AutoTrader NZ
Published 3 September 2020
The pair will pilot the #8 Hyundai i20 WRC rally car in the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team, Hyundai Motorsport’s main team, for the 10-13 September event.
The change from their usual #20 car which sports Hyundai Mobis World Rally Team livery comes as the team strives to consolidate its second place in the WRC manufacturers’ championship. Paddon’s recent experience of this unique event in the forests and shire roads of Coffs Harbour on the coast of New South Wales and his strong run of form on gravel this season led the team to make the decision to run Paddon and Kennard alongside Thierry Neuville and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul in the #7 car to offer the highest probability of good points.
All season, Paddon has said he’s been targeting Coates Hire Rally Australia for a good result.
“Regardless of which car I’m driving, I have targeted this event all year as one of our strongest events, particularly if it stays dry and we have a road position advantage,” Paddon says during a brief visit home to New Zealand from Europe before heading to Australia. “We want to push for the podium. At this level that’s not easy, but we will be giving it our best shot.”
With the running order determined by championship position for the first two days of the rally, Paddon will start 10th on the road.
Paddon and Kennard have competed in the Coffs Harbour WRC event three times previously, securing a career-best sixth place last year with Hyundai.
Paddon says the change of car isn’t of consequence from a technical perspective.
“Absolutely nothing changes other than the car number on the door. The spec of the car, setup, personnel, etc. are the same as if we were driving #20. Of course, there is a little added pressure to score points for the team, but it’s very pleasing that the team has faith in me to challenge for points that can help the team in the manufacturers’ championship standings.”
Rally Australia offers one of the most compact routes of the 2015 WRC season with the majority of the 311.36km of competitive special stages handily positioned around the Coffs Harbour rally base. There are just over 1,000km of competitive and touring stages combined. The event uses a mix of hard base roads, some tight and twisty and others fast and flowing, often lined by trees close to the edge or negotiating dense rainforest.
“The route features some new stages this year which are more public road stages. These will suit us well and, with the bulk of the mileage of the event is similar to previous years’, we’re looking forward to it. Saturday’s 50km Nambucca stage will be a key decider, but it’s also one of my favourite stages; quite fast and flowing with a few changes of rhythm.
“The anticipated changeable spring weather and shorter stages means tyre strategy will be key, but we have planned well for this.”
Being Kiwis, Paddon and Kennard attract a lot of attention on the Australian event with organisers, media and fans keen to talk with the pair. Around 100 people are following the event as part of an official Paddon RallySport tour and hundreds more are travelling across the Tasman to support their favourite driver and enjoy the WRC action.
