High praise for Aussies from Hyundai’s Paddon

Australians Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Gelsomino have received praise from Hyundai WRC star, Hayden Paddon, after their first assignment as ‘gravel note’ crew.

Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Gelsomino played an important role for Hayden Paddon and John Kennard in Spain.The brother and sister duo performed the task at the Catalunya Rally in Spain last weekend, driving over the tarmac stages before the competing crews to check for changes in road conditions.

Paddon gave a “huge thanks” to Reeves and Gelsomino.

“In the past we have used Piero Liatti and Fabrizia Pons, who have been amazing and helped us a lot, but we decided to try something different, which worked really well,” Paddon said.

“Huge credit to both Brendan and Rhi, who were thrown in the deep end, but did a perfect job.”

The gravel note crews only participate on tarmac rallies, where the double use of stages means that gravel and mud is often dragged onto the roads on the first pass of stages.

This means that conditions can change dramatically for the second pass, and the gravel note crew perform a vital role in competitor safety.

- Peter Whitten

Hayden Paddon and Brendan Reeves watch footage of the stages during the Catalunya Rally.

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