Hayden Paddon

[mknight]

No, he and M-Sport said in interviews afterwards that the reason for doing the test in his event car was because the deal to drive came together quite late to plan for the rally, and they just didn't have another car ready/available for testing or as a replacement. Time was the limitation in this case not money.

M-Sport said that even if they did have another car at the workshop ready to go it would take 3.5 days for them to get it there and it wouldn't arrive in time. Millener sounded almost as frustrated as Paddon that they couldn't repair or replace the car in time for the rally.

That is the part that I find extremely hard to believe.... taking 3,5 days to get a car from GB to Finland if money is almost not a problem. Heck just driving it by truck takes some 30 hours and all you need is a truck and 2 drivers.

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I don't know, you're talking like he is some new driver who has to do a rally to prove his speed but that isn't the case. They already know he is fast.

While a good result in Finland obviously would have helped his status, even with the testing accident he has put the message out there that he is on the market and available to drive for anyone now, not just on-call for Hyundai like he was before.

He has not done a rally with decent competition since Australia and last year only did 6 gravel rallies that typically suit him. He needs to show himself and since he bought the start in Finland it looks like he thinks so too.

I don't see how any team would hire him for fulltime season including tarmac rounds based on the situation right now. Hyundai is about the only team who would be interested in part-time drive and doesn't look like an option atm. Citroen said that they don't want drivers for part-season, Toyota will have enough with part time for Katsuta and probably Rovanpera. MSport will want budget.