New challenges awaited as the now 21-year-old Hayden got to grips with a new Mitsubishi Evo IX, resplendent in the distinctive Paddon Direct green livery. The goal: to win the New Zealand Rally Championship.
In April Hayden, John and the team headed to Rally Wairarapa for the first NZRC event of the season. It was always hard to beat local man and (at that point) two-time national champion Richard Mason, and early issues with the car didn’t help but they persevered to win the final stage of the two-day rally and take sixth overall.
May saw the team back at one of Hayden’s favourite events, Otago. While the rally win went to Richard Mason, Hayden and John were second fastest in ten of the 13 stages, and finished second overall for a solid haul of championship points.
June was busy with the two-day International Rally of Whangarei as well as Rally Waitomo later in the month. Whangarei bought a new, international opportunity – the Pirelli Star Driver search. The top two drivers in Whangarei would win €5000 to compete in the second Asia Pacific qualifying round in Malaysia in October, and whoever won in Malaysia joined the PSD squad for six World Rally Championship rounds in 2009! Hayden enjoyed a massive battle against Chris West for the outright rally honours, taking four stage wins and finishing second to Chris by just 17 seconds. He also topped the PSD points, against the other favourite Mark Tapper.
At the second June event, the one-day Rally of Waitomo, Hayden was again second to Chris West, keeping his NZRC points ticking along nicely. In July, Hayden and John were fired up, winning five of the six stages run for Rally Hawke’s Bay to beat Richard Mason into second place and earn maximum championship points.
August and the World Rally Championship came to Mystery Creek, Hamilton. NZRC competitors counted days one and two towards the championship but needed to contest all three days to count for the ‘first Kiwi home’ honour. Hayden and Chris West received a Repco Rally New Zealand scholarship providing free entry in the Production WRC class, and an opportunity to prove themselves against international drivers in similar Group N rally cars. To add to the pressure, Hayden could win his first national championship with one round to go… Richard Mason wasn’t giving up without a fight, managing to shut Hayden out of the NZRC category stage wins for both Friday and Saturday. But finishing second meant Hayden and John earned enough points to secure the NZRC title…woohoo! Day three and Richard was out with a mechanical failure, meaning Hayden and John were the first Kiwi crew home in 13th overall! They were also fourth among the Group N competitors, ahead of several internationals. A great event all round.
Next came the opportunity to compete at Rally Malaysia in October and the chance to become the Asia Pacific driver in the inaugural Pirelli Star Driver programme next year. Hayden was up against fellow Kiwi Mark Tapper, rising Australian star Eli Evans and six others. A challenging, slippery rally ensued with major damage to Hayden’s car in Leg One after sliding into an oil palm, and then he lost a lot of time in the first stage of Leg Two when his car had an electrical problem. “We regrouped after the first service stop but Mark was too far in front for us to even think about winning the Pirelli Star Driver competition,” Hayden said.
As they say, what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.