To be correct "AU didn't start for Paddon" not "Paddon didn't start in AU".Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
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To be correct "AU didn't start for Paddon" not "Paddon didn't start in AU".Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
He was hoping for more outings or full season with Hyundai and get sacked. I think teams didn't pay attention at all since Ogier and Neuville was free. Meeke grabs a chance at Toyota, Citroen was only interested in Ogier and then Lappi, he was pretty good last year. M-Sport chose well proven recipe with Evans and Suninen and third payed car. Again Hyundai didn't want him since there was Mikkelsen, Sordo and Loeb. What would they do with Paddon?
He could have a chance if Evans really goes to Toyota and Mikkelsen doesn't show up in Fiesta. Paddon could drive for free there. And I think they will not run third car full season just for him (we all know that's renting car for one off's). Maybe a chance if Loeb retire again and Breen doesn't deliver. But that could come until 2021. Or are they are offering him NZ drive.
This time last year he was effectively only available to Hyundai, who were still screwing him around telling him they would give him more drives. So saying its notable that MSport didn't pick him makes no sense at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Everyone knows the Finland testing crash wasn't his fault, but you're right that it prevented him from showing a result.
You think that if MSport came and asked if he wants to drive for them instead of Evans or as a 3rd car he would say no and that he wants to hope for more rallies at Hyundai? I doubt that.Quote:
Originally Posted by GravelBen
Don't see how he wasn't "available" to them as he had no contract, just hope.
MSPORT money making policy is another matter though.
They don't just chase people, except if his surname is Ogier or lately Tanak. People come to them
Real shame for him and it's amplified by hearing him sound so defeatist now (but you can understand why).
I just dont know why Msport wouldn't run him or Mikkelsen (no wage), even in just a few rallies if they do lose Evans. But it sounds like he must have already been told he has no chance with them, unless he brings the cash...
That was well before Hyundai NZ had said they were happy for him to drive for a different WRC team without compromising his long-term relationship with them in NZ, and while there was no contract it wasn't just 'hope' either, from what I've heard Hyundai WRC made him a lot of promises that they never followed through on.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
MSport do seem to sabotage their own potential by taking less capable pay-drivers over fast, experienced drivers who are available but can't afford to (and shouldn't have to) buy drives. If they do lose Evans to Toyota then Paddon, Mikkelsen and Suninen would be a pretty strong team of available drivers who won't pay but probably won't cost too much either - but more likely they will take Suninen, Greensmith paying (I'm not saying he doesn't have potential, but he isn't a contender yet) and a third car swapping between other pay drivers.
A month or two ago Paddon was trying to put together a half season with MSport for next year, but maybe that has fallen through. It could be that Aus being cancelled = no return on investment for his sponsors that were paying for that round = not enough funding to make an MSport deal happen for next year.
I'm a fan of Paddon and do feel for him, but I think he was really trying to have his cake and eat it.
With his rally business there and connection with Hyundai NZ, he was trying to keep that AND have a full-time WRC drive in a European-based team.
I'm afraid to have the latter he needed to cut his NZ links and move to Europe and go all-in on WRC.
However Paddon is one of 5-6 fastest guys, and still quite young, so big failure from teams if they ignore him.
Lots of nearly men in the wrc's history.(e.g Mikael Ericsson spelling?) Commercial sense / economics dictates who drives - preference for those with a big suitcase of cash.
Paddon will still have the electric rally car to develop back in NZ. Some form of rallycross probably in Europe - electric or gas.
Paddon also has the NZ TCR race circuit series so he is not short of machines to drive.
Even have his cross-kart out for a play soon.
Rallying is his passion, ofcourse other disciplines are fun too but he live for rally and every damn driver dream about being in WRC squad. And he was there for few seasons, win an event over Ogier (I mean Ogier!!!). He & we believe that he didn't achieve everything that could be achieved by him, so that's why he wants to be there. After so much work he did, he really deserves it but motorsport is cruel to those who sit a yea. When suddenly 3 to 4 driver who drive entire season lost a seat, teams are looking at them first, so it's even harder. Cutting links to Hyundai NZ is stupid, just to trying to be back again. If they allow to drive other cars why not, if not then, so be it. I would say that I'll be aiming at WRC2. It's still quite good championship and could promote their car well and Hyundai (or other teams) could again pay attention to him. Just my opinion
Paddon 2020 programme
It’s going to be a busy year as we target 3 rally championships – New Zealand, Asia Pacific and Pacific Cup Championships. Our AP4 has had a freshen up with some new updates and an updated team livery to tackle the following rallies with both Samantha Gray and John Kennard .
March 7/8 – Ben Nevis Golden 1200 Hillclimb
April 3/5 – Rally Otago
May 8/10 – Rally Whangarei
June 20 – Rally South Canterbury
July 25 – Rally Hawkes Bay
September – Ashley Forest Rallysprint
October – Waimate 50
November 28/29 – Coffs Harbour Rally Australia
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EP9eceHU...pg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EP9exIyU...jpg&name=small
It'll be insane if he doesn't do Rally New Zealand...
Every man and his dog is getting an R5 i20 nowadays. If Hyundai can't at least do him a favour and sort him one out for there, there really must be a terrible relationship between Adamo and Paddon.
I don't think there is really any relationship between Paddon and Adamo, Paddon was basically pushed out before Adamo arrived and Adamo doesn't seem to even want to know about him let alone consider him for a drive.
