New Zealander Paddon had been sitting fifth overall - more than enough seal the ERC crown one round early - when he went off the road in the Halenkovice speed test, ripping a wheel from the rear-right corner of the BRC Racing Team-run Hyundai i20 N Rally2 he shares with co-driver John Kennard.
The damage forced Paddon into retirement but he remains on target to secure the championship victory later today providing that challenger Mārtiṇš Sesks scores no more than 20 points.
Sesks, who drives a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for Team MRF Tyres, is currently 12th overall. He would need to climb to at least sixth and claim the maximum five bonus points from the rally-ending Power Stage to remain in contention.
*Subject to confirmation of the results by the FIA
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