Paddon: My focus is fully on the World Rally Championship
Hayden Paddon has slammed speculation that his priority has switched to his New Zealand programme and away from the World Rally Championship.
Paddon has spent the last two years developing his own rally car and team for the NZ series, but the Kiwi has told Motorsport
News his focus remains 100 per cent on the world championship.
“I don’t understand where this stuff comes from,” said Paddon. “So many of the drivers have projects going on at home, it’s the same for Jari-matti [Latvala] or Thierry [Neuville], the only difference is that my home is New Zealand.”
Paddon has even been criticised for travelling home instead of staying in Europe.
“I don’t get that travel thing,” he said, “I get on a plane, go to sleep and get off at the other end – living in New Zealand, you get used to long plane rides! I’m more relaxed at home than living out of a suitcase. I’m committed to Hyundai and want to stay here.”
Team principal Michel Nandan told MN he expected to firm-up his team early next month.
Nandan said: “Our aim is to share the third car again, it worked not too bad this year. We will keep like that.”
Nandan added there was no hurry to make any decisions and would explore every avenue before putting pen to paper.
MN understands one of those options could be bringing Citroen driver Craig Breen to the team. Sources within the German squad confirmed talks between Hyundai management and the Irishman.