PADDON READY FOR WRC RETURN
Hayden Paddon returns to Hyundai’s i20 Coupe WRC after an 88-day absence in Portugal this week – and the Kiwi says he’s never felt faster or fitter.
Hyundai will field four factory i20s in Portugal this week, but for the rest of the season Paddon and team-mate Dani Sordo are sharing the third car. Paddon competed in Sweden in February, then returned to New Zealand, where he remained until returning to Europe for his pre-event test last week.
“The time since Sweden has flown by,” said Paddon. “That’s the longest I’ve been home since 2011 and the chance to just get back there, see family and friends and really hit the reset button has been so valuable. I needed it.”
While he was home Paddon dominated the first two rounds of his native series, driving his own team’s Hyundai i20 AP4+.
Despite winning every stage at the Otago and Whangarei rallies, Paddon described the results as irrelevant.
“It wasn’t about that,” he said. “I set myself targets in terms of stage records, managing the tyres, improving the pace notes – and I achieved all of those. I’m happy. It’s been a good time at home, I’ve worked hard on the fitness and now I’m back.”
Paddon enjoyed a positive two-day test in Sardinia, adding: “One day was quite specific to Portugal and the other was more for Sardinia. We found a set-up with the differentials which works better for me. I don’t want to say too much, because this hasn’t always translated into a rally situation – but the test was good. Now I just want to get on with Portugal. Can I win? Anything can happen. I’m in a good place on the road, but so are a lot of people around me.”
Paddon will join Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen as Hyundai’s potential manufacturer pointscorers in Portugal – his entry is linked to the round in Sardinia, where Sordo won’t compete.