Hayden Paddon Takes Lead at Rally Paraguay Amidst Retirements

Hayden Paddon emerged as the leader of Rally Paraguay, marking his first lead in a World Rally Championship event since 2018. The rally, known for its challenging conditions, saw several top competitors retire early on.

After four stages, Paddon and co-driver John Kennard were the only Rally1 crew to avoid significant issues, finishing the morning with a 23.9-second lead over Josh McErlean. Elfyn Evans followed in third place, 26.7 seconds behind the leader.

The morning was marked by dramatic retirements, including Takamoto Katsuta, who rolled his car in the opening stage, and Thierry Neuville, who suffered a puncture that led to suspension damage. Reigning champion Sebastien Ogier also faced difficulties, retiring after sustaining damage from a puncture and hitting a bank. The rally continues with crews set to repeat the morning stages.