Paddon Update: Back to where it all began

Hyundai Motorsport WRC driver Hayden Paddon previews Rally Italia Sardegna ……..

Hi there

It’s Rally Sardegna week – round 7 of the World Rally Championship. It seems surreal that we are already at the halfway point of the season – here is hoping it’s a season of 2 halves.

Rally Sardegna is perhaps the most demanding European gravel event on the calendar, with the rough rocky roads providing challenges for the car and very hot temperatures providing a challenge for the drivers. But it is a rally full of good memories for us: our debut with Hyundai Motorsport in 2014 and our first podium in 2015.

This year, we would like to add to those memories and by picking up where we left off in Portugal, I feel we are now heading in the right direction. Everything is starting to come together and feel a lot more positive, which together with our good road position for this rally means that we don’t need to go chasing a result. It’s key to be clean, stay out of trouble and let the result come to us.

The sole focus to begin this rally is to find a good comfortable pace for Friday (on Saturday, the road order will be dictated by reverse classification), to keep us in a good position come Saturday and Sunday. The stages on these days also suit us better, so we have a clear plan that we look to follow.

Since Portugal, we have had a bit of time to prepare the pace notes and lift the physical training a notch to get ready for the hot temps. During the rally we can expect between 55-60 degrees in the car at the peak! So it was great to spend a few days at Formula Medicine where I was put through my paces. Last week we also spent two days testing in Finland in preparation for the rallies that follow Sardegna.

We also released details for our VIP Rally Australia tour (November) which is limited to 100 people. Every year people rate this very highly as we take our guests behind the scenes with us and witness all the best WRC drivers in action. If you would like more information regarding the tours, please email tours@paddonrallysport.co.nz.

Regards

Hayden