• Latest
  • Trending

Paddon staying realistic about WRC return plans

March 8, 2021

Bamber back on the podium as Toyota endures tough São Paulo return

July 15, 2025
#88: Shane Van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, Red Bull Chevrolet

“Nobody Can Run With Him”: Denny Hamlin and Co. hail SVG’s road course dominance after Sonoma victory

July 15, 2025

Consistent Hedge claims third-straight P6 at Iowa Speedway

July 15, 2025

Chaos and heartbreak for Kiwis in Porsche Sprint Challenge in Townsville

July 15, 2025

Baypark Speedway secures long-term future through to 2039 after council approval

July 15, 2025

Palmer cleans up the Taranaki Tarmac Rally; increases lead in NI Rally Series

July 15, 2025

Kiwi Domination in Berlin: Evans and Cassidy clinch double victory for Jaguar TCS Racing

July 14, 2025

Dixon, McLaughlin and Armstrong impress at Iowa: Podiums, comebacks, and title moves

July 14, 2025

SVG makes history with thrilling Sonoma victory – Wins third straight road course from pole

July 14, 2025

Cormac Buchanan battles to career-best Moto3 finish in wild German Grand Prix

July 13, 2025

Feeney dominates in Townsville strategy game as Kiwis make gains with Payne finishing P5 and Wood P7

July 13, 2025
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
VelocityNews
Subscribe
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Paddon staying realistic about WRC return plans

by Zane Shackleton
March 8, 2021
in International, News, WRC
0

Hayden Paddon says he is remaining realistic about his chances of returning to the World Rally Championship this year.

The Kiwi has been out of the championship since 2018, following a shaky period with the works Hyundai team.

Since then, Paddon has said he desires to return to the top level of world rallying and had plotted a return with a Hyundai team to race at four WRC events last season. The car would have sported a Kiwi-inspired livery and run at WRC’s return to New Zealand.

However, with Covid-19 disrupting the season, Paddon set those plans aside on the backburner.

In an interview with Autosport, Paddon says he still hopes he will be back in the WRC one day. But he is keeping his hopes in check, believing any chance of returning over the next 12 months is unlikely.

“To be honest, I would love to be back in the World Rally Championship – I would give anything to be back in the World Rally Championship – but I am also realistic,” Paddon said.

“We have been on the sidelines for a while now, and several other young drivers are coming through [the ranks].

“Negotiations with teams have somewhat stalled for now. The start of the season is always the busiest for teams.

“It’s only around mid-season that they start to think about the following year.”

From 2022, WRC teams will begin to use Rally1 cars, which have a 100kW plug-in hybrid system.

Hybrid technology is still very new to everyone. However, Paddon has recently unveiled a working, full-electric Kona that has already had several demonstrations.

Image: Graeme Murray

The 33-year-old’s knowledge and experience with the technology could help him chalk out a path back into WRC.

“I would be interested in a test role and helping a team to develop their new hybrid systems,” Paddon added. “I feel we are building our knowledge base quite well in that area at the moment.

“I feel I could deliver [results] – but I’m not holding my breath.

“I still want to be involved, whether that is as a Rally1 driver, Rally2 driver or even just a test driver. I feel I still have a lot to offer.”

Paddon will be competing in this year’s New Zealand Rally Championship, which begins with the Otago Rally on April 16-18.

Meanwhile, the WRC has its third round of the season in Croatia over April 22-25.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.