Kiwi rally car driver Hayden Paddon has been promoted to Hyundai’s top team for the World Rally Championship round in New Zealand next week.
Spanish driver Dani Sordo will miss the Rally of New Zealand from February 12-15 after breaking two ribs in a fall off a bike, and the Hyundai team announced Paddon will take Sordo’s drive in New Zealand alongside Thierry Neuville.
Sordo, who finished sixth in last month’s season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, is expected to be fit for next month’s Rally of Mexico.
“Unfortunately, Dani Sordo will miss next week’s Rally New Zealand after suffering two broken ribs in a training accident on his mountain bike earlier this week,” the Hyundai team posted on social media.
“In his place, Hayden Paddon will take over the #8 #Hyundai i20 #WRC while our test driver Kevin Abbring and his co-driver Seb Marshall will take care of the #20 car for Hayden for this event. We’re sure you’ll all join us in sending Dani very best wishes!”
Last week it was announced Paddon and co-driver John Kennard would lead Hyundai Motorsport’s second team in the WRC, but he has already received a promotion ahead of his first drive of the new season.
I am sure Hayden will take this chance he has been given and John and he will give it very best