WRC
Paddon: Time to release the shackles and turn up the speed
Hyundai has confirmed Hayden Paddon will take on a slightly different brief at next week’s FORUM8 Rally Japan, with the Kiwi given the chance to “go for it” at the final asphalt round of the season.
This season has seen Paddon and long-time co-driver John Kennard return to the WRC’s top tier, sharing Hyundai’s third i20 N Rally1 car with Dani Sordo and Esapekka Lappi.
The Kiwi duo have already been deployed on asphalt in Monte-Carlo and Croatia, with the latter yielding Paddon’s first WRC podium since he finished second at Rally Australia in 2018. Paddon and Kennard will again take over the third car for Rally Japan, an event they have yet to contest.
In Monte-Carlo and Croatia, Paddon’s role was primarily to bring the car home. In Japan, Hyundai’s sporting director Andrew Wheatley says that will change.
“Hayden’s role will change in Japan. Part of the deal we had with him at the start of the year was that in Japan he can go for it. I think for Japan we will see Hayden a little bit [off the leash]. He is not a guy that is going to throw the car at the scenery,” said Wheatley.
Paddon is equally looking forward to a shift in approach as he aims to build on the podium success achieved in Croatia.
“Another new rally for us, but this time the approach shifts - time to release the shackles and turn up the speed,” he said.
“A lot of people have asked about gravel events. Trust me, we’d love that opportunity, but right now we’re grateful for every start we get and we’ll make the most of each one.”
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Hyundai has struggled to deliver results on asphalt with its i20 N Rally1, which is known to have a narrow operating window, particularly on sealed surfaces. On the previous asphalt round at Rally Islas Canarias, the team was comprehensively beaten by Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Heading to Japan off the back of its drought-ending WRC victory at Rally de Portugal, Hyundai is aware the technical Japanese asphalt stages will provide a challenge but is hopeful its i20 N can be more at home than it was in the Canary Islands. Last year, Adrien Fourmaux was in podium contention in tricky wet conditions before an accident on the final day ended his hopes of a top-three finish.
“No question we will be in a position in Japan to split the difference from where we were in the Canary Islands to where we are in normal tarmac rallies,” Wheatley added.
“Japan is actually one of those events where we could spring a surprise. We go to Japan confident that we can be more competitive.”
