Driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 on Pirelli tyres, the BRC Racing Team driver shrugged off cold ambient and ground temperatures and low-grip Tarmac roads to set the fastest time on Saturday’s opening two stages.
However, his lead over Andrea Mabellini (Team MRF Tyres) is a mere 1.0sec ahead of the midday service halt at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów after Mabellini set a succession of top-three stage times in his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
But with a second ERC title Paddon’s priority, the New Zealander is adamant he won’t become embroiled in a battle for victory with Mabellini, who took his maiden ERC podium on the last round in Wales.
“I’m not putting a year’s hard work behind us to fight for a rally win, we’re just keeping a safe place at the moment and we’re quite comfortable doing what we’re doing,” Paddon said. “But it’s tricky conditions because the grip is changing a lot and you need some margin in these conditions.”
Mabellini (pictured above) said: “It seems everything is working this morning and it’s a little bit more easy let’s say. We’ve had a good morning and we’re happy at the moment.”
Home hero and double Rally Silesia winner Miko Marczyk (pictured below) began Saturday’s opening run leading by 0.2sec following his fastest time on Friday evening’s Katowice Super Special Stage. But a moment when the Michelin-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver almost hit a haybale cost vital time and he completed SS2 6.0sec slower than pacesetter Paddon.
While Paddon was fastest again on SS3, Marczyk lost further ground following an off-road moment on the gravel section of the 10.8km Ochaby test. Marczyk admitted he was also struggling under braking at the completion of SS4 but was nevertheless able to demote compatriot Grzegorz Grzyb for third place.
It’s also been a challenging morning for Paddon’s ERC title rival Mathieu Franceschi, who has struggled with set-up issues on the low-grip Polish roads. The Frenchman is sixth after four stages, one place behind Simone Tempestini, who reported going wide at a junction on SS4.
Łukasz Byśkiniewicz is seventh followed by Polish championship points leader Jarosław Szeja and Zbigniew Gabryś.
Yoann Bonato, who is competing again after recovering from fractures to three vertebrae sustained in a crash on a French championship event in June, is 10th overall after four stages but in pain following a “big impact” on SS4.
Jon Armstrong’s bid for a breakthrough ERC podium suffered an early setback when his Ford Fiesta Rally2 lost power before the two-kilometre mark of SS2. The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver (pictured below) was also delayed on SS3 with a half-spin. But he hit back in style on SS4 by banking his second ERC career stage win despite running wide nearing the end of the Gmina Jasienica stage.
Meirion Evans stalled underbraking on SS3 and reported his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 didn’t restart immediately.
Jakub Matulka was in 11th overall after SS2 and on course for a strong time on SS3 only to spin at low speed into a tree nearing the stage finish. The ERC3 event winner dropped considerable time trying to select reverse gear and was 36.1sec adrift of Paddon’s stage-topping time.
FIA ERC4 and FIA Junior ERC champion Mille Johansson headed the FIA ERC3 Championship order after three stages in his Hankook-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally3 on his category debut. His fellow Swede Calle Carlberg led the ERC4 and Junior ERC classifications aboard his Hankook-shod Opel Corsa Rally4 after SS3.
Kajetan Kajetanowicz, the three-time ERC champion and current FIA WRC2 Challenger contender, is performing course car-driving duties on Rally Silesia. The Ochaby test was particularly significant for the Polish legend: his grandfather, also named Kajetan, once ran a stud farm located on part of the route.
The repeat of the day-opening Jastrzębie Zdrój stage is due to get under way at 15:15 local time. Click HERE for live timing.
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