September 20, 2025 • 8 mins
One of New Zealand’s most iconic motorsport events is hitting the ground this weekend.
The Ashley Forest Rally Sprint has attracted many of both the country’s top drivers and international names over the years, with a fast and challenging 1.7 kilometre gravel hillclimb.
Having first competed at age 14, Ashley Forest has played a big part in the career of Kiwi rally driver Hayden Paddon, setting multiple records and claiming many victories.
He told Piney it's a different format to a normal rally – even if you’re in the fastest car, you still need to get through each round with no problems.
“That’s what adds to the excitement for the fans and for ourselves.”
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Ashley Forest Rally sprinters on this weekend now doung
the order in Canterbury are fast and challenging one point
seven kilometer gravel hill climb first held in nineteen seventy
nine and since then it has become one of New
Zealand's most iconic motorsport events, attracting many of the country's
top drivers as well as international names over the years.
As well. New Zealand's most successful rally driver, Hayden Padden,
(00:35):
is a regular competitor at Ashley Forest. He's won at
five times, more than anybody else twenty eleven, twenty nineteen
and each of the last three and has the course
record of fifty two seconds flat, which he set in
twenty twenty three. Hayden Padden is with us. Is this
one of your favorite events?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, it's certainly a favorite one for sure, just particlarly
with the history and it's a very different format to
the type of events we normally do, but it's a
lot of fun and a lot of adrenalins.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
You first competed here as a fourteen year old. That
must have been one of the first significant events in
your motorsport journey, was it.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, seems like a long time ago, but especially on
my fourteenth birthday as well, driving my dad's roller. And yes,
it's quite humbling just to remember what we've done in
the last twenty years since then and they come back
with our own team and cars and continue to enjoy
this event.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
So how does it work, Hayden? Across the weekend? How
many cracks do you get at it?
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, so it's a different format to I rally, to say,
elimination format, so like today is qualifying and then tomorrow
we go in and the shootout. So top thirty two,
sixteen eighty four and two, so nothing predictable. Even if
you're the fastest car around, you still want to get
to reach around with no problems and I guess you
know that's what adds to the excitement for the fans
and for ourselves.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Absolutely. So you're still alive as we speak, presumably.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, everything's gone well. So we've done two qualifying runs
so far, another two to go today with it's not
looking so good tomorrow, which is not good for us
trying to try to beat our record but in saying that,
you just got to play on the conditions that were
handed and you know, we're trying to do the best
job of can today while the weather's good.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
You know that record fifty two seconds flat and your
Hyundai I twenty ap four and twenty twenty three. As
you as you're driving, do you know your your close
to record speed or does that only occur to you
once once the clock stops.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yes, it's a stufficord rilling because you're obviously on your own.
You don't have those reference points of other cars, and
there's so many variables. Also with the road conditions plays
a big part. So we can see this year, for example,
the road's not fast, so that plays a major factor
in it. So yeah, it's really hard to gauge your time,
and you know, particularly over this shorter space of road,
there's no room for era and you know every tenth
(02:47):
for second becomes quite critical.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
I mentioned the it the Hyunda it I twenty ap four.
Then you've been a driving force behind some groundbreaking projects
with AP four hill climbs and n ev rally programs
as well. Can you just explain AP four for us?
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, Basically AP four is the New Zealand Concert. It
pretty much is born from the International Rally two speed car,
which is the same car that we run in Europe,
but it's just sort of done on a lower budget
to try and make it more affordable for Kiwi competitors.
So the AP four concept has been around for nearly
ten years now, and the Rally two car, which is
the same as what we're rallying in Australia this year
and Europe last year, is probably the more common car now.
(03:27):
But the AP four allows you to use a bit
of kV ingenuity and number eight wire and you know,
particularly events like this where we can put nine hundred
horse par under the engine and bighero it gives you
a lot more flexibility.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Love it. And in twenty twenty two you made history
bike taking victory in this event in an electric car,
first time the event I'd ever been won in an
electric car.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
How significant was that huge for our team? You know,
we've got the electric car here again this year, and
that was a big project for us five years ago
and we launched it and as a small team in
Central Otago the build and design one of these cars
and be the world's first doing it was something that
we're pretty proud of and then to bring in it
and to win was I guess the cheery on top.
