Could being down under mean over and out?

Hayden Paddon couldn’t have done any more at Rally Australia to enhance his chances for a seat in next year’s World Rally Championship.

Rumours about Paddon’s future were all over the service park, but the more time passes, the more it seems that the Kiwi’s only real option for next year may be a part-time seat at Hyundai – the same as he had in 2018.

“I honestly have no idea on what’s happening next year,” he told Talk Motorsport before Rally Australia started.

“I’ve been trying to secure a deal with Hyundai for some months, but nothing has yet been confirmed.”

Out of the service park and on the stages – where it really counts – Paddon was in scintillating form as he out-drove both his more fancied team-mates.

Not for the first time this year, Andreas Mikkelsen crashed, as did Thierry Neuville, in doing so ending any hope he had of a maiden WRC crown.

Through it all, Paddon was sublime, finishing second and taking his second podium for the year, and his fifth top five finish – all from just seven WRC starts.

As he crossed the finish line of the final stage, his ‘team’ showed absolutely no emotion back in the service park. There were no claps, no smiles, and definitely no high fives.

It incensed Paddon’s army of supporters. Did it signal what the future holds, or were the team still distraught over Neuville’s season-ending accident?

“This feels like a proper podium. I felt the last few we’ve benefitted from others’ misfortune, but we’ve definitely earned this one,” Paddon said.

“Each year we’ve been getting one place better in Australia, so I must be on to win it next year!

“Thanks to the team and to the travelling Kiwi fans who have come out in their droves to support us. It makes all the difference.

“We have to see what happens next season, but I hope this result helps our cause.”

Whether it does remains to be seen. Talk of a possible move to M-Sport seems a real long shot, particularly with Paddon’s desire to remain loyal to the team that gave him his WRC start.

Yet that loyalty may not go both ways, and might mean nothing if the powers that be at Hyundai can’t see the forest for the trees.

Once again Paddon has shown that he deserves to have a full program in a top-tier team, but in a sport dominated by Europeans, his country of birth may yet be the biggest hurdle to his future aspirations.