paul fallon - co driver

Well I've finally done it, secured the title of New Zealand Champion co-driver!

I've been competing as a co-driver (navigator) since 1998 and in that time I've competed in 59 events across New Zealand, Australia, India, Thailand and Japan, and have clocked up a total of 8 wins and 25 podium finishes.

I teamed up with Dean at the end of 2005. We work really well together in the car, and we're good mates out of the car too, it's really important that we get on.

Although Dean and I didn't really know each other that well when I first agreed to join up with the ITM Rally Team, we connected in the car straight away, and on our test event, we won outright! Sure it was a regional event rather than a New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) event, but there were a few fast drivers there and we took the win. Since then, we've competed in 27 events together, both on gravel and tarmac, and have won five, four of which were NZRC events, and we've been on the podium 11 times (9 NZRC).

Last year was our best yet, but far from easy. We lead the 2010 New Zealand Rally Championship from the start with our win at Otago, then backed this up by finishing every round on the podium which was instrumental in taking the championship title.

So now what? Defend our title in 2011. This will be tough as the calibre of drivers in New Zealand is very high and this year sees the strongest field of competitors in the NZRC ever. Plus Hayden Paddon is back in New Zealand to have a shot at the title too, and he is essentially driving full-time on his PWRC campaign so will be very tough to beat.

NATIONALITY: Kiwi
RESIDENCE: Taupo
FAVORITE SPARE TIME ACTIVITIES: Mountain Biking, Road Cycling, Water Skiing
SHORT TERM GOAL: Successfully defend our title as New Zealand Rally Champions
SEASONS COMPETING IN NZRC: This will be my eleventh year
NZRC RALLY WINS: Nine
NZRC RALLY PODIUMS: 23
INTERNATIONAL RALLIES COMPETED: 17
NEW ZEALAND RALLY CHAMPION TITLES: 1