The recent announcement from Hyundai Motorsport that they have signed star Kiwi rally driver Hayden Paddon to a three-year contract marks yet another significant achievement by a New Zealander in world motorsport.
Paddon and his long-time co-driver John Kennard will step up to a full time role from Rallye Monte-Carlo in January and contest all rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with the team from 2016.
Paddon, from Geraldine, and his co-driver John Kennard, from Blenheim, initially joined Hyundai Motorsport for a six-rally campaign in 2014. This year the pair has been running an expanded programme of twelve WRC events and has, so far, delivered five top-five finishes and seven WRC stage wins.
MotorSport New Zealand president Shayne Harris says: “This is a notable first for rallying in New Zealand – to have one of our national champions signed to a WRC manufacturer team in a multi-year contract.
“We think, in terms of New Zealanders competing in major motorsport championships around the world, Hayden’s achievement is right up there with quadruple IndyCar champion Scott Dixon joining the Indy Racing League in the US back in 2003 and Palmerston North’s Brendon Hartley becoming a Porsche works driver in the World Endurance Championship.”
Mr Harris adds: “Like all successful sportspeople, Hayden has created a stellar career at the top of his sport through hard work, determination and talent.
“Kiwi rally fans have watched him develop through the years as he’s put in the hard yards, fundraised and improved his own performance to progress through regional and national rallies and then international competition to arrive at this point where he can fight for the biggest goal in world rallying – the WRC drivers’ championship title.
“We’ve seen Hayden participate in MotorSport New Zealand’s Elite Academy, he’s won the New Zealand Rally Championship three times (2008, 2009 and 2013) and he’s made the most of every opportunity such as the Pirelli Star Driver Scholarship in 2010.
“On behalf of rally fans across the nation, we extend our warmest congratulations to both Hayden and John for securing this fantastic opportunity. I wish you all the very best on your future goals.”
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