Confirmed
Paddon replaces Lappi for Paraguay World Championship event
Hayden Paddon will replace Esapekka Lappi in the third Hyundai Motorsport entry for the upcoming WRC event in Paraguay.
Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed that Hayden Paddon will pilot the third Hyundai i20 N Rally1 car at the upcoming World Championship event in Paraguay, scheduled for August 27-30. This decision sees the New Zealander taking over the seat previously occupied by Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi at the recently concluded Rally Finland.
Hyundai's Driver Rotation Confirmed
Hyundai Motorsport had previously indicated its intention to announce the third driver for the South American round following the conclusion of Rally Finland. Paddon, Dani Sordo, and Esapekka Lappi were signed by the Korean manufacturer to share driving duties in the third car throughout the 2026 season.
Paddon’s previous assignments this season have primarily been on asphalt surfaces, including events in Monte Carlo, Croatia, where he secured a third-place finish, and Japan. His participation in Paraguay marks his first opportunity to compete in a Rally1 car on gravel since his return to the top tier of the World Championship for the 2026 season, having last competed at this level in 2018. This opportunity aligns with Paddon’s expressed desire for a gravel event, given his noted preference for such surfaces.
Lappi's Recent Performance and Future Outlook
Esapekka Lappi competed in the third Hyundai i20 N Rally1 at Rally Finland, which concluded just hours before Hyundai's announcement regarding Paraguay. While Lappi’s performance at his home event is not directly detailed, his participation highlights Hyundai's rotational strategy for its third car. The team has not yet disclosed who will drive the third car for the subsequent South American round in Chile, which immediately follows the Paraguay event.
Paddon's Return to Gravel
Paddon expressed significant enthusiasm about returning to World Championship competition on gravel, acknowledging the challenge ahead. He stated his gratitude to Hyundai Motorsport for the opportunity, indicating that he never anticipated competing on gravel again at this level. This marks a significant moment for the New Zealander as he looks to capitalize on his gravel expertise in the upcoming event.
With four rounds remaining in the 2026 World Championship season, Elfyn Evans currently leads the drivers' standings with 201 points, followed by Sami Pajari with 171 points and Takamoto Katsuta with 160 points. Esapekka Lappi sits further down the standings with 25 points, reflecting his partial season involvement.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Confirmed, which means the people involved have said this on the record. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Aino Virtanen.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- Autosportautosport.com
- Motorsport.commotorsport.com
