LUCKY ESCAPE: Safety features in his rally car saw Hayden Paddon walk away from what could have been a disastrous accident with only a broken collarbone, while hosting corporate rides in the Geraldine Forest.

Rally driver Hayden Paddon has walked away with only a broken collarbone after his car plunged 200 metres down a virtually sheer cliff.

The accident happened on Saturday when the production world rally champion was hosting corporate rides in his old car on a hill in the Geraldine Forest.

A mechanical fault caused Paddon and his passenger to leave the road at about 140kmh and become airborne for much of the plunge, landing tail-first before rolling the rest of the way to the creek below.

The passenger was uninjured.

The accident did not stop Paddon heading to Britain for a test with an unnamed World Rally Championship team.

"During one of our runs we had a mechanical malfunction that caused the car to veer straight off the road on a fast right-hand corner at around 140kmh," Paddon said.

"The consequence was a sheer 200m drop to the creek at the bottom which the car rolled down many times."

Most importantly, his passenger had escaped with no injuries while the car had certainly seen better days, Paddon said.

"It is amazing how well the car stood up and a real testament to the safety regulations of our sport," he said.

"Unfortunately, I suffered a broken collarbone."

Paddon described it as a small setback that did not stop him flying to Britain on Sunday for the test.

The 24-year-old said he did not expect it to cause any problems and was already working hard with specialists to help the healing and recovery process.

His aim is to ensure he is 100 per cent fit for the opening round in Monte Carlo in January, even though his plans for next year are not confirmed.

Paddon's father, Chris, said a broken suspension point caused the accident.

"That can happen in rallying but what impressed me was all the safety features built into the car worked as they should.

"The built-in fuel cell held, as did everything else. It was quite amazing. Hayden will just be strapped up for a couple of weeks as it was a straightforward break."

After his test in Britain, Paddon will fly to India where he will attend the FIA's annual awards and pick up his PWRC trophy.