Hayden Paddon has described getting his first taste of driving a full world rally car as ''an amazing feeling'' after testing the Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team-prepared Ford Fiesta RS WRC earlier this week.
The test before the three-day Rally of Spain, beginning tomorrow, was conducted on tarmac, as the first two days of the rally are on sealed roads. The final day has a twice-run 35.68km stage, which switches five times between tarmac and gravel.
Paddon said he was trying to balance the magnitude of the opportunity - competing for the Qatar M-Sport team, running in full factory colours - with the pressure that came with it.
''Generally, the switch from asphalt to gravel is a real challenge for the drivers, as you need to be able to adapt your driving style pretty quickly,'' he said.
''For me, for example, I'll be going from right-foot braking to left-foot braking over the course of just a few hours. That aside, [this] week will give us the perfect opportunity to show what we can do on both surfaces.''
Getting up to speed with the Fiesta did not take as long as he thought it might and after the first few runs he was becoming comfortable with the speed difference and the handling.
''It was an amazing feeling to be behind the wheel of a WRC car and within the environment of a very professional team.''
While the handling of the WRC car is similar to that of the S2000 cars Paddon is used to, the main difference is the engine torque created by the addition of a turbo.
''We are talking three times the amount of engine torque, meaning the amount of corner speed you can carry is increased and the corner exit speed is hugely faster. In fact, with the amount of torque and responsiveness of the engine, it is almost an easier car to drive.''
Until Paddon and co-driver John Kennard begin the rally, they are uncertain how they will compare with the 12 other WRC competitors, including Volkswagen star Sebastien Ogier, who has already wrapped up the drivers' championship, and team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, the Citroen duo of Mikko Hirvonen and Dani Sardo, and Paddon's own team-mates, Mads Ostberg, Evgeny Novikov, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Thierry Neuville.
''To start with, we just need to do our own thing, learn the car and build up towards the Saturday stages.
''However, Sunday will be a real lottery for us, as we have never driven the car on gravel, so it will be a matter of feeling our way into the gravel stages.''
