Congratulations NOT, for once I like one of your posts! :eek:
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Congratulations NOT, for once I like one of your posts! :eek:
Hayden Paddon @HaydenPaddon
This was my office today - 120 laps in a GT car developing my Tarmac driving with Nicholas Bernadi #goodday #fast
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Co3rLjZWEAEw04c.jpg
Hayden today:
“ I will make one single post here about the current situation and our feelings, as for too long we have said nothing and tried to do the right thing. Firstly, happy for Craig and I wish him all the best for the rally.
I will point out all the talk that we turned down the offer of a 1 Rally drive with Hyundai is not correct and was blown out of proportion from media speculation. Originally there was talk of this when we first got news of no seat for 2019 last December, and at the time emotion was raw after being left high and dry. However nothing was formally discussed. Since February we have actively been in communication to be involved with the team in any role - testing, 1 off rallies (Finland).....anything. My passion is still very high for WRC and I feel I’m at my prime at present. I know the car well and was prepared to jump straight in and do a good job for the team.
So naturally you can understand we are very upset. I have given my life to this brand in everything I do. Our NZ business, our NZ Hyundai partnership, purchase of a TCR car, everything we possibly could do! And yet we were not even spoken to about this event despite us offering our services several times. Since we did our last rally in Australia, we have had very little communication from them - no acknowledgment of our time with them, no formal thank you, no heads up on the future.
I will say through all this, how much we appreciate the unconditional support from Hyundai NZ and how much they have my back. They fully support all our comments. Many people say we need to cut our ties – well, think of it this way, do you cut your ties for a couple of years in the WRC vs a potential lifetime partnership in this part of the world? It’s never as straightforward as most people think.
Big thanks to all your support. Means a lot. Again I stress this is nothing against Craig, I have nothing but respect for him and it’s only natural you take what opportunities you can.”
Autosport wrote that he turned down the one off rally?
He says that isn't correct, but then seems to admit there was talk of that... Seems like he turned it down when "emotion was raw", "however nothing was formally discussed".Quote:
Originally Posted by nafpaktos
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
As I said in the other thread many of the WRC folks can care less about his TCR and allegiance to Hyundai NZ... I feel sorry for Hayden, but it seems like he needs to move on from Hyundai at this point
I took those comments to mean there was unofficial discussion but when it came to making it official the team didn't follow through on what they had said informally.Quote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
He is building a lifetime career with Hyundai NZ. No WRC season or few outings with other manu is worth of risking that. He will never be payed like crying baby does so that's why he is working hard to maintin realtionship with them. He admitted that he will not leave them.Quote:
Originally Posted by racerx1979
I'm not familiar with the rallying scene in NZ, but i don't see how he could build any kind of career with anyone by winning a few local rally's against nobody.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
He was of marketing value to hyundai NZ because he was a wrc driver. But such value quickly fades away. In a few years he will have no more value to them, and that will be the end.
It's not about his personal driving, it's about his own team and other businesses in NZ.Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
First comment I agree with. Depth of rallying in NZ right now is abysmal.Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
The latter comment displays a lack of knowledge.
With only a few spots up for grabs in WRC, many top rally drivers make a comfortable living driving elsewhere.
Paddon himself leaves NZ for programme of offshore rallies and rally cross in which, presumably, he's being well remunerated.
I think he have also academy for young drivers and is tutoring them, is partner for variety brands. He just drive to stay in form and he is too young to retire from driving. I think he could leave business to other for a few more years and start competing at WRC2 or at least ERC. Or maybe try in rallycross or even WTCR.
I disagree and am disappointed in your comments Mr SollittQuote:
Originally Posted by sollitt
Difficult situation for Paddon, of course. Maybe being loyal to a brand is, in this case, setting more limits to himself, than it's giving opportunities. For me, and I think most people on this forum, the only place he belongs is in WRC. And for that it seems like he has to break the link with Hyundai at this point.
Unfortunately i can’t see Hayden WRC future anymore.
I agree. He has burnt his bridges and if he wont leave NZ to try another team due to his business there, then thats it. His sole prioritiy isnt a WRC seat (unlike Breen).
Welcome to yesterday's discussionsQuote:
Originally Posted by wrc2017
I'm afraid to agree with you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Maybe maybe M-Sport could give him a seat somehow but I guess the salary will not be like Hyundai's one and most probably he would not have one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AL14
unfortunately im afraid of the same. Which is a big shame.
Cant he do his "future securing" with another manufacturer than Hyundai or later after the career?
His loyalty to the team hasnt done anything good for him so far and IMO they have treated him like shit. This may sound arrogant from me, but as long as he says he doesnt cut the ties with them he shouldnt complain on social media about not getting drives, because Hyundai (or someone there) doesnt like him and the others cant hire him.
seems that Paddon is paying his contrary with Neuville years back.
There are a lot of things we dont know from these days.
I'm pleased for Breen, but this smells like a plate of salmon, that's been left out in direct sunlight for a week.
Can't help picturing the scene, when Haydon completed rally Australia 2nd overall, the cameras diverted to the Hyundai squads office, and not one clap, not a smile on anyone's face, just the look of a team thinking why did he just do that, as if he had just binned it from 1st place on the last corner of the last stage of the rally.
Needs to sack Hyundai and try and get a drive at m sport IMO.
