We’re merely days away from the first time an FIA World Rally Championship event has been run in New Zealand for ten years, with Kiwi rally star Hayden Paddon expressing his excitement to go up against fellow competitors.
Paddon and co-driver John Kennard will be behind the wheel of their Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car under the Hyundai New Zealand Rally team banner.
The pair will be competing in the WRC2 category against five international drivers and six other New Zealanders.
Paddon’s goal is to win the category, where he’s expecting a good battle with fellow Kiwis Supercars champ Shane van Gisbergen and Ben Hunt, as well as leading Australian rally driver Harry Bates.
Rally New Zealand also counts as two rounds of the New Zealand Rally Championship, which Paddon leads following three wins at the first three NZRC events of the season, so he’ll also be aiming to secure his sixth NZRC title.
“It was good to get a good result on the board in Finland to conclude this year’s European tour and we made some big gains with the new Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car,” says Paddon.
“We’re happy with where we’re at for Rally New Zealand but have more development to do to with the car to continue improving longer term.”
He was also excited to see the international event return to his home soil.
“Seeing the WRC back in New Zealand is something I’m very proud of for the New Zealand rally community,” Paddon added.
“I’m grateful for the work done by a great team of people to make this happen. I’m excited to tackle these awesome rallying roads again in our Hyundai Rally2 car with our own homegrown team.
“With the Rally2 and R5 cars competing in the same category, there’s going to be some great competition.”
“Between Ben, Shane and Harry, I’m expecting there to be close competition which I’m looking forward to.”
When it comes down to brass tacks, there’s only one thing on Paddon’s mind for the rally.
“Our goal is simple, to win WRC2,” he said.
“There have been a lot of questions about the overall result, but the gap is now too big between Rally1 and Rally2 cars for us to even consider competing with them, but we will give it everything we’ve got!”
WRC Rally New Zealand will get underway on September 29 and run through the weekend until October 2.
