Sport

Paddon gets rally lifeline

09:20 am on 1 February 2019

Dropped from Hyundai's world rally championship team, New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon will compete in the new Global Rallycross Europe series this year.

Paddon was left without a drive in the WRC when Hyundai signed nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb to share its third car with Dani Sordo this season.

Paddon, 31, will race a new single-make spaceframe Pantera RX6 car in the GRC Titans category, using a Hyundai i30 silhouette body.

The car Hayden Paddon will be driving in the new Global Rallycross Europe series. Photo: Supplied

"I have been in rallying for a long time, so rallycross is not completely new to me, but I will have to adapt to cars racing alongside me," he said.

"GRC Europe will be a new challenge and I am looking forward to taking it on, joining the other drivers throughout the year and trying to be competitive."

GRC Europe will run over six weekends, comprising of five double-headers and a season finale Germany.

GRC Europe 2019 Calendar

Round 1&2 - Dreux, FRA 29-30 June

Round 3&4 - Lydden Hill, GBR 27-28 July

Round 5&6 - Montalegre, POR 10-11 August

Round 7&8 - MJP Arena, AUT 7-8 September

Round 9&10 - Nyirád, HUN 5-6 October

Finale - Estering, GER 19-20 October