Europe.”

To keep up to date with Paddon, Kennard and the New Zealand World Rally Team’s progress while in Europe, follow them on Facebook, Twitter or the website, www.haydenpaddon.com.

Paddon and the New Zealand World Rally Team appreciate the support of VINZ, Giltrap Group, CP-Carrillo, Pirelli, PlaceMakers, Z Energy, Stadium Cars, Telecom New Zealand, Saddle Hill Quarries, Heartland Potato Chips, New Balance, Scott Sports, Total Automotive Timaru, Coxy’s Panel Repairs, Resene, All About Signs, Reaction Racing, In-Tune Automotive, Racetech, Chicane, Endless Brakes, Nichibo, Choice at Team Ralliart, Andar The Front Store, MCA Suspension, Tyre General, Dunlop, Pope Print, Bluebridge Ferry, ION, and 1Group.

Hayden Paddon’s 2013 competition schedule
6-7 April, DriveSouth Rally Otago, NZRC
18-19 May, International Rally of Whangarei, NZRC
29-30 June, Ypres Rally, ERC
1-3 August, Neste Oil Rally Finland, WRC2
22-25 August, ADAC Rallye Deutschland, WRC2
7 September, Possum Bourne Memorial Rally, Auckland, NZRC - TBC
13-15 September, Rally Australia, WRC2
Further events to be confirmed

ENDS

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