Symtech Racing P-WRC Event Summary

Dominant victory for Belgian team Symtech Racing in Portugal!

Belgian team Symtech Racing, which is based in Grobbendonk, made a big impression on its debut in the 2011 Production car World Rally Championship. Its crew of Hayden Paddon and John Kennard dominated the Rally of Portugal in their Subaru Impreza STR11, ending the weekend with a clear victory margin of more than eight minutes in the Production category.

After two days of testing last week in Spain, it was clear that Hayden Paddon felt comfortable in the Subaru Impreza STR11. Symtech Racing has developed and built its own Subaru Impreza STR11, and Paddon was able to see the difference straight away compared to some other cars that he had driven. He tested the car for the final time on Monday before the rally started, in order to be completely ready for the action. From the opening stages on Friday, Paddon demonstrated his authority: he ended the day with a 33-second lead. His tactic on the second day was clear: the New Zealander aimed to push over the first three stages in order to have a minute's margin or so to play with in the afternoon. In the end it turned out to be easier than expected as nobody had an answer to the Paddon-Symtech duo, whose cushion at the end of the second day was up to 6m35s.

Sunday was a much calmer day, with the priority being to get to the finish, but on SS15 a rear suspension arm broke. Paddon was able to make running repairs in order to get back to service and end rally with a win in the PWRC category, more than eight minutes ahead of Finnish driver Jukka Ketomaki.

After two days of testing last week in Spain, it was clear that Hayden Paddon felt comfortable in the Subaru Impreza STR11. Symtech Racing has developed and built its own Subaru Impreza STR11, and Paddon was able to see the difference straight away compared to some other cars that he had driven. He tested the car for the final time on Monday before the rally started, in order to be completely ready for the action. From the opening stages on Friday, Paddon demonstrated his authority: he ended the day with a 33-second lead. His tactic on the second day was clear: the New Zealander aimed to push over the first three stages in order to have a minute's margin or so to play with in the afternoon. In the end it turned out to be easier than expected as nobody had an answer to the Paddon-Symtech duo, whose cushion at the end of the second day was up to 6m35s.

Sunday was a much calmer day, with the priority being to get to the finish, but on SS15 a rear suspension arm broke. Paddon was able to make running repairs in order to get back to service and end rally with a win in the PWRC category, more than eight minutes ahead of Finnish driver Jukka Ketomaki.

-source: symtech racing