New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon admits the driver situation at the Hyundai World Rally team is frustrating but he is ready to move on regardless.
Hayden Paddon. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
This year has been one to forget for Paddon behind the wheel, with a mixture of techincal issues with his car and small driving mistakes leaving him languishing 10th in the standings.
With Hyundai having four contracted drivers for three fulltime cars in 2018 (Paddon, Thierry Neuville, Andreas Mikklesen and Dani Sordo), it also means he is unlikely to take part in the entire season next year.
While that was tough to swallow on some fronts, Paddon said it is also a reality of elite level sport.
"Of course it's frustrating," the 30-year-old from Geraldine said ahead of the final event of the WRC season starting in Australia on Thursday night.
"From the outside it looks quite bad but from what we've seen on the rallies, the mistakes we've made inside the car has been a lot less than a lot of the mistakes that have been out of our control.
"But at no point have we pointed the finger at all, we've just trusted in the team and stayed loyal. It's unfortunate that hasn't paid dividends for us but itr is a very commercialised sport nowadays and you've got to deliver.
"You've just got to look at the points table to see we haven't delivered."
While he has accepted he probably won't complete a full campaign next year, and may have to share a car with Sordo, Paddon still believes it isn't a sure thing.
Fourth overall last year before his fortunes have come unstuck in 2017, Paddon knows he may have to miss some events but says nothing is set in stone.
In that light, he is also not expecting there to be a final call on which drivers get fulltime roles for Hyundai next year.
A lot will come down to performance once the new season starts in late January, Paddon said.
"It's not something that requires a decision. We all know the facts and four drivers don't fit into three cars.
"It's going to be a forever moving target throughout next season once they know how drivers are performing.
"All of us have accepted that scenario now within the team."
- RNZ
