''I went flat out over a crest that shouldn't have been taken quite flat out,'' he explained.
''I had it pace noted as a flat left over crest, and ended up hitting a bank with the rear of the car and puncturing a tyre. Then the jack broke and it took us seven minutes to change the tyre, but I've enjoyed the event immensely and can't wait to come back again.''
Such had been McRae's pace over the opening day of the rally (he was second fastest classic competitor behind Paddon on each of the first eight stages), that the seven minute time loss cost the Ford Escort driver just one place overall.
That place went to Canterbury driver Marcus van Klink (Mazda RX7). A former Otago Classic winner, van Klink was slowed by brake problems early on, and admitted at the finish that sharing the podium with Paddon and McRae was everything he could have hoped for.
Two other past classic rally winners were not so lucky. Derek Ayson, a three time victor, retired on the first stage when his Escort's engine failed while Brian Stokes, who has won both the main and classic event in previous years, rolled out on the rally's sixth stage, although he rejoined to complete yesterday's seven stages with some strong times along the way.
''Isn't it amazing? Just incredible,'' Stokes said with a broad grin at the finish. The reference in this case was to Paddon's overall event win - as one who rallied one of those original rear wheel drive Escorts to championship success in their heyday, Stokes was ideally qualified to appreciate the achievement.
The demise of Ayson, Stokes and several other fancied classic drivers opened the way for Dunedin driver Allan Dippie to reap the rewards of a polished performance in his Porsche 911.
Dippie held fourth in the classics after Saturday's stages, and retained the place in the face of a determined challenge from Australian Grant Walker yesterday, despite having to switch from a competition gearbox to a standard road going one overnight.
It was also Dippie's first event using pace notes, a switch he and co driver Paul Coghill said they were delighted to have made.
''To be honest, now I don't know why we haven't made the switch until now,'' Dippie said.
''They are great.''
Sixth place went to Waimate driver Deborah Kibble (Mitsubishi Lancer) ahead of Tauranga's Andy Martin (Mazda RX3). Otago drivers rounded out the classic top 10, with Mosgiel's Jake Thomas eighth ahead of two stalwarts in Allan Warren (Alexandra) and Ian Begg (Cromwell).
Only 14 of the original 30 starters in the classic event made it through all the stages.
