November 9, 2025
New Zealand rally stars Hayden Paddon and John Kennard have been crowned champions of Australia for the very first time in Tasmania while Harry Bates and Coral Taylor picked up the Buckby Motors Rally Tasmania victory.
Having led the EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) standings for the majority of the 2025 season, Paddon and Kennard did what they needed to do in Burnie to seal the title with a cautious season-ending approach, seeing them finish in third place despite some late mechanical dramas.
Post-race, Paddon dedicated the championship to his countryman, the late Possum Bourne. An eight-time Australian Rally Champion, Paddon says that Bourne’s rally feats in Australia and around the world was his inspiration to compete in rallying.
The third-place finish for Paddon and Kennard capped off what has been an almost perfect debut season in the championship for the New Zealand duo, claiming four of the six rounds.
“Probably the slowest way we’ve ever won a championship, but we did what we had to do – not just today, but all year,” Paddon said.
“A lot of this is for Possum. He was the inspiration over the last couple of years to keep going and to come over and do something he really dominated. It’s pretty cool.
“We’re so lucky to have so much support. It’s the same support we get around the world and across the ditch here. It’s great that Kiwis embrace this rally championship as well.
“Honestly, I’ve loved it over here. Everyone’s been so welcoming. The rallies have brought new challenges for us, and the competition with the Bates brothers, Scott and Alex, has been great. We’ve loved that.
“We’ve done it on a shoestring budget, despite what people might think, it’s been a pretty tight budget. So it’s cool to tick it off the list, and something cool to add to John’s and my CV, and keep building on everything we’ve been doing around the world.”
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