Chris West and Hayden Paddon have been selected as the two recipients of this year's Repco Rally New Zealand scholarships.
The scholarships provide the talented Kiwi rally drivers with an opportunity to showcase their talents in the
FIA Production World Rally Championship class during Rally New Zealand by covering the entry fee - worth about 3500 Euros - and providing a service area for their team and car amongst the PWRC teams at the event's home base, Mystery Creek Events Centre, in August.
West and Paddon were selected by the board of Rally New Zealand as the applicants they believed can represent New Zealand to the highest level on the event and also have the ability to finish in the top level of the PWRC field. The other applicants were Stewart Taylor Andre Meier and Sloan Cox.
“Each of this year's five applicants has their own talents,” said Carr. “Clearly rallying, as a sport, has some very good talent coming through local competition. Our aim is to create the best possible chance of having a New Zealand driver at the top of the PWRC results for Repco Rally New Zealand, by talking about and providing a platform for New Zealand drivers to go to the next level.
“We believe Chris West and Hayden Paddon offer us the greatest potential to achieve this goal.”
Carr added that the scholarship offers drivers a unique opportunity in world terms: “Normally a driver would have to enter the entire eight round Production World Rally Championship - you can't just enter one round - and this year's P-WRC is fully subscribed with all 28 entry slots taken,” he continued.
Both West and Paddon have won this scholarship in the past, a fact that did not preclude either driver from applying for the scholarship again.
“We have to judge who we feel offers the best chance for top results this year based on current performance, as well who will benefit most from us providing this springboard to hopefully take them to next level,” Carr stated. “Yes, it is a judgement call, but one we, as a board, are very comfortable with.”
![Chris West [left] and Hayden Paddon [right] have won a scholarship for free entry into the PWRC class of the upcoming Rally NZ [Pic credit: Alan McDonald/Macspeedfoto]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/462991.jpg)