Why waste time trying to secure a future with a manufacturer that is threatening to pull out if the don't win a championship anyway.
exactly, cant understand it either.Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm75
I can understand being the rare not-rich WRC driver and having a concern for your ongoing career post-competition, but would it really be so bad for Hyundai NZ if he drove another car in an international competition that doesn't even visit NZ anymore? His local commitments are with a local company branch. Unless Hyundai NZ are saying "everything's kaput if you drive anybody else's car" I guess.
Even then, New Zealand does not have a huge selection of international level sportspeople for local companies to sponsor, especially in motorsport. It doesn't seem like career suicide to sever ties if it means building your international success (thus local sponsor-ability) further.
I just remember Greg Murphy, a locally (Aus-NZ) known V8 Supercars champion, being on TV constantly as THE New Zealand motorsport guy, selling pies with his name on it, etc. And he is (in my view) less accomplished than a World Championship event winner of any stripe.
What about Scott Dixon, Earl Bamber & Brendon Hartley? How well are they known in NZ?
Among the wider public I'd say Dixon is very well known, Hartley moderately known (due to F1 getting more media coverage), Bamber (along with others who have done well in GT etc) not very well known at all. The V8 supertaxi drivers are better recognised here - Van Gisbergen, McLaughlin, Coulthard currently as well as Murphy etc in their day. Thats probably just a reflection of the popularity of the series, I think far more people in NZ would watch V8 racing than F1, GT or WRC.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
Paddon is probably as well known as any of them now though I think, and local rallying is popular with 100+ car entries to some events and a lot of spectators out on the stages.
Would mean quitting his current businessQuote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Would it mean quitting it, or switching to a different manufacturer? I don't really know anything about his business venture, but surely Ford and Toyota at least have as much general presence in NZ as Hyundai.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
What happens if Hyundai Motorsport pull the plug at some point, does that not have any impact on Hayden's future company plans? Genuine question as I say I'm not up to speed on his operation.
Why would that be?Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Duval was and is a toyota dealer and drove citroen and ford.
Loeb is hyundai driver and rents peugeot and vw.
Unless hyundai NZ says no and pays him a lot for it, there is not a single reason why he shouldn't try a different team.
It's like "M-Sport should break up with Ford" all over again.
Only it isn't, not really. We are talking about a guy that has the speed and ability to be one of the top drivers in the wrc, that is a rally winner and is still at a young enough age, that should be putting himself in the shop window, not a company that has ties with several different manufacturers in different Motorsport disciplines. But I get your sentiment.Quote:
Originally Posted by tr4m
Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm75
I think the business (Paddon Rallysport) would be strong enough to carry on without Hyundai in future, but they do work closely together and Hyundai NZ have been very loyal and committed long-term supporters of Hayden. As far as I'm aware there has never really been any Hyundai involvement in NZ motorsport without Paddon, he has been the driving force behind it and together they have done a lot for NZ rallying.
There are already other established businesses building/maintaining/preparing Ford, Subaru, Mitsi etc for rallying so it wouldn't be as simple as 'just switching to another manufacturer' unless it is one that doesn't already have a partnership like that. Toyota could be an option if they ever decide to take local rallying seriously, but they only really seem to focus on circuit racing in NZ.
Personally I'd like it if Hyundai NZ gave him a public 'all clear' to drive for another team in WRC, but I can understand the conflict of interest between brands etc that corporate types on both sides will worry about.
I don't know more about these cases, but at least Toyota didn't have a WRC team during Duval's career, and same goes for Peugeot and VW right now. It would be different if a manufacturer is letting their representative compete against themQuote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
For sure Paddon has a clause in his contract with Hyundai NZ (that most likely has been overseen by Hyundai HQ) which prevents him from competing against the brand. So it's either Hyundai or Hyundai, if Paddon wants to compete in the WRC AND to continue with his business.
In a way putting Breen on the books locks down another driver potentially for next year and takes him off the market for other manufacturers potentially, seems like Hyundai is just buying out drivers,Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
I don't understand why Hayden couldn't at least knock on Makkinen's door and have a discussion and the same with Budar or Malcolm. Even just a test drive doesn't mean he has to sign anything and break his contract with Hyundai NZ. Just see whats available because putting all his eggs in 1 basket might actually mean he misses out on his dreams! Just see whats on the other side of the fence. He might actually find some sweet smelling Roses! Who knows???
Maybe, but not necessarily. Could be a freelancer like Mikkelsen, who also did some one-offs in the C3 before heading to Hyundai.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toyoda
After the end of last year he pretty much made a choice out of the two options:Quote:
Originally Posted by Grutz
a) Stay in NZ and care about his business and other activities and hope for Hyundai WRC drive
b) Move to Europe and do different rallies on multiple surfaces to both improve tarmac skills and stay visible. All WRC teams are based in Europe and are "forced" by the rules to test in Europe + the competition level across multiple championships is quite high.
Paddon picked a). Which is much less risky for the future but likely also more enjoyable and makes sure he has something to do and decent income.
b) would have been much more risky and could backfire completely, but it also had a chance for better reward.
Breen picked b) and has driven like 4 different cars in multiple championships. But for him it was by far much easier choice since he lives in Europe and his girlfriend (still afaik) is from Italy. So driving in Ireland and Italy is both like driving "at home". So it was an obvious and easy choice for him, but one that also gives him much higher chances than Paddon in the long run.
Breen's way is better, competing all the time in Europe and in lots of media