Paddon’s EV rally car headed for Adelaide

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: 19 January 2023

Hayden Paddon and his Hyundai Kona EV Rally car are headed for the Adelaide Motorsport Festival for its first ever visit to Australia.

One of the first electric rally cars built in the world (2020), and built by the Paddon Rallysport (PRG) crew, Paddon has campaigned the Hyundai rally car in New Zealand since 2021, winning on debut in the Waimate 50 Motorsport Festival in 2021, and now he’ll tear it around the Streets of Adealaide.

The Brusa BLDC Motor produces up to 1,100Nm torque, able to reach 100km/h in just two and a half seconds with a top speed of 250km/h. It also produces around 800kw, and weighs around 1400kg.

Paddon Hayden and co-driver John Kennard on their way to winning the WRC2 class at the Rally New Zealand in 2022. Image: Red Bull Content Pool

The New Zealand rally ace was last on Australian shores for the Coffs Coast Rally where he won the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship in a Hyundai i20 AP4.

He’s competed in the World Rally Championship since 2007, winning the Rally of Argentina in 2016 where he finished fourth in the championship.

He also recently took out the WRC2 victory at Rally New Zealand, where he sensationally finished P6 in the field, outpointing several WRC regulars in his hometown.

With the inclusion of Paddon EV Rally car, are recently the Porsche 962C, Other notable entries are a pair of 1989 Brabham BT58s – as driven by Martin Brundle and Stefano Modena during the 1989 Formula 1 season – a 1988 Arrows A10B Megatron – as driven by Eddie Cheever during the 1988 Formula 1 season – an Arrows Formula 1 three-seater car, and a 2011-spec Dallara IndyCar.

Hayden Paddon unleashes electric rally car - Photo: Supplied

Paddon unleashing his new Hyundai electric rally car in 2020

More Formula 1 cars, sportscars, rally cars, touring cars and others attending the event will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Held on the Victoria Park section of the Adelaide Street Circuit, the action at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival is fast, furious and frequently changing, with a different category of vehicles on track every 10 to 15 minutes, including more open-wheelers headlined by classic Formula 1 cars, V8 Supercars alongside Heritage Touring Cars, a special Invitational category alongside Demonstration sessions, a Shootout for the fastest cars and more.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport

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Paddon’s EV rally car headed for Adelaide

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