Interview
WRC
Paddon aiming for first win this year, title challenge in 2017
Hyundai driver Hayden Paddon says he aims to secure his first WRC victory this year before mounting a title challenge in the new-generation car in 2017.
David Gruz
Edited: Mar 3, 2016, 11:46 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Paddon scored his first podium of the season last time out in Sweden, his first rally with the 2016-spec Hyundai i20.
Although the new regulations in 2017 will demand an entirely new car, the Kiwi doesn't feel the development of the 2016-spec machinery was a waste.
"There is a lot of time and work in this car, we still have to fine tune the set-ups, but I’m sure a lot of information from this car can be used with the new 2017 car as well," Paddon told Motorsport.com.
"While we are focusing on the 2016 car at the moment, in the background we are also working on the 2017 car.
"In 2017, we want to be fighting for the world championship and this year we're trying to make that more possible."
Hyundai to get stronger in European gravel rallies
The next two rounds will be held in Mexico and Argentina respectively, the former run on high altitude, which makes the engine a more important factor than usual.
Volkswagen and Sebastien Ogier were victorious in the past three years as a result, and Paddon expects Hyundai to be at its best on WRC's return to Europe instead as he looks to get his first victory in the series.
"We’re getting confident with the car, we need to develop some more set-ups, which is gonna take a little more time.
"As we do more rallies we’ll be given more information, but I think the base of the car is not bad and I think we can challenge VW - especially when we get to European gravel rallies.
"We just want to keep making progress, keep learning. We want to be on the podium more often and we want to try to get our first rally win."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Paddon always learning as WRC heads to Mexico
Next article Camilli: Main goal for Mexico is "just to finish"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
David Gruz
Honda reveals 2020 World Superbike challenger
World Superbike
World Superbike
Honda reveals 2020 World Superbike challenger
Redding: Bautista cost himself 2019 WSBK crown
World Superbike
World Superbike
Redding: Bautista cost himself 2019 WSBK crown
Espargaro: Aprilia showed podium pace at Sepang
MotoGP
MotoGP
Sepang February testing
Espargaro: Aprilia showed podium pace at Sepang
More from
Hayden Paddon
F1 world champion among drivers for Race Of Champions’ first New Zealand event
Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 world champion among drivers for Race Of Champions’ first New Zealand event
Hayden Paddon answers doubters with “proper” WRC podium in Paraguay
WRC
WRC
Rally del Paraguay
Hayden Paddon answers doubters with “proper” WRC podium in Paraguay
Hayden Paddon secures extra Hyundai WRC outing
WRC
WRC
Rally del Paraguay
Hayden Paddon secures extra Hyundai WRC outing
More from
Hyundai Motorsport
Adrien Fourmaux confident of WRC drive despite 2027 uncertainty
WRC
WRC
Adrien Fourmaux confident of WRC drive despite 2027 uncertainty
What does the future hold for Thierry Neuville and Hyundai in WRC?
WRC
WRC
Rally Italy
What does the future hold for Thierry Neuville and Hyundai in WRC?
Latest news
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
General
Misc General 3 min
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
25 min
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
47 min
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
MotoGP Australian GP: Marco Bezzecchi leads Aprilia 1-2-4-5 in Friday Practice
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
3 h
MotoGP Australian GP: Marco Bezzecchi leads Aprilia 1-2-4-5 in Friday Practice
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe