Paddon faces long wait for confirmation on WRC future
Hayden Paddon could be made to wait until after next month’s 2019 opener in Monte Carlo before he knows if he retains his seat with Hyundai.
The Kiwi, who was in the top five on all-but two of the seven rallies he contested in a factory i20 Coupe WRC this season, said he felt he’d done enough to warrant retaining his seat.
Paddon told MN: “I feel we did a good job this year and tried our best to work with the team and make sure we brought home solid results on each rally. The two rallies where there was a little less pressure, we were mixing it at the front. That’s something I know we can do more regularly. Naturally, I would like to be doing a full season again and I still back myself to achieve much more in the WRC, but I’m also realistic in what options we presently have.”
Team manager Alain Penasse was delighted with Paddon’s season, adding: “After Rally Australia he’s in pole position for the seat. There was talk about us talking to [Elfyn] Evans and [Craig] Breen, but this has not really gone any further.
“Hayden did everything we asked of him this season, he had a really good year. It’s difficult for Hayden to stay concentrated because of all this stuff in the media about him losing his seat and blah, blah, blah.”