Hayden Paddon and new co-driver Sebastian Marshall pushed for the positives on the final day of Rally de Portugal overnight (Sunday WEST), winning two of the rally’s final four stages in front of the massive crowds of rally fans that this rally attracts. Having started the day – for the second time – under Rally 2 regulations, the pair were never going to be among the front-runners of the overall results, but were able to demonstrate their speed with the stage wins. There are many positives for the future of new Paddon-Marshall partnership which officially commences after July’s Rally Finland when long-time co-driver John Kennard concludes his co-driving duties.
Hyundai Motorsport claimed its second double podium of the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo completing Rally de Portugal in second and third positions respectively.
The result fulfils Hyundai Motorsport’s pre-rally objectives in style, securing the team its first-ever Portuguese podium finish. It is the sixth time in the team’s history where it has had two crews on the podium and continues its run of 2017 top-three finishes after third in Mexico, a 1-3 in Corsica and victory at the previous round in Argentina.
All three Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team crews registered stage wins this weekend with Hayden Paddon and Neuville notching up four apiece, with Sordo also taking one. It is the first rally this season where all crews have achieved the feat and represents one of the team’s most successful rallies to date in terms of stage wins with nine in total.
At the conclusion of Sunday, Paddon said: “Certainly a rally of what might have been. While the results disappointing with the technical difficulties we had that cost us any chances, it’s still positive and pleasing to know we can be competitive. We had the speed here that we should have been fighting for the win, but nevertheless we were able to win some stages on day one and day three.
“It’s good to get the confidence back; we’re enjoying things inside the car again and the car’s working for me. This is a big step forward as we move ahead for future gravel rallies. Everything in the car’s working really well. Seb did an amazing job in the car for the first time, absolutely faultless. This bodes well for the future. Not the result we wanted, but we know once our luck turns, once we can overcome some of these technical difficulties that the team are going to work hard to resolve, that we’ve got the package to put forward a good challenge to start trying to win some rallies in the very near future.”
Paddon’s next World Rally Championship event is on the Italian island of Sardinia 8-11 June.
Final Overall Classification – Rally de Portugal
1 S. Ogier J. Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 3:42:55.7
2 T. Neuville N. Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +15.6
3 D. Sordo M. Martí Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +1:01.7
4 O. Tanak M. Jarveoja Ford Fiesta WRC +1:30.2
5 C. Breen S. Martin Citroën C3 WRC +1:57.4
6 E. Evans D. Barritt Ford Fiesta WRC +3:10.6
7 J. Hänninen K. Lindstrom Toyota Yaris WRC +3:48.9
8 M. Østberg O. Floene Ford Fiesta WRC +5:29.7
9 J.M Latvala M. Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC +5:43.6
10 E. Lappi J. Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC +8:13.3
2017 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers’ Standings
After round 6
1 S. Ogier 128
2 T. Neuville 106
3 J.M Latvala 88
4 O. Tanak 83
5 D. Sordo 66
6 E. Evans 53
7 C. Breen 43
8 H. Paddon 33
9 K. Meeke 27
10 J. Hänninen 21
2017 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers’ Standings
After round 6
1 M-Sport World Rally Team 199
2 Hyundai Motorsport 173
3 Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 113
4 Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team 85
All results remain subject to official FIA confirmation.
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