Auto Trader NZ
Published 3 September 2020
Paddon is New Zealand’s most successful rally driver who currently competes in the World Rally Championship with long-time co-driver John Kennard as part of the Hyundai Motorsport team. Together they will contest two rounds of the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) in the 1.8-litre, turbocharged Hyundai i20 rally car.
“I’m very excited to be part of this programme with Hyundai New Zealand as we enter a new phase of our partnership to bring our rally exploits back to New Zealand and to introduce Hyundai New Zealand to the NZRC,” says Paddon as he arrived back in New Zealand following his most recent WRC event in Mexico.
“Together, we are all working to provide more opportunities for people in New Zealand rallying and this new car will form a major part of this project while also allowing John and I to, once again, enjoy two of the best rally events and rally roads in the world.”
The partnership has resulted in the formation of the Hyundai New Zealand Rally Team, which will swing into action to support Paddon and Kennard’s entry into two of New Zealand’s biggest rally sport events – Rally Otago, 8-10 April and the International Rally of Whangarei, 29 April to 1 May.
The new Hyundai i20 has been built and developed in conjunction with well-known rally driver and fabricator Andrew Hawkeswood of Force Motorsport. Its chassis is constructed according to AP4 (Asia Pacific) regulations, which Paddon believes will be critical to the future of New Zealand rallying.
“AP4 technical regulations provide for a new, more affordable generation of four-wheel-drive (4WD) turbocharged rally car which is eligible for competition in both national and international events within the Asia Pacific region,” Paddon says.
“Otago and Whangarei are my two favourite rallies in the world. It’s also exciting to be debuting the new AP4 Hyundai chassis along Force Motorsport’s two other AP4 cars. The car is still early in development, but has a lot of potential and we look forward to working closely with Force to help develop it into a rally-winning car. Like any new formula, it will take a little longer for this car to catch on, but I believe that value for money is the key with this sort of car. While not at the same level, it has the same design principles and look of a WRC car.”
Another vital aspect of the Hyundai New Zealand Rally Team will be the involvement of students from the Pinnacle Programme, a mentoring programme for talented, passionate teenagers 15-18 years old and headed by netball great Bernice Mene, in the upcoming events.
“This project is much bigger than John and I,” Paddon says. “This is an opportunity to boost New Zealand rallying by introducing new people to the sport in conjunction with the Hyundai New Zealand-backed Pinnacle programme.”
