FUTURE UNCERTAIN FOR HAYDEN PADDON HEADING INTO RALLY AUSTRALIA

Hayden Paddon’s future in the World Rally Championship remains uncertain heading into the final round, Rally Australia.

By RHYS VANDERSYDE

Entering his final event under his current contract with Hyundai, in which he finished on the podium last year, the Kiwi driver is still yet to confirm his plans for the 2019 season in what has been a busy driver market.

“Your guess is as good as mine, I’ve got absolutely no idea at the moment.” said Paddon when quizzed by Auto Action about his 2019 plans ahead of Rally Australia.

“It’s doubtful we’ll be doing Monte Carlo, regardless of what happens.”

“It’s now just about sitting tight and being patient, and I’m not normally a very patient person so that doesn’t help.”

“Luckily we’ve got a rally to keep us occupied in the meantime.”

Paddon joined the Korean manufacturer during their return to rally competition in 2014. He went on to win Rally Argentina in 2016 as well as finishing on the podium five times during his five seasons with Hyundai.

However, the popular Kiwi was forced into a reduced campaign in 2018 splitting the season with Spaniard Dani Sordo, due to Hyundai’s oversubscribed driver line-up which also includes championship contender Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen.

Paddon admitted that this season had been particularly difficult running the just the six rallies so far in 2018.

“It’s certainly harder doing a half program,” Paddon continued.

“We’re just doing the best job that we can and the role that we are supposed to play.”

“For sure, you’d be a little bit faster if you were doing the full campaign.”

“You just lose a little bit of that edge. It’s so close now that the difference between the likes of us and the guys at the front really comes down to the amount of risk that you are taking.”

“When you’re comfortable and you drive them quite often the risk seems a lot smaller, when you get in the car once every couple of months it feels a bit more of a step.”

”So that’s the one part that we, especially the last few rallies where we’ve taken more of the safety role, and that makes it a little harder.”

Paddon will return to New Zealand upon the conclusion of Rally Australia, where he is building his own business around his passion for rally with an eye to the future.

“I want to be involved long-term in running our own team around the world, working with new technology and new ideas.” said Paddon.

“Obviously the focus short term is on WRC, then beyond that, I want to stay involved in rally. I’ll be involved in rally until the day I can’t steer anymore.”

“I want to achieve more in WRC yet, but I’ve got to have the opportunity to go and do that.”

Coffs Harbour hosts Rally Australia this week where the 2018 World Rally Championship will be decided.

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