Hayden Paddon

Want to support your favourite flying Kiwi while enjoying exclusive benefits at the same time? Join the Paddon’s Pack supporters club.

Exclusive Members-Only Benefits:

• Pre- and post-race newsletters with Hayden.
• Rally ride give away - all registered members go in the draw to win one of two rally ride prizes.
• Competitions and merchandise giveaways per race.

Hayden first started racing in 2002 at just 15, following in his rally driver father’s footsteps. Since then he’s gone on to become Aotearoa’s leading rally legend and five-time national champion.

On the world stage Hayden is just as strong, with 40 WRC stage victories, eight podiums and the win in Argentina in 2016.

We started sponsoring Hayden back in 2014, kitting his team out with the fantastic Hyundai i20 WRC. Later, in 2018, we also helped him design and build the world’s first Kona EV rally car.

Rally2 cars are one of the most popular rally car specifications in the world. FIA homologated, these cars offer balance of performance, affordability and ease of parts and maintenance across all 8 manufacturers. In Australia and NZ, Rally2 and AP4 cars are eligible to compete with each other in the same class, more or less on an even playing field.

To be eligible for the Rally2 category, manufacturers must have made at least 2500 examples of the road-going version of their nominated vehicle model in the previous 12 months.

Rally2 cars run 1.6-litre, fuel-injected, turbocharged 4-cylinder engines with a power output of around 285bhp (212kW). They run permanent 4WD and a 5-speed sequential gearbox. Minimum weight is 1230kg, or 1390kg with driver and co-driver. 

Sleek steel bodyshell. 220 kW of power. Custom cooling and front/rear torque vectoring. Up to 1,100 Nm of torque. And not a petrol pump in sight.

In August 2018, Hayden and his engineering team began designing what would become the world’s first Kona EV rally car. A hugely exciting project, custom made for a fresh start and new perspective. Winning on its debut event at the Waimate Hillclimb and a subsequent win at the Ashley Forest Rallysprint, it's clear it has made a substantial impact in the rally world. 

Get a sneak peek

Hayden's mighty i20 AP4 has seen some serious action, helping Hayden take home numerous Rally NZ titles, becoming the most successful car in New Zealand rallying. It’s also a monstrous uphill climber, racing in competitions like the Ashley Forest Rallysprint, holding the current record of 52.00 seconds set in 2022 and collecting 2 victories from 2 starts.

At its standard, the i20 AP4 comes with a 1.8 Litre Force Motorsport Turbocharged petrol engine spitting out 215 kW of power, Hayden’s team of engineers can strip it down to just its interior and put it back together in as little as one weekend - upgrading the power to 500 kW.

In September 2024, Hayden and his team unveiled the most sentimental piece of all their cars. Pulling the covers off Hayden's 2016 Argentina winning Hyundai i20 WRC car. The car subsequently went on to win its NZ debut at the Ashley Forest Rallysprint, while most recently setting the record through the iconic Kuri Bush stage at the Otago Rally. A special one off stage run through the most legendary rally road in the country. 

The i20 WRC boasts an impressive 300hp from its bespoke Hyundai Motorsport 1.6L turbo-charged, direct injection, four-cylinder engine. At only 1200 kilograms (without drivers) the car is incredibly nimble. With two wins from only 5 starts, along with 16 stage wins, this chassis made a huge impact throughout the 2016 season. 

With the power of our Hyundai N performance car range, you can experience that race car precision at home.

Feel the power as you take off. Apply the brakes and carve through the corner. Launch yourself around and feel the traction, the control. Driving isn’t meant to be boring, which is why we developed the N range.

View our N range