Paddon: “There are some decisions that you just have to accept”

Before talking about your next participation in the rally from Finland (August 1-4), let's go back. Why did you choose rallying rather than rugby or sailing, which are very popular in New Zealand?
It's quite simple: my father was a pilot and as long as I can remember, that's what I always wanted to do. I was immersed in this environment from a very young age. For me, rallying is a way of life.

And has bungee jumping ever tempted you?
(Amused) Especially not! I'm dizzy, so...!

You are from Geraldine, a village 130 km southwest of Christchurch, in the South Island of New Zealand. What were your chances of becoming a rally driver?
On paper it wasn't the easiest place, but on the other hand it's a small community and everyone knows each other. I was quickly able to learn to drive on the surrounding roads. Then, when I had to find support, I always received help from people in this region. It wasn't a bad thing growing up in a town that size.

Were you a rally fan? Did you know the winners, the prize lists… or were you just a driving enthusiast?
I think I liked the rally as a whole. In particular, I had a cassette with images of Colin McRae's championship title (in 1995. Editor's note). I don't know how many times I've watched it! The situation was different from today in terms of media coverage. There weren't as many sources of information. Now it is possible to watch a round live and get the results instantly. When I was 10-12 years old, you had to wait 2 or 3 weeks before having images of a rally. In my childhood there was also the New Zealand Rally. It was a well-attended event.

This event was mainly run in the North Island. Did you make the trip?
I think we went there three times.

Did you imagine yourself behind the wheel then?
(Thinking) I imagined myself in the car, competing in the rally, but I didn't see myself evolving in WRC. It was a bit like a child who aspires to be an astronaut. It seemed far away, inaccessible. It was a dream for me.

Weren't you like all the beginners who aim for the title of world champion?
If ! Especially after watching Colin McRae's video. However, that seemed very far away.

If you hadn't managed to make a living from rallying, what would your job have been?
I never had a real job! I was a motorcycle shop employee for a year, but since I was 12, I think I decided I wanted to be a racer. I'm focused on this goal, I'm working on the car, I'm meeting sponsors... My whole life is organized around this and I have no idea what I could have done. I don't know how to do anything else! As I said before, it's not just a sport or a hobby, it's a way of life.

Before your first world participation in Wales 2007 (retirement), had you already participated in an event?
No. The first time I came to Europe for a rally, it was to take part in it.

What memory do you keep of it?
I was very nervous…and also really upset.

Why ?
During the previous two seasons in New Zealand, I had been at the top of the rankings. I thought these results would make me competitive in Wales, but I wasn't at all! I think my best performance in the category was a 12th time. I had high ambitions, but I didn't achieve them. Everything was too different! The opponents, the competition, the stages that were unlike anything we had experienced before…

Didn’t that discourage you from coming back?
At the time it was very disappointing, but then I told myself that I had to work even harder to achieve it. The goal was to go back, do things differently and better.

Before seeing you again in the World Cup, however, we had to wait two years. Why ?
Mainly because of our lack of budget. In 2009 I was focused on getting into the Pirelli Star Driver. This is what we managed to do in 2010. I think that without this operation, I would never have played in the WRC. This allowed me to be in contact with the competition, to learn the events, but not only that. I also connected with partners.

From 2010, your journey and your progression seem linear with Gr. N then a Fabia S2000. Is it just a feeling?
In fact, this is indeed what happened. But this period was extremely difficult, because we constantly had to fight to run. I don't come from a wealthy family. I have no personal wealth and I had to find sponsors and help. This sometimes represented more than three million New Zealand dollars (around 1,8 million euros. Editor's note). My progress was therefore dictated by the budget I had in my possession. In 2011, I was able to compete in six races in Gr. N.

The following year, my program consisted of seven rallies, but the results were not good, so I only did three rounds in 2013. Racing in these conditions imposes a certain state of mind. I wasn't at the start of the races to play the hero and go off the road in SS1. I always tried to get something out of it, to learn. With patience, I made the appointments one after the other. Luckily, this came to fruition, but this period was complicated.

Quand vous dites « concrétisé », vous pensez à votre participation au Catalunya 2013 sur une Ford Fiesta WRC ? Déjà chez M-Sport !
Yes and no. We had to spend money to be in Spain initially. It was one of my last opportunities to demonstrate to the teams that I could claim a seat in the WRC for 2014. If it hadn't been successful, I imagine my career would have ended. Knowing everything that had to be done to get there, I think I had a lot of fun, without considering that I had reached the top.

For me, it was still just a “normal” step in my progression. We had carried out a test session on the tarmac and our performance during the test had been correct. On the other hand, discovering the car on dirt, I had no reference points and my times had not been very good.

