Paddon’s EV rally car’s next race likely April/May

Hayden Paddon last raced his Hyundai Kona EV rally car in November but it could be nearly six months before it’s racing again.

“The EV is in a holding pattern at present, global supply issues and freight means we are having to wait a little longer for some development parts,” says Paddon who will race his conventional Hyundai internal combustion engine (ICE) car in the meantime.

He says Paddon Rallysport will be competing at the Ben Nevis Station Golden 1200 Hillclimb on March 5-8, but not with the EV which will be at some displays and public relations events throughout March and April including the NZ Golf Open 2022 in Queenstown from March 31 to April 3 and Easter’s Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow.

Paddon says the EV’s next event is likely to be April or May. The Kona EV was due to appear at the Repco Battle of Jacks Ridge in Whitford Auckland last November, the event delayed to February 5 and 6 (Waitangi weekend) due to COVID concerns. It could still be in doubt if the Omicron COVID variant hits New Zealand by then.

The 2020 Jacks Ridge event was where Paddon revealed his EV rally car to the public.