So it's still an ongoing R and D project and
(04:06):
a lot with electrification and hydrogen within the industry. So yeah,
as Paul as the big horsepower combustion cars are and
it's what we all love and motorsport, it's actually it's
a lot of fun and a good challenge with we
dabbling with the technology as well.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
So that's what you're racing this weekend. Have you made
a few changes to any modifications?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, on the AP four, so I've got more power,
more ERA this year. The EV is much the same
as it has been the last couple of years. It's
a pretty good platform that doesn't need a whole lot.
So but yeah, every year you're always trying to find
something more, you know, the beauty and motor sport as
if you're standing still, you're going backward, So it's always
about trying to push the envelope.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
So you mentioned the weather before, so are you I
mean it's fifty two flat realistic this weekend or might
that not be possible?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
It may not be possible. Normally, the record time always
comes on the second day as the road develops over
the weekend and sweeps off and becomes faster. So now
with the rain tomorrow, we've still got to try and
do it today. So I think it's it's a tough ass,
but we will certainly give it a correct But you know,
long term, you know, we want to try and break
the fifty second barrier. You know, I remember when the
minute barrier broken here some thirty five or forty years
ago by Rod Millan. To try and do full circle
(05:11):
and go ten seconds quicker and get under the fifty
is the ultimate goal. So that's what we'll work towards
over the next year or two.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Unreal. So, I mean you mentioned before that a tenth
of a second is quite a long time and this
so to shave a couple more seconds off, where do
you find those? Where do you find that extra extra pace?
Or how do you shave two seconds off?
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah, well you're right, it doesn't sound a lot two seconds,
but here it is a lot. That's a mountain of
the climb. But it's just about the accumulation of everything.
You know, the road condition's been right, we can keep
adding more power, to keep adding more aero. It's just
a constant development race. You know, that's a beauty motors
for it. It is just constantly moving toward. So yeah, we're
just going to keep pushing ourselves and the whole team
(05:52):
and Steve we can they reach that target.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
You're such an advocate for rally driving, Hayden, You've talked
openly about the potential in years ahead to run a
top flight WRC team from New Zealand. Juter regulation changes,
you do you believe that's real stick?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Oh? Yeah, certainly the goal. There's a new rule sick
from the WRC that's looking to be launched for twenty
twenty seven, and these new rules are going to give
opportunities to teams like ourselves to go out and build
and prepare our own car. And you know, my goal
is able to do that from the Zeland runner on
New Zealand team a bit like what you know in
New Zealand doing Sale GP or America's Cup is a
really take you know, you been proud from this country.
(06:30):
There's a lot of good engineers and technicians in this
country and been able to utilize that and take on
the world. So yeah, these opportunities that are going to
be coming, We're still working through the business models and
how we fund it and that's another challenge on his own.
But from a personnel side and expertise, we've certainly got
the got what we need here in New Zealand to do.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
The job outstanding. And you're currently leading the Australian Rally
Championship after four of six events, just Adelaide and Tasmania
to come. You've won the last three. Are you just
getting better the more you do this?
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Oh? I don't know about I'm getting older as well.
A few more great heads. Yeah, obviously Australia. We're loving
the challenge over there for the first time and the
motivated fact there are obviously you know, growing up watching
poss and Born and what he did and nausey dominating
for many years, and to now go over and try
and compete with the same You know that the sons
of Neil Bates, who is who possibly you to compete against,
(07:18):
brings back a lot of memories. So yeah, started off
a bit rough with the Kangaroo and coounter, shall we say,
but we still have got things back on track since
then and hopefully we can continue it for last two rounds.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
What did you have the kangaroo in the first event.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Yeah, unfortunately. Yeah, the kangaroo ran across the road and
wiped out the car so far Yeah, that was the
ind Ofnate Rally. So behave we've learned about the local
wildlife now so we can move on.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
See that won't happen on Ashley and Ashley Forest. No
kangaroo's up there, mate, all.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I've seen plenty of while of these down and wy
many forests actually so that they come close.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
All right, had a great to chat. Made awesome to
have you home. Thanks for taking the time this afternoon
and all the best across the weekend. Thanks that's Hayden
Pas and joining us our best ever rally driver at
the Ashley Forest Rally Sprint on this weekend now at
any order in Canterbury.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
For more from weekends forward with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Ashley Forest Rally sprinters on this weekend now doung
the order in Canterbury are fast and challenging one point
seven kilometer gravel hill climb first held in nineteen seventy
nine and since then it has become one of New
Zealand's most iconic motorsport events, attracting many of the country's
top drivers as well as international names over the years.
