Rally Silesia: Andrea Mabellini wins, Hayden Paddon 2024 European champion

By taking 3rd place in the event, Hayden Paddon retained the European Champion title he won last year. Leading the race, Andrea Mabellini confirmed his recent good performances by winning. On the French side, Mathieu Franceschi came 5th and Yoann Bonato 6th.

Published 13/10/2024 à 17:00

Loïc ROCCI

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Rally Silesia: Andrea Mabellini wins, Hayden Paddon 2024 European champion

Hayden Paddon and John Kennard secured their second European Championship title at the Rally Silesia in Poland (Photo: Red Bull)

After a first stage in the dry, the competitors expected to experience a more complicated second day with the appearance of rain. They were not disappointed. The 6 special stages and the 81,56 km timed proved very difficult to negotiate.

Initially managing events from the first place, Hayden Paddon then did not seek to take too many risks to ensure victory. In an SS11 offering very changeable grip, the New Zealander did not want to defend a possible victory and he let Andrea Mabellini go. Not making a mistake about his objective, Paddon accepted to finish 3e, which was enough to get his 2e consecutive European championship title. At 37, the rider from Geraldine in the South Island of New Zealand has perfectly achieved his goal. As he has already indicated in recent months, this was perhaps the last time Paddon would race in Europe, as he wants to focus on projects in his home country.

Besides Paddon's title, the other important element to remember from this first Rally Silesia in ERC will remain Andrea Mabellini's first ever victory in the ERC. Often at the forefront, the 25-year-old Italian discovered the joys of the podium at the end of Ceredigion in Wales, the penultimate round. In Silesia, not far from Krakow, he confirmed his good momentum. The transalpine hopeful took advantage of Paddon's caution to take the lead and open his list of achievements in this competition in which he could be one of the major players next year.

He may find Mathieu Franceschi there, who failed to finish in style in Poland, but who will remain one of the great leaders of the 2024 championship. During this weekend, the lack of grip often caused him problems after starting the race with a car that was too hard. Having accumulated a lot of experience during the 8 rounds contested, he will be even stronger next year... if he returns.

Yoann Bonato is already strong. He proved it by lining up earlier than expected after his accident in Alsace. The multiple French champion did not have a rally easy, but that didn't dampen his good mood. If the event had had one more stage, it's certain that he would finally be ready to aim for the podium...

2024 European Championship standings

1. Paddon 145 points, 2. Franceschi 124, 3. Marczyk 109, 4. Mabellini 101, 5. Armstrong 88, 6. Tempestini 59, 7. Ostberg 51, 8. Wagner 49, 9. Bonato 49, 10. Cais 44 …

Final standings of Rally Silesia 2024

Loïc ROCCI

Journalist specializing in rallying past, present and future... and with a southern accent

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