Thumbing the start button, the smile was back. Six years disappeared in the blink of an eye. The setting was a touch unusual, but it was the car. The location of the trees was irrelevant. Hayden Paddon was back in a factory Hyundai World Rally Car.
Watching the Kiwi get back behind the wheel of a 2018-specification i20 Coupe WRC was one of the more emotional moments at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. He’d earned that ride and he’s absolutely earned his return.
I can already hear the gnashing of teeth at what I’m about to say, but I don’t care. As I laid out in my Club DirtFish response to the news, Hyundai has called this one right. Yes, there are a bunch of youngsters arguably on the cusp of being seat-ready, but to my mind Paddon (along with Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo) is the right man for the 2026 assignment.
He’s got the speed to bring points, but this one’s about more than that. Every now and then the sport really does get it right. It’s hard to imagine anybody who has done more for Hyundai than Paddon. Through thick and thin (and thinner) he’s remained utterly loyal to the Korean brand. He’s won title after title and, hand-in-hand with one of the most astute and forward-thinking national importers I’ve ever come across in Hyundai New Zealand, delivered massive value for the brand and even developed (largely at his own cost) a workable and extremely rapid Kona EV rally car.
To see such loyalty and commitment repaid is heart-warming – and to all of those scoffing at such sentiment, I still believe there’s plenty to be said for allegiance. And at the age of 38, he’s far from the oldest of drivers to grace a works world championship seat.
Understandably, Paddon’s over the moon. He’s an unabashed rally fan and somebody who simply lives for the sport. And next year he’s expected to tackle between three and five WRC rounds.
“There’s a lot of emotion,” he smiled, as though still taking in the full colour of this picture.
“It’s a mix of excitement, anxiety and just wanting to get going.”
Paddon's Rally Argentina victory in 2016 was the biggest moment of his career. Could WRC win number two come next year?
And he won’t have to wait long. Next month’s Monte Carlo Rally marks his full factory WRC return since finishing second at the 2018 Rally Australia. Here’s some numbers on the intervening seven years: he’s started 65 rallies and won 11 titles (and that includes 2020, when Covid restrictions meant he only did two events).
“We’ve never given up with all the programs we’ve been doing over the last eight years all over the world.
“This is massive. It’s a pinch yourself moment to think that eight years after we were last in the WRC, we’re going back. That’s pretty unheard of. So many people believed in us for so many years. Of course, we’re going to take this opportunity with both hands and do the best job we can and see what we can make of it.
“It’s great to see our loyalty to the Hyundai brand, which started 12 years ago, has helped create this opportunity. I’m hugely thankful to so many people to make this happen.”
Paddon’s under no illusions about the task in hand. When he won the 2016 Rally Argentina, he was, effectively Hyundai’s team leader and a driver looking more and more like a world championship challenger. Now, it’s different.
Paddon and Kennard start their 21st season together next year. Success for the pair has been a constant for almost two decades
He agrees: “It’s a different mindset to what it was eight or ten years ago when you’re young and ambitious and it was all about trying to win rallies and be a world champion. This time around it’s about being a team player.
“We have a very clear role to play to within the team and that’s in a supporting role, to collect points and be consistent. I guess we can back ourselves in what we’ve been good at doing over the past few years all over the world, and have solid experience and some wisdom to lean into. I guess that’s one of good things of being older, and we’ll try to use that to our best advantage.”
And if Paddon’s experience ever falters, he can very much call on the man alongside him: John Kennard. Next year will be their 21st together.
“It’s great to continue this partnership with John,” added Paddon. “Obviously, there’s a lot of work to do in a short space of time as we head into rallies that we don’t have so much experience of and not necessarily rallies that you’d call favourites but we’ll take the opportunities we’re being given make the most of it.”
There's never been any shortage of support for Paddon and both his and New Zealand's return to rallying's top table
And those opportunities start this weekend, with Paddon tackling the traditional Monte warm-up: Rallye National Hivernal du Devoluy.
Suddenly, I see (despite HP doing his bit to put me off the scent).
Tire testing indeed, Hayden Paddon…
