Close, but not close enough for Hayden Paddon in the WRC Rally de Paraguay as Finland's Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen made FIA World Rally Championship history as they claimed their first three WRC wins have come consecutively.

Kiwi driver Hayden Paddon is in second place after two days of the World Rally Championship round in Paraguay.

New Zealand rally driver Hayden Paddon is second after the opening day of the World Rally Championship round in Paraguay.

Kiwi rally driver Hayden Paddon will race in Rally Paraguay at the end of the month, eight years after he last contested a WRC event on gravel.

addon, meanwhile, delivered one of the standout drives of the weekend. The New Zealander kept his nose clean while others hit trouble and was rewarded with third place, his first podium since Rally Australia in 2018. “A result is a result,” said Paddon. “We have done it by being a bit technical and having wisdom and being smart.” The 38-year-old and his long-time co-driver John Kennard combined to produce the best finish for Hyundai on the three-day rally, but only after tea

Hyundai Motorsport have confirmed Kiwi driver Hayden Paddon will share their third car with two other drivers in their new campaign