Hayden Paddon, Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo be part of Hyundai 2026 WRC line-up

World Rally Championship occasion winners , and will rejoin Hyundai to share its third automotive subsequent 12 months following the departure of .

The trio will be part of 2024 world champion and a number of podium finisher after the pair agreed contract extensions to pilot the workforce’s two different i20 N Rally1 entries on a full-time foundation.

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Hyundai has been compelled right into a driver line-up shake up for 2026 after 2019 world champion Tanak introduced plans to take a sabbatical subsequent 12 months, forsaking a drive with the workforce for 2026.

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The Korean model has since been weighing up its choices with the goal of profitable the 2026 producers title in thoughts – the ultimate 12 months of the Rally1 laws. This has influenced its decision-making course of, with the workforce choosing expertise over youth.

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The inclusion of Paddon has come as a shock contemplating the New Zealander final drove for the manufacturing unit WRC squad in 2018.

The 2016 Rally Argentina winner has, nevertheless, remained connected with the model ever since, profitable back-to-back European Rally Championship crowns in 2023 and 2024 driving a semi manufacturing unit supported i20 N Rally2 automotive. This week, the present Australian rally champion is about to contest Rallye Nationwide Hivernal du Devoluy in France, driving an i20 N Rally2 automotive forward of a return to the WRC’s prime flight in Monte Carlo in January. This can mark his first aggressive WRC outing driving an i20 N Rally1 automotive.

Hayden Paddon, Hyundai i20 N Rally2

“I’m very excited to be again with , eight years after our final occasion collectively within the FIA WRC,” mentioned Paddon, who can be co-driven by .

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“Hyundai is a model I’m very pleased with and constant to after 12 years, and to now be stepping right into a Rally1 automotive could be very thrilling. Our expectations are clear: to do one of the best job we will to assist Hyundai, Thierry and Adrien of their respective championships, and ensuring we’re accumulating as many producers’ factors as potential on the finish of the weekend.

“I really feel I’m a really totally different driver in comparison with eight years in the past, and the expertise I’ve gained all world wide in several championships places me in place to place that have to make use of.”

Sordo rejoins the workforce after a 12 months on the Rally1 sidelines, having made his final WRC look for Hyundai at Acropolis Rally Greece in 2024 – the place he completed second.

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The 42-year-old, three-time rally winner is thought to be among the many most secure pair of fingers within the WRC and can assure a wholesome haul of factors. This 12 months, Sordo and lifted the Portuguese nationwide title, driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 automotive, beating in a last spherical showdown.

“After a 12 months away contesting the Portuguese Rally Championship, I’m more than happy to be again within the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 automotive for 2026,” mentioned Sordo, who will start his 2026 marketing campaign within the Canary Islands in April.

“Candido and I had a robust season within the Hyundai i20 N Rally2, culminating within the Portuguese title, which was a implausible achievement for us. We will’t wait to take this momentum into subsequent 12 months, and I’m assured we can be a aggressive bundle. I’m trying ahead to working with the workforce once more, and supporting Thierry and Adrien within the championship battle.”

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Esapekka Lappi, Hyundai World Rally Crew

Final 12 months’s Rally Sweden winner Lappi had turned his again on competing within the WRC on the finish of 2024, however this 12 months’s Finnish nationwide champion has been satisfied to come back again for a part-time season. Lappi scored 4 podium finishes throughout a full-time season with Hyundai in 2023 earlier than transferring to a part-time position in 2024.

“It’s an honour for me to return to Hyundai Motorsport for the 2026 FIA WRC season, mentioned Lapp, who will start his season at Rally Sweden in February alongside co-driver Enni Malkonen.

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“I assumed I used to be completed with WRC, however after quite a few discussions with numerous folks, I knew this was an incredible concept. I’ve nonetheless been competing within the Finnish Championship, which was quite a lot of enjoyable, however Cyril’s [Abiteboul, president of Hyundai Motorsport] name stunned me and introduced me again.

“I am as excited as slightly boy to get behind the wheel of the Rally1 automotive once more, this time with Enni – which is a superb new alternative for her. My win at Rally Sweden in 2024 serves as an incredible motivation for our 2026 targets, and I can’t wait to get began.”

Andrew Wheatley, Hyundai Motorsport WRC sporting director, added: “We’re delighted to substantiate our line-up for the 2026 FIA WRC season, which can see Thierry and Adrien compete in each spherical with a trio of very skilled and aggressive crews sharing our third entry.

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“Bringing in Dani, EP and Hayden allows us to name upon their particular person strengths to assist our producers’ title ambitions subsequent 12 months. We had a troublesome choice to make – whether or not to go for expertise and consistency, or herald a rising star and nurture them. Nevertheless, we’re within the final 12 months of the Rally1 technical laws and we consider the correct path is to usher in drivers with information of the automotive and the workforce.”

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