New Zealander Hayden Paddon has had his 2018 schedule confirmed by the factory Hyundai team at the official season launch in Europe.
Hyundai Motorsport has announced that Paddon and Seb Marshall will share the #6 Hyundai with teammate Dani Sordo and the Spaniard's new co-driver Carlos del Barrio, with Paddon contesting seven of the 13 rallies. Sordo will also contest seven rallies with the team running four cars in Portugal.
The Kiwi/Brit pairing get their 2018 season underway at the WRC's only full-winter rally in Sweden in February. They then contest Portugal (May), Italy (June), Finland (July), Turkey (September), Great Britain (October) and Australia (November).
Following a refreshing break at home in New Zealand for the Christmas holidays, Paddon returned to Europe to join the team at the UK's famed Autosport motorsport show.
"I am treating the 2018 season almost like a fresh start after our difficulties from last year," he said. "I want to put that behind me and use the positives from our podium results to spur us on to achieve what I know we are capable of.