Hayden Paddon, Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo will share the third Hyundai i20 N Rally1 alongside Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux next season.
Ott Tänak’s decision to step away from the World Rally Championship for at least 2026 – announced on the eve of November’s Rally Japan – suddenly left Hyundai with a seat to fill.
While it was open to exploring all available options, it quickly became apparent the team was favoring experience over youth.
Sordo and Lappi both drove part-time for Hyundai in 2024 alongside Andreas Mikkelsen, so have recent experience of the i20 N Rally1. Paddon hasn’t made a top-level WRC start since losing his full-time Hyundai drive at the end of 2018.
Paddon's last outing as a Hyundai factory driver was Rally Australia all the way back in 2018
All three drivers have remained active at the Rally2 level; Lappi drove a Škoda to the Finnish title this year, while Sordo defeated Kris Meeke in Portugal with an i20 N Rally2. Paddon won the Australian national title with an i20 N Rally2 and became European champion in the same car in both 2023 and 2024.
That means Hyundai is gaining three experienced drivers who’ve won six WRC events between them, and will support Neuville and Fourmaux in chasing the squad’s manufacturers’ title since 2020.
Paddon will take the seat for the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, Lappi will take the reins for Sweden and Sordo will make his first appearance in the third car at his home round of the championship, Rally Islas Canarias, in April. How the trio will share the third car beyond this is unconfirmed.
Hyundai WRC sporting director Andrew Wheatley explained: “Bringing in Dani, EP and Hayden enables us to call upon their individual strengths to support our manufacturers’ title ambitions next year.
“We had a difficult decision to make – whether to opt for experience and consistency, or bring in a rising star and nurture them. However, we are in the last year of the Rally1 technical regulations and we believe the right path is to bring in drivers with knowledge of the car and the team.”
Paddon’s absence from the lineup is the longest of the three drivers by a long way – it’s been eight years since he wore factory colors in the WRC. But he feels his time spent in European and national championships has made him a different prospect than his first stint at the team.
Dani Sordo won the Portuguese championship this season
“Hyundai is a brand I’m very proud of and loyal to after 12 years, and to now be stepping into a Rally1 car is very exciting,” said Paddon.
“Our expectations are clear: to do the best job we can to support Hyundai, Thierry and Adrien in their respective championships, and making sure we are collecting as many manufacturers’ points as possible at the end of the weekend.
“I feel I am a very different driver compared to eight years ago, and the experience I have gained all around the world in
different championships puts me in a good place to put that experience to use.”
Lappi had looked to have turned his back on the WRC, but returns alongside Enni Mälkonen who finally gets a Rally1 chance after missing out when Sami Pajari progressed to a full season with Toyota in 2025.
“I assumed I was finished with WRC, but after numerous discussions with various people, I knew this was a great idea,” said Lappi. “I’ve still been competing in the Finnish Championship, which was a lot of fun, but Cyril’s call surprised me and brought me back. I’m as excited as a little boy to get behind the wheel of the Rally1 car again, this time with Enni – which is a wonderful new opportunity for her.”
Sordo’s return comes 20 years after his first top-class season with Citroën in 2006, and will be his 12th driving a Hyundai.
“Cándido and I had a strong season in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2, culminating in the Portuguese title, which was a fantastic achievement for us,” said Sordo. “We can’t wait to take this momentum into next year, and I am confident we will be a competitive package.”