Finalement, vos sacrifices ont fini par payer avec le contrat signé avec Hyundai. C’est avec ce constructeur que vous avez décroché vos premiers podiums et votre première victoire en Argentine 2016…
After working so hard for so long, this victory remains an incredible memory. As I said previously, it was a dream to be able to win in the WRC, but it seemed so unattainable, so impossible to reach that level, that there was a lot of emotion. Maybe I didn't enjoy that moment as much as I should have. By Sunday evening, I was already on the plane, focused on the next rally, thinking about what I could improve…

At the start of the next season, you had an accident in the first Monte-Carlo special. Then it seems that you needed time to regain confidence...
It's certain that after Monte-Carlo, it took me several races to be 100% again.

The rest of this year 2017 has not always been easy...
My 2017 season was not good, but for several reasons that I don't know. I made mistakes and I admit that these twelve months were complicated, but I also suffered a lot of problems with the Hyundai. There were more problems with the car than I made mistakes. Sometimes there is a chain of negative things. I've only had one bad year in my career. It was 2017 and I was punished for it.

Do you think this is why in 2018 Hyundai only offered you a partial program?
Yes, that's what I believe.

By playing only seven rounds in 2018, you still managed to achieve good results!
For me, it was a rebuilding season. I had to be consistent in order to have arguments and discuss a contract for the future. Not being able to play in the Drivers' Championship, it was clear to me that Thierry (Neuville. Editor’s note) was number 1 in the team. I therefore focused on my objective which was to be efficient and reliable. I never attacked beyond a certain limit, to be sure to reach the finish and bring big points to the team. I achieved it, except in Portugal.

After a successful year punctuated by two podiums, what happened with Hyundai?
I received an offer for 2019. This consisted of taking part in a partial program. Unfortunately, at Christmas, Sébastien Loeb found itself on the market and this proposition disappeared. For me, we had an agreement…

What do you think of Sébastien Loeb's results since the start of the season?
When you look at things from afar, it's very easy to criticize. However, I know that it is sometimes complicated. However, I am in no position to comment. What I can say, however, is that it is very frustrating to follow the races from a distance. I'm sure we could have done a great job with the team or for any other team. I feel like I'm in a good rhythm with my driving and it's frustrating not to be able to demonstrate it.

Have you had contact with Andrea Adamo since the start of the season regarding possible participations?
As much as possible. I tried to keep it, to indicate that I was still involved and available.

What do you think of Hyundai's choice to field Craig Breen in Finland ?
This is a great opportunity for Craig, who is a good person. Personally, I would say that this decision makes me sad. Over the last few years, I really did everything, gave everything for this program and I wasn't even considered.

This year in the WRC you can choose your own car number – so number 20 it is. Why #20?
– First WRC podium, Sardegna 2015 #20
– First WRC win, Argentina 2016 #20
– Birthday 20th#paddonspack #wrc #finland @MSportLtd @RallyFinland @OfficialWRC pic.twitter.com/m4XyBAdvUs

— Hayden Paddon (@HaydenPaddon) July 5, 2019

While you know the car, the team and the event, do you understand this choice?
I think our results in 2018 were not bad. Therefore, it's difficult to know what more you need to do to be in demand. I was surprised, but this is a professional sport and sometimes there are decisions that you just have to accept. I don't understand this choice, but it's not my job to understand it. I'm not a team manager, I'm just a driver and I'm sure there are lots of things that explain this decision, but I don't know them.

Did you seek clarification from Hyundai as to why you were not selected?
No.

Maybe you can do it in Finland?
It might be better to wait until the end of the rally.

How was contact established with M-Sport for Finland?
I got permission from Hyundai New Zealand to drive for another brand after Craig was announced. They agreed that I should take an opportunity to work with a different manufacturer. So we called M-Sport to see what could be done. At M-Sport, Richard Millener was an excellent contact. He did his best even though there were only two days left before registration closed. I thought they were going to talk about too short deadlines, but their proposal was really good.

A small sneak peak of our car for Finland. A nice mix of M-Sport and NZ colors – the black and silver fern to acknowledge the huge amount of support from NZ to make this opportunity possible. Full car delivery closer to the event. #paddonspack pic.twitter.com/juzwaahjhc

— Hayden Paddon (@HaydenPaddon) July 13, 2019

Are you worried you'll have trouble getting back into rhythm?
I tell myself it will come back easily. Of course, I haven't raced in the WRC for 8 months (Australia, in November 2018. Editor's note), but I haven't stopped competing since I regularly compete in rallies in New Zealand. It's also clear that the Fiesta will behave differently from the Hyundai, but that doesn't worry me too much. I've been alternating frames lately. This will undoubtedly help me quickly find my bearings.

What will be your goal in Finland?
We have to be realistic: it's a challenge that won't be easy to take on, but Finland is my favorite rally. Finishing in the top five would be a good result, although of course I hope for better.

By beating all the Hyundais?
Honestly, I don't look at what my rivals are doing. I am focused on what I do. I have no control over anyone else, so I can just try to produce the best performance possible.

Do you believe this could condition your future?
This is one of the reasons why I am participating in this meeting. If I hadn't lined up in Finland, I think I wouldn't have competed in a single WRC race this year and there's a chance my career would be over. If I have a good rally in Finland, that might help with discussions with the teams. I have in mind that the situation is not simple, because the number of seats available is very limited.