Motorsport: Paddon looking for big finish in Wales

Hayden Paddon at Walles Rally GB, November 2014. Credit Honza Frone picture supplied FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE NZH 14Nov15 - Hayden Paddon says knowing the Rally GB course is a plus but

New Zealand rally duo Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard are out to finish their 2015 World Rally Championship campaign with a flourish.

As their season with the factory Hyundai Motorsport team has progressed, Paddon has steadily developed as the young rising star in the hotly contested series. He is consistently matching stage times, if not beating, some of his more experienced fellow combatants and nabbed a podium spot at Rally Sardegna.

Despite missing the opening round of the series, Paddon sits ninth in the title race, a mere four points behind his more illustrious teammate Dani Sordo and only 16 from the other sister car of Thierry Neuville.

In fact, Paddon and Kennard are held in such high regard by the South Korean manufacturer they've been signed up for another three years, and have been handed the keys to the official entry eligible for manufacturer's points.

While a Hyundai driver isn't going to be challenging for the world driver's title (Neuville sixth and Sordo eighth), they are in a tight battle with Citroen for the WRC manufacturer's championship runner up spot.

Volkswagen has already clinched the top spot, but Citroen holds a narrow four-point lead over Hyundai with a maximum of 43 up for grabs. Paddon and Kennard are no strangers to the Wales Rally GB as it's the pair's sixth and eighth time at the event respectively.

"Yes, it's [humbling] that the team can put their faith in us, but from my side it doesn't add any pressure," said Paddon. "It's business as usual, which is to do the best job we can.

"Realistically the best way for the team to try and regain second in the manufacturers championship is that we score big points. To do this we have to push and will try and target a top five - although here that will not be easy."

If it ain't broke don't fix it, and Paddon is taking this thinking into the rally and will have the same approach as he usually does for the traditionally wet and muddy Welsh contest. He's been able to squeeze in a half-day test in the run-up to the rally, allowing them to make some tweaks to the car.

"There has been quite a lot of rain, so the roads are looking quite slippery and muddy. But this is normal for Rally GB - we come here expecting it and we are prepared for it.

"While I enjoy the fast nature of the stages, it's reading the grip levels which proves the most difficult," he said.

Paddon arrives at the final rally of the WRC 2015 series with a pretty handy record in what in effect has been his first fulltime rookie year in the top echelon.

Off course he's focused on a good result this weekend, and the knowledge he's got the Hyundai gig for a few more years will be a weight off his shoulders.

"It's been an amazing year and to think how far we have come in the last 12 months and yes we have to pinch ourselves sometimes.

"However, we still have a long way to go and a lot to improve on. We will use this rally as another opportunity to try and keep improving.

"It's all a bit surreal sometimes and certainly a dream come true - but I also want to win in the future and that's what we are here for.

"It's certainly pressure off [new deal] and more relaxing in the sense of worrying about the future.

"But at the same time there is added pressure, as we now have no excuses not to perform and have to work harder than ever to get to the front."

The rally has 312 competitive km and a daunting 1145km of touring stages. Today is the longest leg with the first cars starting before sunrise and the two night stages meaning competitors don't return to the service park until after 9pm. Tomorrow's four-stage itinerary wraps up the rally and this year's WRC season.