Driver Profile
From New Zealand competition to the World Rally Championship
Paddon grew up in New Zealand, competing in karting in his early years before switching to rallying at fifteen. He progressed from domestic competition to international events, winning the Production Car World Rally Championship in 2011. That title belonged to the production-car category of the time and must be recorded separately from the rally results he later achieved in top-level machinery.
After joining Hyundai’s WRC line-up in 2014, he gradually built up a tally of podium finishes in the top category and claimed his first overall WRC victory at Rally Argentina in 2016. His journey from New Zealand’s domestic scene to victory at the highest level of world rallying took him through different cars, regions and competitive environments.
Continued competition after leaving a regular WRC seat
After his initial spell in Hyundai’s top-category line-up ended, Paddon continued to compete internationally and regionally in Hyundai machinery. He won consecutive European Rally Championship titles in 2023 and 2024, becoming the first non-European driver to win the ERC title, while also continuing to compete in New Zealand and Australia.
The 2025 Australian Rally Championship title added another season-long achievement to his record before his WRC return. Experience in the ERC and national championships gave the crew more opportunities to compete on asphalt and gravel. Those achievements must be understood within their respective championships and cannot simply be added together as WRC championship titles.
A return to Hyundai’s rotating line-up in 2026
In 2026, Paddon drives the No. 20 Hyundai i20 N Rally1, sharing duties in the third car with Sordo and Lappi on a rotating basis. Returning to top-level machinery after years away from a regular WRC seat requires him to readjust to driving and engineering work in Rally1, while bringing his recent experience across different championships back to the team.
John Kennard is his co-driver for 2026, and the pair have a long history of working together and winning titles. Their renewed partnership draws not only on past WRC events but also on recent European and regional competition. The crew’s experience has continued to grow rather than stopping as they moved between championships.
What to watch
Editorial analysis: Paddon’s return is worth watching from two perspectives: how his existing experience helps him complete long-distance events in complex road conditions, and how the crew adapts to Rally1 machinery that responds differently from the Rally2 cars they have driven recently. Comparisons between rally results should take account of testing mileage, familiarity with the surface and the specific duties assigned within the rotation. Simply treating him as a newcomer entering the top category for the first time would overlook his long career.
How results are recorded
Rally1 overall results, WRC2 class results, fastest stage times and season championship titles are recorded separately. This page is a snapshot of the available information; for the latest drivers’ and FIA manufacturers’ points totals, please see this site’s standings.
Last checked: 1 October 2026 · Historical statistics and current points are maintained separately