2024 WRC News & Rumours

[saco0o]

so theres more places trying to host a wrc round? interesting. I'd guess right now the championship was not looking atractive but eh, maybe the "event" itself is seeing as something positive overall? interesting.

[AndersX]

Can anyone explain why Paddon is forgotten by all the big teams? What has he done? Is it personal somehow? Look what he is doing in ERC - fast on every surface, consistent, somehow got that half-dead R2 Hyundai beating all the skodas and toyotas. This looks really strange to me.

[EstWRC]

thats a good question, ive been wondering the same. IMO he deserves at least one try with the Rally1, actually i even think Hyundai owns him one drive considering how loyal he has been to the brand.

[Jarek Z]

That's becase he doesn't have such connections as Munster, Katsuta, Fourmaux or Serderidis.

And don't exaggerate with this "beating all the skodas and toyotas". In this year's ERC he only won one rally

[focus206]

Can anyone explain why Paddon is forgotten by all the big teams? What has he done? Is it personal somehow? Look what he is doing in ERC - fast on every surface, consistent, somehow got that half-dead R2 Hyundai beating all the skodas and toyotas. This looks really strange to me.

He's a good and consistent driver by all means, but he's beating Franceschi and Marczyk, who I wouldn't consider among the fast Rally2 drivers. And you can't say Paddon was fast in Roma and especially in Barum. The car he's driving is not the best for sure, but if we'd see him in Rally1, I wouldn't expect him to do better than the Hyundai part timers Mikkelsen, Lappi or Sordo.
With that said, Rally1 desperately needs a bigger field, and Paddon would worthy... if only there were more seats available.

[AndersX]

That's becase he doesn't have such connections as Munster, Katsuta, Fourmaux or Serderidis.

And don't exaggerate with this "beating all the skodas and toyotas". In this year's ERC he only won one rally

I generalized it. I think he was dropped by Hyundai under Adamo ruling time for some known only to him reasons. Paddon is the only other than Tanak who rise through the Pirelli Star Drive scheme and ever reached the WRC (if i am correct). Hyundai actually has very limited choice for the 3rd driver - Mikkelsen, Sunninen and Solberg (i really do not believe that Fourmaux would cash-in and go for being 3rd from being top guy in M-Sport). Why not to at least test Paddon?

[WRCStan]

I generalized it. I think he was dropped by Hyundai under Adamo ruling time for some known only to him reasons.

I think Mikkelsen was a Nandan signing for 2018-2019 (remember the 2 year full time drive contract dispute?). Adamo went for rotation in 2019, with Sordo and Loeb in 2019, then in 2020 they got WDC Tanak, Loeb and Neuville and there were fewer seats without Citroen. Paddon is a top driver, but not shifting these guys or the plethora of available 3rd drivers since.

[Rallyper]

Being lojal to Hyundai maybe the point that harmed him...
Doesn´t for example Ford selling cars in NZ?
Paddon in MSport would be a boost. But someone has to pay. That would maybe be Ford NZ if they exist...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Elfyn Evans thinks Rali Ceredigion could return the WRC to the UK...

https://www.autosport.com/rally/news...tus-/10650560/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Being lojal to Hyundai maybe the point that harmed him...
Doesn´t for example Ford selling cars in NZ?
Paddon in MSport would be a boost. But someone has to pay. That would maybe be Ford NZ if they exist...

Ford don't even fully-fund their existing WRC team (M-Sport), so there's no chance of a Ford importer in NZ paying for a Paddon Rally1 drive.

This was the best they could do, sponsoring local AP4 Fiesta on their home rally...

https://www.ford.co.nz/about-ford/ne...s-sponsorship/