Hayden Paddon has confirmed that his original deal to drive for Hyundai in the World Rally Championship this year currently comes to an end after Rally Japan, the final asphalt round of the 2026 season.
After Ott Tänak’s departure at the end of last season Hyundai reverted to a seat-sharing strategy between three drivers, a tactic it has commonly employed since the late 2010s. Paddon shares the seat with Esapekka Lappi – who competed in Sweden and Kenya so far this season – and Dani Sordo, who contested the previous two rounds of the season in the Canary Islands and Portugal.
Rally Islas Canarias aside, Paddon has been given asphalt-driving duties by Hyundai; with Japan being the last sealed surface event of the year, Paddon’s time in a Rally1 car is currently set to end this week.
Asked by DirtFish if he had expectations of further WRC rounds this year, Paddon replied: “Nothing at this stage.
“The whole original deal was for these first three rallies. Of course we’d love to do a gravel rally, that’s where I’d feel a lot more comfortable but [I will] just worry about this weekend first and then if there’s an opportunity, of course we’d love to.”
Paddon has been used for Tarmac events by Hyundai, and there are no Tarmac rallies after Japan
Paddon had suggested in the lead up to Japan that he would open the taps on the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 in comparison to his earlier outings this year; that was partly driven by knowing Japan is currently his last chance to drive a Rally1 car.
“It’s one thing when we all talk about it but at the end of the day, the reality is you can’t force a matter,” said Paddon.
“We all know in any sport it’s got to come naturally, so it all comes down to feeling good in the car, with the pacenotes, with the preparation and I’ll take the same approach as I had the other rallies.
“I want to push more but I’m not going to go and do anything crazy. That’s how my whole career has been. I’ve always gone about things in a step-by-step approach.
“Same again this weekend and enjoy it because, hey, it might be my last time in a Rally1 car, so I want to enjoy it as well and see what happens.”
Lappi will return to the third Hyundai in Estonia and Finland, with Sordo expected to take up the reins before that at June’s Acropolis Rally Greece.
