Paddon’s WRC winner comes ‘down under’

The Kiwi had long teased the news of a new car over the past few weeks, and the Hyundai i20 NG WRC was tipped by many.

It’s over eight and a half years since Paddon won the event, and the car appears in its rally-winning livery.

Paddon will run the car at the Ashley Forest Rallysprint this weekend.

“This is special! Not only to have a Hyundai WRC car in New Zealand, but our exact car that won 2016 Rally Argentina,” Paddon shared to social media.

“So many good memories and so incredibly lucky to also drive it at this weekend’s Ashley Forest Rallysprint. Thank you to several key people who have helped make this possible. Dreams come true!”

After being used by the factory team in the 2016 WRC season, the car was sold to a Hyundai team in Italy, and according to rally website eWRC, it last competed at the end of 2022.