Hayden Paddon will return to compete with Hyundai Motorsport in the upcoming World Rally Championship (WRC) event taking place in Paraguay from August 27 to 30. This opportunity comes after Hyundai decided its lineup for the South American round, pending the conclusion of Rally Finland.
Following his performance in Finland, where Paddon had been assigned in prior dates to asphalt, Hyundai has confirmed that the New Zealand driver will take the third car of the team, which was previously driven by Esapekka Lappi.
Paddon has had a standout season returning to the WRC, marking a third place during the Croatia rally. With a special inclination for gravel rallies, the driver has expressed his excitement for this new challenge: ‘I am more than thrilled and incredibly grateful to be back in the WRC, and this time on gravel, in a part of the world that holds so many special memories for us.’
The driver acknowledges that the competition will be tough: ‘We are aware of the challenge that lies ahead. Returning to Rally1 on gravel against the best in the world will not be easy, but we will make the most of this opportunity.’ Now, Paddon is preparing for this new adventure, marking a key moment in his career after being away from the top level since 2018.
The week following the event in Paraguay, the team must decide who will drive the car in Chile, which will be the next round on the WRC calendar.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
