New Zealand rally driver Hayden Paddon Photo: Supplied / Hayden Paddon
New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon thought his World Rally Championship days were over, but he returns to the top level of motor rallying on Thursday.
Paddon will drive for Hyundai Motorsport in the season opening Rally of Monte Carlo.
He returns to the team for the first time in seven years, taking up a part-time role for 2026.
His return came by chance following the retirement late last year of Estonian Ott Tanak, the 2019 world champion.
"I sent a random e-mail [to Hyundai Motorsport] saying I thought I could help out and I got a positive reply ...four weeks later I'm in Monaco," Paddon told RNZ.
Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux are Hyundai's full-time drivers this year while Paddon will share the third car with the Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo.
Paddon has a number of drives confirmed for the first half of the season before the team does a review and decides how to proceed for the rest of the season.
The 38-year-old didn't think he'd ever get back into WRC .
"Not with a factory team, no. I thought that boat had sailed.
"It's like an All Black that retired eight years ago coming back to play international rugby again. I've made no secret that one of my long term goals that I'm working towards is to have a New Zealand WRC team in the future."
Hayden Paddon in the south of France, 2026. Photo: Supplied / Hayden Paddon
Paddon and long time co-driver John Kennard have had 10 days preparing in the south of France but unfortunately for Paddon he's returning on his least favoured surface, tarmac, at a venue he has only driven twice before without much success.
"It's not my favourite rally, it is probably the most challenging event on the calendar, very unpredictable with the weather with snow and ice on the roads, but we have targets and will be driving within ourselves."
Paddon returns to Hyundai's top-flight squad for the first time since Rally Australia in 2018.
Since then he has been driving lower spec Rally 2 cars and won two European rally titles and several regional championships across Asia-Pacific.
During his first WRC stint Paddon grabbed eight podiums and won the 2016 Rally Argentina.
So is driving a WRC car like riding a bike?
"Yes and no, the nerves are going to be very high and there are a lot of challenges but I'm sure once we get into the first stage and the adrenaline takes over we'll be good."
Hayden Paddon and John Kennard of New Zealand on their way to winning the 2016 Rally of Argentina. Photo: Andre Lavadinho / PHOTOSPORT
Paddon said the priority is for him to finish and pick up points.
He could well have a future with the team he has been with since 2014.
This will be the last year for WRC in its current format. In an effort to lower costs and get more cars involved, the 2027 season will feature cars based on the Rally 2 specification.
With his experience in Rally 2 over the past few years Paddon feels he will be able to provide value to Hyundai Motorsport and become more involved with them globally in the years to come.
Paddon also continues to develop his electric powered rally car and hopes to have it competing in a full rally this year.
Rally Monte Carlo runs from 22-25 January.
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