Hard-fought 2nd pleases Paddon
The Kiwis become the first non-Europeans to stand on the Ypres podium after the all-tarmac event.
Paddon piloted a Hyundai i20N Rally2 car prepared by last year's Belgian Champions, BMA, in a field containing international stars such as Dani Sordo, Jos Verstappen, Freddy Loix and defending champion Stephane Lefebvre.
It was all on from the outset as milliseconds separated the frontrunners at times.
Paddon and Hudson won Saturday's second stage, putting them into the overall lead.
Despite intense challenges from Sordo and Lefebvre, the Kiwis' consistency at delivering top-three stage times throughout all of the day's eight stages kept them in the lead by day's end.
On Sunday, with 10 stages to tackle, Lefebvre chipped away at Paddon's lead to top the standings by special stage three.
Paddon and Hudson kept the pressure on and were stoked to finish on the podium, just 10.3sec behind Lefebvre.
"We always knew it was going to be tough challenge this weekend being up against very fast locals and previous winners," Paddon said.
"Our goal was to try and get a podium finish, so we're pleased to have done that.
"To be fighting for victory was probably more than we expected, particularly to be leading the rally for half of it.
"We put up a good fight and tried everything we could. We didn't quite have enough at the end but, still, to be only 10sec shy of the winners was a good weekend for the team and car."
Paddon will be straight back into action at Rally Queensland this weekend.
He and longtime co-driver John Kennard resume their bid to win their first Australian Rally Championship titles.
They lead their respective drivers'/co-drivers' championship points tables. Paddon has 160 points after two rounds, seven points ahead of second-placed Lewis Bates. Kennard also has 160 points, ahead of Bates' co-driver, Anthony McLoughlin.
Queensland is the third round of the six-round Australian championship, and comprises 14 special stages and about 193 competitive kilometres. — APL
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