Hyundai has chosen Hayden Paddon to compete for it at the next World Rally Championship event, Rally Paraguay.
The i20 squad has rotated Paddon, Dani Sordo and Esapekka Lappi – who competed at this weekend’s Rally Finland – in its third car this season, but hadn’t decided who would drive the car in South America.
Paddon, whose program had exclusively been on Tarmac so far, hadn’t hidden his desire to drive the i20 N Rally1 on gravel – a surface he felt he could perform stronger on.
While there is no news on who will contest Rally Chile, Hyundai confirmed in its post-Rally Finland press release that Paddon and John Kennard will take on Rally Paraguay (August 27-30).
A statement read: “Hayden Paddon and John Kennard will return to the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 cockpit at Rally del Paraguay for their fourth WRC event with the team this year following appearances in Monte-Carlo, Croatia and Japan.”
Paddon hasn't driven a top-class WRC car on gravel since 2018
Paddon is the only one of Hyundai’s trio to achieve a podium finish, claiming third place in Croatia.
He is currently ninth in the championship, with the same number of points as M-Sport’s Josh McErlean.
Paddon said: “Beyond excited and incredibly grateful to be heading back to the WRC, this time on gravel, and back to a part of the world that holds so many special memories for us.
“We’re under no illusions about the size of the challenge ahead. Jumping back into Rally1 on gravel against the best in the world won’t be easy, but we’ll make the most of this opportunity and give it absolutely everything we’ve got.
“A huge thank you to Hyundai Motorsport for believing in us and giving us this chance. I never thought we’d be back on gravel in the main game, so this is one we’ll truly appreciate. Now, it’s time to get to work!”