As well. New Zealand's most successful rally driver, Hayden Padden,
(00:35):
is a regular competitor at Ashley Forest. He's won at
five times, more than anybody else twenty eleven, twenty nineteen
and each of the last three and has the course
record of fifty two seconds flat, which he set in
twenty twenty three. Hayden Padden is with us. Is this
one of your favorite events?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, it's certainly a favorite one for sure, just particlarly
with the history and it's a very different format to
the type of events we normally do, but it's a
lot of fun and a lot of adrenalins.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
You first competed here as a fourteen year old. That
must have been one of the first significant events in
your motorsport journey, was it.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, seems like a long time ago, but especially on
my fourteenth birthday as well, driving my dad's roller. And yes,
it's quite humbling just to remember what we've done in
the last twenty years since then and they come back
with our own team and cars and continue to enjoy
this event.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
So how does it work, Hayden? Across the weekend? How
many cracks do you get at it?
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, so it's a different format to I rally, to say,
elimination format, so like today is qualifying and then tomorrow
we go in and the shootout. So top thirty two,
sixteen eighty four and two, so nothing predictable. Even if
you're the fastest car around, you still want to get
to reach around with no problems and I guess you
know that's what adds to the excitement for the fans
and for ourselves.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Absolutely. So you're still alive as we speak, presumably.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, everything's gone well. So we've done two qualifying runs
so far, another two to go today with it's not
looking so good tomorrow, which is not good for us
trying to try to beat our record but in saying that,
you just got to play on the conditions that were
handed and you know, we're trying to do the best
job of can today while the weather's good.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
You know that record fifty two seconds flat and your
Hyundai I twenty ap four and twenty twenty three. As
you as you're driving, do you know your your close
to record speed or does that only occur to you
once once the clock stops.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yes, it's a stufficord rilling because you're obviously on your own.
You don't have those reference points of other cars, and
there's so many variables. Also with the road conditions plays
a big part. So we can see this year, for example,
the road's not fast, so that plays a major factor
in it. So yeah, it's really hard to gauge your time,
and you know, particularly over this shorter space of road,
there's no room for era and you know every tenth
(02:47):
for second becomes quite critical.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
I mentioned the it the Hyunda it I twenty ap four.
Then you've been a driving force behind some groundbreaking projects
with AP four hill climbs and n ev rally programs
as well. Can you just explain AP four for us?
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, Basically AP four is the New Zealand Concert. It
pretty much is born from the International Rally two speed car,
which is the same car that we run in Europe,
but it's just sort of done on a lower budget
to try and make it more affordable for Kiwi competitors.
So the AP four concept has been around for nearly
ten years now, and the Rally two car, which is
the same as what we're rallying in Australia this year
and Europe last year, is probably the more common car now.
(03:27):
But the AP four allows you to use a bit
of kV ingenuity and number eight wire and you know,
particularly events like this where we can put nine hundred
horse par under the engine and bighero it gives you
a lot more flexibility.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Love it. And in twenty twenty two you made history
bike taking victory in this event in an electric car,
first time the event I'd ever been won in an
electric car.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
How significant was that huge for our team? You know,
we've got the electric car here again this year, and
that was a big project for us five years ago
and we launched it and as a small team in
Central Otago the build and design one of these cars
and be the world's first doing it was something that
we're pretty proud of and then to bring in it
and to win was I guess the cheery on top.
