New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon's future with Hyundai is uncertain after the Korean manufacturer signed WRC legend Sébastien Loeb for the next two seasons.
New Zealand rally driver Hayden Paddon Photo: © Marcin Rybak: Rallyart Photo 2018
Paddon only had a part time drive with Hyundai this year, competing in seven of the 13 rounds and finishing eighth in the championship.
He is yet to sign a new deal.
Loeb, a nine-time world champion has signed a deal which has him driving six rounds of the 2019 series beginning with the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally at the end of January.
Dani Sordo will remain with Hyundai for a sixth season. The Spaniard has agreed a one-year deal to share a car with Loeb.
Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen have existing contracts with the manufacturer.
Loeb bowed out of full-time WRC competition at the end of 2012 but returned for three rounds with Citroën Racing this season, ending with a sensational and emotional 79th victory in Spain.
He admitted he would be open to more WRC outings with the team but those hopes ended last month when the French squad confirmed a two-car line-up for 2019. Loeb was then left without a full-time drive when his Peugeot team withdrew from the World Rallycross Championship.
Loeb's signing leaves a big question mark over Paddon's future with Hyundai but team principal Michel Nandan said the door remained open.
"We are also still in talks with Hayden to see how we can work together into 2019. He is a great talent and a tremendous ambassador for Hyundai NZ, leading various motorsport projects," he said.
- RNZ