Paddon back on favourite surface

Kiwi Hayden Paddon is hoping a return to gravel in the Wales Rally GB will propel him up the drivers’ standings.

The 29-year-old from Geraldine still has a shot at an overall top three finish with two rallies left in the World Rally Championship.

Sebastien Ogier has already wrapped up the 2017 crown, but Paddon is only 13 points adrift of team-mate Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen, who are tied second equal.

He will, however, have to keep an eye in the rear vision mirror with his other team-mate, Dani Sordo, just three points in arrears.

Neuville and Sordo have been picked as the Hyundai’s top team pairing chasing manufacturers’ points while Paddon will compete for the Hyundai Mobis World Rally team. Paddon said he was looking forward to tackling the gravel stages.

‘‘I have always enjoyed Wales Rally GB a lot. It reminds me a lot of some of the forestry roads we get in New Zealand.

‘‘Traditionally it’s always a wet, muddy rally, but this year – being run a little earlier than usual – could be a little different.’’

The 29-year-old said testing had gone well.

‘‘I really feel like we are in a good place with this year’s car on gravel now. It’s just a pity we couldn’t show that at the last event in Spain during Friday’s gravel stages, due to technical issues.’’

It will be the sixth time Paddon and co-driver John Kennard have tackled the rally. The long-range forecast for the weekend is showing warmer and dryer weather.