Hayden Paddon has been chosen by Hyundai Motorsport to compete at the next 2026 World Rally Championship round, Rally Paraguay. Having been contracted for and completed three events – Monte Carlo, Croatia and Japan rallies, the Kiwi driver has another round added to his return in the top Rally1 category.
“Beyond excited and incredibly grateful to be heading back to the WRC, this time on gravel,” commented Paddon. “We’re under no illusions about the size of the challenge ahead. Jumping back into Rally1 on gravel against the best in the world won’t be easy, but we’ll make the most of this opportunity and give it absolutely everything we’ve got.”
Based in the city of Encarnación, near the Argentina border, Rally Paraguay takes place 27-30 August 2026 and promises 22 Special Stages (358.99 km) of a mix of smooth red-earth stages and trickier technical sections through dense vegetation.
While the surface is mostly soft and fast, deep ruts and sudden surface changes are expected to keep drivers guessing across the weekend.
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