So it's still an ongoing R and D project and
(04:06):
a lot with electrification and hydrogen within the industry. So yeah,
as Paul as the big horsepower combustion cars are and
it's what we all love and motorsport, it's actually it's
a lot of fun and a good challenge with we
dabbling with the technology as well.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
So that's what you're racing this weekend. Have you made
a few changes to any modifications?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, on the AP four, so I've got more power,
more ERA this year. The EV is much the same
as it has been the last couple of years. It's
a pretty good platform that doesn't need a whole lot.
So but yeah, every year you're always trying to find
something more, you know, the beauty and motor sport as
if you're standing still, you're going backward, So it's always
about trying to push the envelope.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
So you mentioned the weather before, so are you I
mean it's fifty two flat realistic this weekend or might
that not be possible?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
It may not be possible. Normally, the record time always
comes on the second day as the road develops over
the weekend and sweeps off and becomes faster. So now
with the rain tomorrow, we've still got to try and
do it today. So I think it's it's a tough ass,
but we will certainly give it a correct But you know,
long term, you know, we want to try and break
the fifty second barrier. You know, I remember when the
minute barrier broken here some thirty five or forty years
ago by Rod Millan. To try and do full circle
(05:11):
and go ten seconds quicker and get under the fifty
is the ultimate goal. So that's what we'll work towards
over the next year or two.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Unreal. So, I mean you mentioned before that a tenth
of a second is quite a long time and this
so to shave a couple more seconds off, where do
you find those? Where do you find that extra extra pace?
Or how do you shave two seconds off?
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah, well you're right, it doesn't sound a lot two seconds,
but here it is a lot. That's a mountain of
the climb. But it's just about the accumulation of everything.
You know, the road condition's been right, we can keep
adding more power, to keep adding more aero. It's just
a constant development race. You know, that's a beauty motors
for it. It is just constantly moving toward. So yeah, we're
just going to keep pushing ourselves and the whole team
(05:52):
and Steve we can they reach that target.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
You're such an advocate for rally driving, Hayden, You've talked
openly about the potential in years ahead to run a
top flight WRC team from New Zealand. Juter regulation changes,
you do you believe that's real stick?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Oh? Yeah, certainly the goal. There's a new rule sick
from the WRC that's looking to be launched for twenty
twenty seven, and these new rules are going to give
opportunities to teams like ourselves to go out and build
and prepare our own car. And you know, my goal
is able to do that from the Zeland runner on
New Zealand team a bit like what you know in
New Zealand doing Sale GP or America's Cup is a
really take you know, you been proud from this country.
(06:30):
There's a lot of good engineers and technicians in this
country and been able to utilize that and take on
the world. So yeah, these opportunities that are going to
be coming, We're still working through the business models and
how we fund it and that's another challenge on his own.
But from a personnel side and expertise, we've certainly got
the got what we need here in New Zealand to do.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
The job outstanding. And you're currently leading the Australian Rally
Championship after four of six events, just Adelaide and Tasmania
to come. You've won the last three. Are you just
getting better the more you do this?
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Oh? I don't know about I'm getting older as well.
A few more great heads. Yeah, obviously Australia. We're loving
the challenge over there for the first time and the
motivated fact there are obviously you know, growing up watching
poss and Born and what he did and nausey dominating
for many years, and to now go over and try
and compete with the same You know that the sons
of Neil Bates, who is who possibly you to compete against,
(07:18):
brings back a lot of memories. So yeah, started off
a bit rough with the Kangaroo and coounter, shall we say,
but we still have got things back on track since
then and hopefully we can continue it for last two rounds.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
What did you have the kangaroo in the first event.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Yeah, unfortunately. Yeah, the kangaroo ran across the road and
wiped out the car so far Yeah, that was the
ind Ofnate Rally. So behave we've learned about the local
wildlife now so we can move on.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
See that won't happen on Ashley and Ashley Forest. No
kangaroo's up there, mate, all.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I've seen plenty of while of these down and wy
many forests actually so that they come close.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
All right, had a great to chat. Made awesome to
have you home. Thanks for taking the time this afternoon
and all the best across the weekend. Thanks that's Hayden
Pas and joining us our best ever rally driver at
the Ashley Forest Rally Sprint on this weekend now at
any order in Canterbury.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
For more from weekends forward with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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