Hayden Paddon Escort Mk2 onboard: Time for Tea?

Modern drivers hiding a talent shortfall beneath a veil of technology? Not exactly...

It's easy to speculate how quick great drivers would be if they suddenly found themselves in another motorsport era. For the most part we don't know how a modern driver would adapt to the unsophistication of an earlier car - or the relative lack of safety. And would a hero from the past be able to deliver on the physical requirements of driving a modern car, or with the massive increase in pace?

Obviously this is the sort of discussion that normally produces far more heat than light for the simple fact that, without a working time machine, we just can't know. But this video is confirmation that Hyundai WRC driver Hayden Paddon would be very quick indeed if he suddenly found himself back in 1975, and being strapped into a works Escort RS1800.

Paddon took a break from what's been a disappointing WRC season to drive the Otago Rally back in his native New Zealand last weekend. And although he was competing in the historic-regs Classic category, he managed to win the entire event outright - finishing just 2.5 seconds ahead of the second-placed Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. Scotsman Alister McRae came third in the Classic in another Escort, and a commendable ninth in the overall classification, despite problems.

We like a bit of giant killing here, of course - last year we told you about the UK's own hero-in-a-mk2 Callum Duffy. But Paddon's achievement really stands out as the car he was driving was in pretty much period spec; no sequential gearbox or mega-power engine - just the sweet, sweet music of a hard-charging BDA.

This in-car footage from the first day is fascinating; Paddon is driving the Escort like a WRC car, sideways well before the apex of every corner. The fast section from 2:45 is particularly impressive, with the car flat in top gear for 40 seconds. Brilliant stuff, and confirmation that modern rally stars don't need four-wheel drive and clever differentials to impress.

Watch the vid here.