Hyundai New Zealand announced as naming rights sponsor for Coromandel and Raglan Rallies 

Hyundai New Zealand has helped power Kiwi driver Hayden Paddon’s career in the World Rally Championship and now they are going to support the entire sport back home.

Hyundai New Zealand will partner with the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship by featuring as naming rights sponsor at the final two rounds of this year’s championship – the Hyundai NZ Goldrush Rally of Coromandel and the Hyundai NZ Raglan Rally of the Coast.

Hyundai New Zealand has been involved with rally in New Zealand ever since their backing of Paddon when he signed to the Hyundai Motorsport WRC team in 2014. Paddon also manages, and drives for the Hyundai New Zealand Rally Team locally in the New Zealand Rally Championship. Hyundai New Zealand will now extend that support to the entire championship by coming onboard as a commercial partner.

“We are passionate about our support of New Zealand’s most successful rally driver, Hayden Paddon and the Hyundai New Zealand Rally Team,” said Hyundai New Zealand General Manager Andy Sinclair. “We have always shared the same vision and passion as Hayden to help grow the sport of rallying in New Zealand”.

“Rallying continues to have a great following here with a lot of young talent coming through. We’re excited to be supporting the final two rounds of the NZRC where Hayden will be home to race. It’s a wonderful opportunity for local Kiwi drivers to prepare, learn and race alongside him.

“As a 100% New Zealand owned company with locally operated dealerships, the NZRC allows us to share our enthusiasm for motorsport across the country alongside our dealers, customers and fans,” Sinclair added.

Paddon has often spoken about doing what he can to help grow the sport in New Zealand and to give back so he is naturally delighted that his biggest supporter is going to help the sport back home.

“I am incredibly proud to be part of the Hyundai family and even more so to see them get behind the sport we love,” Paddon said. “Hyundai NZ has played a huge part in New Zealand rallying over the past few years, from helping us to secure a WRC contract, to expansion of our New Zealand program and encouraging new people to get involved from Wintec students as part of our team and the two young drivers we had last year.

“Hyundai NZ is 100% behind us and rallying in New Zealand and to now have them as a major partner of the final two rounds of this year’s NZRC is a great boost for the championship and the competitors. We look forward to working with both the NZRC and Hyundai NZ to help with leveraging the partnership.”

Hyundai will supply the lead cars used to help run the rally in a safe manner while they will have a dedicated display area at service parks and selected prime spectator locations. Hyundai customers will have access to spectator vantage points while Paddon will complete a demo run with the i30 N in the final street stage during the Hyundai NZ Goldrush Rally of Coromandel.

Rally New Zealand Chairman Paul Mallard said it was great to have one of New Zealand’s most popular car brands supporting the sport.

“It’s great to have Hyundai’s support for Hyundai NZ Goldrush Rally of Coromandel and Hyundai NZ Raglan Rally of the Coast and to see them extend their support of rallying in New Zealand.

“We look forward to seeing the Hyundai Safety Cars out in front of the events,” Mallard added.

Hyundai NZ Goldrush Rally of Coromandel will run on August 18 while Hyundai NZ Raglan Rally of the Coast is on October 13.

Paddon currently leads the championship by 33 points but is currently in Europe preparing for WRC Rally Finland next week.