Hayden Paddon has signalled that his participation in Rally Japan could be the final time he pilots a Rally1 Hyundai, while he continues to lobby for a gravel event later in the season.
Strong tarmac showing and the search for gravel
After a 2018 hiatus, the former WRC victor returned to the top tier alongside Dani Sordo and Esapekka Lappi, taking the wheel of the new i20 N Rally1 for Hyundai. Although his expertise lies on loose surfaces, Paddon and co‑driver John Kennard delivered Hyundai’s best asphalt result of the year by finishing third in Croatia.
In Japan he placed seventh, yet he emphasized his desire to compete on gravel, specifically naming Paraguay or Chile as preferred venues. His lone WRC triumph, captured in Argentina in 2016, remains a motivating memory of South American roads that suit his driving style.
Team plans and upcoming seat allocations
Hyundai has already earmarked Dani Sordo to occupy the third factory seat at the next gravel round in Greece, while Lappi is slated to run the car in Estonia and Finland. The remaining unassigned events – Paraguay, Chile, Sardinia and Saudi Arabia – are still under discussion.
Paddon acknowledged that no concrete agreement exists for another outing, but he is prepared to support the team’s decisions, offering testing assistance if needed. He also noted that the Scandinavian rallies cater to Lappi’s familiarity, describing Finland and Estonia as his home terrain.
Reflecting on his comeback, Paddon praised the team’s resilience across three of the season’s toughest tarmac stages, highlighting steady performance gains and a growing pace after each event.
Should Hyundai allocate a gravel slot to Paddon, his proven aptitude on loose surfaces could translate into valuable points, adding depth to the factory line‑up as the championship reaches its final phases.
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