Behind second-placed Chris Ingram, who is driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 on Michelin tyres, Callum Devine took third after he demoted Meirion Evans for the final spot on the provisional podium on SS6. However, the 2023 Irish Tarmac champion slipped back to seventh on SS7 as Simone Tempestini moved in the opposite direction, climbing from sixth to third aboard his MRF Tyres-equipped Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.
It would get worse for Evans on SS7, which the Toyota-driving Welshman was tackling for the first time following an earlier stoppage, when he slipped to 10th overall.
But there were no such problems for Pirelli-equipped Paddon, the reigning European champion for Hyundai-powered BRC Racing Team.
“We’re not backing off because we want to keep a rhythm but in the tricky bits we’re taking it easy,” Paddon said after SS7.
Tempestini, who is 12sec behind Ingram, said: “For sure we’re a bit more comfortable and we enjoy a lot these stages as and I had some really nice slides [on SS7] but I don’t know if the time is okay.”
Keith Cronin is fourth after seven stages with Miko Marczyk fifth and fellow ERC title contender Mathieu Franceschi in sixth. Andrea Mabellini is eighth behind Devine with double Rali Ceredigion winner Osian Pryce ninth.
After being delayed by a spin and tyre damage this morning, Jon Armstrong hit back with the second fastest time through stages six and seven in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Eamonn Kelly leads Jakub Matulka in FIA ERC3 by 5.3sec. Mille Johansson heads FIA ERC4 and FIA Junior ERC after early pacesetter Calle Carlberg dropped back on SS7 following a lengthy delay caused by stopping to change a damaged front-left tyre.
SS8, the repeat of the 14.52km Caws Cenarth Nant y Moch stage, is due to get under way at 17:09 local time.
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