New Zealand’s Hayden Paddon is close to confirming an expanded World Rally Championship programme in 2015, according to wrc.com.
Paddon, the 2011 Production Car World Champion, stepped up to the World Rally Car category this year with Hyundai’s Motorsport N team in a six-event program in an i20 WRC.
The Kiwi has produced some impressive results this season and took his first WRC stage win at last month’s Rally Spain, but the Korean manufacturer recently announced that Dani Sordo had been signed for a full-time drive next year alongside team leader Thierry Neuville.
Paddon told wrc.com yesterday that his WRC dream is alive and well.
“We’ll definitely be in the world championship next year in a World Rally Car, but there are a lot of details to be sorted,” he told wrc.com.
“It won’t be a full season, because we won’t be in Monte, instead the focus is to try and do all nine gravel rallies. We’re not quite there yet, so we need to keep negotiating.”
The 27 year old Paddon is believed to be talking to both M-Sport and Hyundai about next season.
“The preference is Hyundai but there are some other options” he explained. “Hopefully we’ll be able to announce something in the next couple of weeks. That’s when I hope to put pen to paper.”
Paddon and co-driver John Kennard will finish their 2014 WRC season at Wales Rally GB this weekend.
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