WRC
Paddon back in WRC as Hyundai confirm five-driver 2026 line-up
Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed its 2026 FIA World Rally Championship driver line-up, naming Hayden Paddon, Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo to share the third i20 N Rally1.
The decision finalises Hyundai’s structure for next year following Ott Tänak’s move away from the championship. The trio of experienced drivers will support Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux, both of whom have been retained for full-time campaigns.
Neuville enters his twelfth campaign with the Alzenau-based team, while Fourmaux continues after completing his first season - which yielded four podiums - with Hyundai in 2025.
Adrien FOURMAUX
© Hyundai Motorsport
Neuville and Fourmaux will contest full campaigns whilst the trio of Paddon, Lappi and Sordo will share the third car. Paddon is confirmed to drive the car at next month’s Rallye Monte-Carlo. Lappi will be in action on February’s Rally Sweden - an event he won last time competing in 2024 - whilst Sordo will take the wheel for Islas Rally Canarias. Hyundai are yet to announce how seat time will be split for the remaining rallies.
Paddon returns to Hyundai’s top-flight squad for the first time since Rally Australia in 2018. The New Zealander, who has since claimed two European rally titles and several regional championships across the Asia-Pacific, brings eight WRC podiums and a 2016 Rally Argentina victory to the programme as he shares the third car.
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.
Paddon said upon the announcement: “I’m very excited to be back with Hyundai Motorsport, eight years after our last event together in the FIA WRC. 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.
“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.”
Hayden Paddon won the 2023 and 2024 ERC championships
© ERC
Sordo also resumes a part-time role after finishing second on his most recent WRC start at the 2024 EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. The Spaniard remains one of the championship’s most experienced competitors with three victories and 58 podiums.
“[Co-driver] Cándido [Carerra] and I had a strong season in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2, culminating in the Portuguese title, which was a fantastic achievement for us,” enthused Sordo following confirmation of his return. He continued: “We can’t wait to take this momentum into next year, and I am confident we will be a competitive package.”
Sordo seizes Acropolis lead as team-mate Tänak falters
© WRC
Following a year away from the WRC, Lappi returns albeit with a new co-driver, following the retirement of Janne Ferm. Reading the notes for him will be Enni Mälkönen, with whom he contested this year’s Finnish championship. Mälkönen, the former WRC2 and WR3 co-drivers’ champion, has previous Rally1 experience, contesting a part-season with Sami Pajari in 2024.
Said Lappi of his return: “I assumed I was finished with WRC, but after numerous discussions with various people, I knew this was a great idea.
“I’ve still been competing in the Finnish Championship, which was a lot of fun, but Cyril [Abiteboul’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.”
Having stepped into a new role at Hyundai Motorsport in October, securing the 2026 line-up had been a main objective for Sporting Director Andrew Wheatley. Ultimately, the Brit opted to go for experience to fill the space vacated by Tänak.
He said: “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.”
