When team-mate Adrien Fourmaux clattered a telegraph pole and booked himself a spot at a friendly local’s lunch table instead of into the afternoon’s stages, Hayden Paddon became Hyundai’s insurance policy.
Little did anybody know how badly he’d be needed.
Finishing the Croatia Rally powerstage in what he thought was fourth place, Paddon was suddenly promoted to a podium place when Thierry Neuville went off and was forced to retire from a comfortable lead.
“It’s bittersweet to be fair,” Paddon told DirtFish. “Obviously unexpected but the first thing is I’m gutted for the team and for Thierry. I’m here for the team this year, not for myself, and victory is what the team deserves. It’s hard to be happy I guess.”
But the flipside was Paddon never expected to be on the WRC podium again in his career, having last stood on the rostrum at Rally Australia 2018.
“Very unexpected to be on the podium and it’s been quite some journey over the last 10-20 years,” Paddon added. “To even get back in the Rally1 car this year and now, I’d never thought I’d be standing back on a WRC podium again, so it’s a bit of a pinch yourself moment.”
Paddon drove with "110% brain" and netted his first podium in eight years
Hyundai sporting director Andrew Wheatley was no doubt grateful for Paddon’s dependability after Neuville’s mishap, and praised the Kiwi’s “110% brain”.
Wheatley told DirtFish: “He’s just jumped into the car with a minimal amount of testing, 110% brain and done exactly what was required and I am delighted that he will be getting a podium to take back to New Zealand.”
So what next? Will Paddon get a shot at a gravel event where he can really show what he’s made of in terms of speed?
“He’s put himself in a very strong place,” admitted Wheatley. “I think we have a plan for the year, but the plan for the year was always that there was some flexibility depending on how the drivers reacted.
“But I think so far this year, both EP [Lappi] and Hayden have done a fantastic job. You know, they’ve done absolutely what we asked. We know that coming to a rally like this and putting yourself in place to win is tough. It’s really tough, especially with five Toyotas. But, let’s see.”
Paddon made no secret of his desire to drive the i20 N Rally1 on the loose.
“I’d love to have a gravel round because then I could feel comfortable and enjoy it,” he said, “but I’ll take any rally weekend and do the best I can for the team.
“Step by step. I’m a very realistic person, also very competitive, so I know there’s still pace to find, but we’re within half a second per kilometer on most of the stages where you can be comparable this weekend, which is what the personal target was,” he added, reflecting on his Croatia Rally.
“I know I’ve got to use my head a little bit more these days and play the smart game, which is what we had to do this weekend of playing a long game and staying out of trouble.”
