Speedster Paddon hints at debuting in Rally One category
By Story Agencies, October 17, 2022Runaway WRC2 winner at Repco Rally New Zealand Hayden Paddon is hoping to build a Rally1 debut into his programme for next season.
The former Rally Argentina winner starts a full WRC2 campaign in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 in 2023 and while that title will remain his priority, the Kiwi is still chasing a shot at the premier category.
Paddon drove for Hyundai’s factory squad between 2014 and 2018 but has since been unable to find a seat in the sport’s top-flight.
He had previously planned to drive a privately-entered M-Sport Ford Fiesta World Rally Car at Rally Finland in 2019 but failed to make the start after a high-speed testing crash.
“The perfect season would be a full WRC2 programme and some selected Rally1 outings,” said Paddon. “There’s some really good rallies out there where I think we could do very well.
“Events like Portugal and Sardinia, if Chile’s back or México – those kinds of medium speed, technical rallies where we have experience. Maybe on those events you can rely a little bit on the running order to offset the fact we haven’t been in the car so much.
“Like I said, the focus is the WRC2 programme with Hyundai New Zealand and we’re going to give that everything we’ve got, but it would be perfect if we could find a way into a Rally1 car as well next season.”
Domestic title
Paddon dominated his home WRC round earlier this month, collecting a sixth domestic title as well as finishing sixth overall and winning WRC2 in Auckland.
As the poster boy of the rally and his country’s unofficial ambassador in the world of WRC, Paddon was understandably monitoring the event and feedback throughout the Repco Rally New Zealand weekend closely.
“I am just proud of the rally,” enthused Paddon.
“I think what the organisers and everyone has pulled off for this event is a massive step up from 10 years ago and it showcases to the world that Rally New Zealand is serious about WRC.”
Hailing from the beautiful country of New Zealand which boasts some of the greatest rallying roads anywhere in the world, it might be argued that Paddon has a natural advantage with some stunning stages to hone his craft on.