Otago crowds will get the first glimpse of Hayden Paddon in his new specifically designed rally car.
Southern fans will be pleased to know the Rally of Otago will be the first event to host the country's most successful rally driver Paddon and co-driver John Kennard in a new 1.8-litre, turbocharged Hyundai i20 rally car.
Rally spokesman Roger Oakley said the organising committee was "delighted'' that Paddon and Kennard would be attending the April rally, around Dunedin and North Otago.
"Hayden and John Kennard have been big supporters of the Otago Rally for many years for which we are very appreciative. We are in for a treat,'' he said.
Paddon has joined up with Hyundai New Zealand to launch the first New Zealand-developed Hyundai rally car and create a new partnership to benefit the New Zealand rally sport scene.
"I'm very excited to be part of this programme with Hyundai New Zealand, as we enter a new phase of our partnership to bring our rally exploits back to New Zealand and to introduce Hyundai New Zealand to the New Zealand Rally Championship,'' Paddon said.
"Together, we are all working to provide more opportunities for people in New Zealand rallying and this new car will form a major part of this project while also allowing John and I to, once again, enjoy two of the best rally events and rally roads in the world.''
The partnership has resulted in the formation of the Hyundai New Zealand Rally Team, which will support Paddon and Kennard's entry into the Rally of Otago on April 8 to 10 and the International Rally of Whangarei from April 29 to May 1.
The new Hyundai i20 has been built and developed in conjunction with well-known rally driver and fabricator, Auckland's Andrew Hawkeswood of Force Motorsport.
Its chassis is constructed according to AP4 (Asia Pacific) regulations, which Paddon believes will be critical to the future of New Zealand rallying.
"AP4 technical regulations provide for a new, more affordable generation of four-wheel-drive (4WD) turbocharged rally car which is eligible for competition in both national and international events within the Asia Pacific region,'' he said.
As for his performance expectations, Paddon said the car was still early in development, but had a lot of potential.
"We look forward to working closely with Force to help develop it into a rally-winning car. Like any new formula, it will take a little longer for this car to catch on, but I believe that value for money is the key with this sort of car. While not at the same level, it has the same design principles and look of a WRC car.''
Another vital aspect of the Hyundai New Zealand Rally Team will be the involvement of students from the Pinnacle Programme, which involves mentorship for talented, passionate teenagers 15-18 years old and is headed by netball great Bernice Mene, in the upcoming events.
"This project is much bigger than John and I,'' Paddon said.
"This is an opportunity to boost New Zealand rallying by introducing new people to the sport in conjunction with the Hyundai New Zealand-backed Pinnacle programme.''
Hyundai New Zealand general manager Andy Sinclair was excited by Paddon's involvement in the new partnership.
"Hayden is a true athlete. He embodies the Kiwi ‘can do' spirit and his commitment to ever-improving performance will undoubtedly provide a fantastic example for the young teenagers selected through the Pinnacle Programme to join our rally team in Otago and Whangarei.''
Paddon described the future beyond these two initial events for the New Zealand-focused rally project as a long-term project.
"Between Hyundai New Zealand and our newly-launched Paddon Foundation, we will look to have other drivers and co-drivers involved in the future,'' he said.