I've always got the impression Penasse doesn't like Paddon though - possibly related to Neuville not getting on with Paddon, and Penasse being a big Neuville supporter and fellow Belgian? When Paddon talked about promises being made and broken by the team I think it was Penasse rather than Adamo responsible.
Official Hyundai NZ driver is using ex ex ex generation car ;)
Yeah it’s mad they didn’t switch to the next gen i20 when it came out.
If I recall correctly the i20 wasn’t properly replaced by the new one in NZ, however the jacked-up version (I think called something like Active) of the new i20 does sell over there. An AP4 version of that would effectively be the same as an AP4 i20 5dr
I would say they would have no problem bringing over another R5 if he will pay for it. Unless he thinks he would not be quick enough in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
He paid M-Sport for a world car last year and burned all his Hyundai motorsport bridges in the interviews before the first event.
There is a lot of politics in that team.
I'm sure it's not helped that Paddon's former girlfriend is now married to the team PR manager, and there are questions and rumours as to the circumstances around that....
Former fiancee I think not just girlfriend?
If I would be him I would certainly go to the Japan and talk to Subaru bosses.Quote:
Originally Posted by GravelBen
I've also heard those rumours before, and be it coincidence or not, his performance just went down after the "incident"...Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfiend
That was just one of the factors in his nightmare 2017 really. There was also the crash at Monte that killed a spectator (in a stupid place, but still not an easy thing to deal with and knocked his focus/confidence for a while), a few uncharacteristic mistakes and a car that had problems more often than not...Quote:
Originally Posted by Co-driven
Then he was back to good form in 2018, but they dropped him anyway.
Good solid second-driver-form but not the rally-winning pace of 2016. Many believed him to be the dark horse of 2017, challenging Ogier for the title.Quote:
Originally Posted by GravelBen
It's a shame really, because I still believe he had/have rally winning pace. He was quick and consistent given his experience and quite clever with his approach. In other words, he was good "meat" for long-term success. But life is cruel :)Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
After his victory he never quite reached those same heights. Right after Argentina he crashed in the next two rallies and set fire to the Portuguese forests (that time that Tanak went off at the same place in the Dmacks fiesta).Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Paddon with the body shell for the stard based - electric Hyundai Kona for nz experimental rallying.
https://www.themotorhood.com/themoto...jOBeRVz2dplkh8
Vintage rally person's interview with Paddon, while their event was passing through Highlands Circuit.
Paddon's team readying car for NZ hill climb event etc, talks about limited seats in WRC etc.
12 mins.
https://www.facebook.com/EnduranceRa...8450269944576/
Paddon and the Kona EV
https://themotorhood.com/themotorhoo...-hayden-paddon
Cheers to him for making that. Especially after the way Hyundai WRC team treated him last year.
Anyway he shows what should have been somewhat obvious to anyone thinking about EVs a bit longer than 5 seconds before saying they will be crap.
- EV rally car can look spectacular on a rally stage, it all depends on the power and electronic "aids" allowed
- EV rally car is not silent, certainly not on gravel
- The sound is different, some kind of sound generator both for spectator safety and to have a clearer idea what the driver is doing with throttle could be an improvement, the big question is if it should imitate petrol cars (somewhat silly) or be completely made up (weird and will take time to get used to).
Regarding battery use, even if it runs empty after one stage that's really only a secondary problem. Fast charging is now widely available (see Taycan) and would require limited changes to itineraries, battery swap as they plan might be even easier, certainly when rallies are run in the middle of nowhere.
Agree, very nice initiative from Paddon RallySport Group, together with Hyundai NZ and the University Canterbury Motorsport and all the other partners. To celebrate it, we reviewed the aero of the Kona EV rally car... hope you like it
https://www.wrcwings.tech/2020/11/12...-ev-rally-car/
Paddon and NZ drivers - up soon for the Jack's Ridge Rallysprint for non-NZ viewers supposed to be streamed on the Repco Australia website www.repco.com.au (sometimes the Australian companies use their youtube and facebook options for livestreams as well or for back up options) from 12am Sunday UK time? (Sunday 1pm NZ summer time)
Further information available from the Rally NZ website and Facebook page This venue was built by Andrew Hawkeswood on their property as a 6.5 km super special stage. The Rallysprint uses a loop of just over 2 in within the venue
For everyone outside New Zealand you can watch 4 hours live stream from the"Battle of Jacks Ridge" Coverage from 1pm NZ time ( 25 minutes after this post)
Competing vehicles from a range of motorsport disciplines. Top 32, top 16 .... knock out format
https://www.repco.com.au/en/repco-battle-of-jacks-ridge
SVG for the win. Paddon dnf.
https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/11/15...idge-on-debut/
Paddon in opening round of ARC. Maybe more outings.
https://www.motorsport.com/rally/new...paign=widget-1
Great to see the 2021 WRC season underway this week in Monte Carlo. While we have a lot of good things happening here in NZ, WRC is not a completely closed door just yet, with some discussions on-going in the background. Looking at both WRC and R5 opportunities. There are certainly a few challenges in the world at present that makes it a little more difficult, but have not given up yet!
https://www.facebook.com/haydenpaddo...96196070416156
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid...ature=youtu.be
Out for a skid.
https://www.facebook.com/donna.elder...26356276683378
Putting on a demonstration run at the NZ Gold Star Hillclimb Championship event