13^th April 2026 – Hayden Paddon and co‑driver John Kennard have finished third overall at the 2026 WRC Croatia Rally, securing a podium result in the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 after a demanding and unpredictable four‑day event.

The Croatia Rally, held from 9–12 April, proved one of the most attrition‑heavy asphalt events of the season, with challenging grip levels and debris‑strewn roads catching out several leading Rally1 crews. Paddon and Kennard maintained a steady run across all three days, finishing consistently inside the top four before moving onto the podium following a dramatic final‑stage incident for Hyundai Motorsport teammate Thierry Neuville.

Paddon described the result as unexpected given the circumstances of the rally.

“It’s a bittersweet way to be on the podium. That wasn’t our expectation at the start, but we stuck to our plan all weekend,” said Paddon. “It turned out to be one of those rallies that you simply had to survive. We’re obviously gutted for the team and for Thierry, but we focused on getting the car to the finish and that’s what paid off.”

The result marks Paddon and Kennard’s first WRC podium since 2018 and came on their first competitive start at Rally Croatia. Starting ninth on the road, the pair managed evolving conditions throughout the weekend, including heavy debris on stages and a puncture on Saturday, to remain firmly in contention.

Hyundai Motors New Zealand General Manager Leighton Agnew acknowledged the significance of the result. “A WRC podium is a major achievement, particularly on an event as challenging as Croatia,” said Agnew. “Hayden and John approached the weekend with a clear plan, executed it well, and were rewarded with a strong result against world‑class competition.”

The Croatia Rally podium contributes valuable points to Hyundai Motorsport’s 2026 manufacturers’ campaign and represents Paddon’s second WRC start of the season as part of Hyundai’s shared third Rally1 entry.

Hyundai Motorsport now looks ahead to the next round of the World Rally Championship, Rally Islas Canarias, while Paddon and Kennard will announce their next WRC outing in the coming weeks.