The Geraldine driver Hayden Paddon says he'd like to make amends for what he describes as "being robbed" in their last outing in the WRC.
Paddon lines up for this weekend's Rally of Sardinia, a fortnight after crashing out in Portugal which put him hospital for a night.
Hayden Paddon in action in Sardinia Photo: Photosport
It is the fifth time Paddon has competed in Sardinia five times and achieved his first podium there three years ago.
He was also leading at one stage last year and would like to use some of that history this week....
The World Rally Championship event is renowned for its rugged gravel special stages and the summer heat which impacts drivers and cars.
"It's a very demanding rally," says Paddon. "Rough stages and hot weather make it challenging for man and machine. It's a rally we have had some success at in the past and it rewards the smart rather than outright speed. Managing tyres is key, especially as this year we effectively have four less tyres than last year."
Paddon has had two busy weeks since the previous event in Portugal where he and co-driver Seb Marshall ended the rally crashed into a culvert. The impact affected an old injury in Paddon's back and he's been working with specialists to speed up his recovery. "I'm feeling good and strong for the rally this weekend and am happy with the progress of recovery."
Paddon is keeping his goals straightforward - to have a clean rally and finish. "If we can do that, then a good result will be possible. I'm mindful that between Portugal and Sardegna in the past, they have been somewhat bogey events for us over the last two years, so we want to put that right."
This year, more than a third of the 313.46 km of special stages have been revised in some way.
Marshall says: "It's a demanding rally but one which I enjoy, having scored several stage wins here and led the rally in the past. The route on Friday has been changed a bit compared to last year with some familiar stages being extended or revised in places and there's a new stage entirely to finish Friday's 122km loop. The stages on Saturday and Sunday are largely the same as 2017 so we've got good knowledge of what to expect there."
