Paddon commences his third full WRC season with long-time co-driver John Kennard and Hyundai Motorsport and, like team-mates Belgian Thierry Neuville and Spaniard Dani Sordo, the Kiwi pilots the team's latest rally challenger, the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC. It has been built to meet revised technical regulations introduced for this year's competition.
The 2017-specification cars look more aggressive than their predecessors. Paddon posted photos of a recent test on Facebook and said: ''It looks cool from all angles and must admit has a little 'Group B' to it,'' referring to the set of regulations introduced in 1982 that fostered some of the fastest, most powerful, and sophisticated rally cars ever built.
The changes to the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC have focused on improving aerodynamic and mechanical grip, increasing engine power 380bhp, reducing car weight, as well as the re-introduction of the active centre differential.
With about six days' testing in the 2017-spec car completed last year, a two-day test before the Monte Carlo Rally delivered both dry and icy tarmac conditions which helped Paddon's preparation for the event he has contested only once before.
Despite the excitement of having a new car, it will be difficult to get the most out of it on the unpredictable 17-stage event, running from Friday to Monday, in the mountains of southern France, Paddon said.
''With the changeable slippery conditions, it will be harder than ever to put the power to the ground. However, the active centre diff should help us a little,'' he said.
There is no easing into the 13-round WRC season and Paddon dubs Monte Carlo - essentially an asphalt rally but erratic mountain weather brings varied conditions - as the ''most challenging event of the year'.
''The ice, snow and changing conditions make it hard to be comfortable. As we didn't finish here in our first attempt last year [having retired on the second day after sliding on an ice patch, clipping a tree with the rear of the car and causing extensive damage to the left rear wheel], so the only focus this year is to finish the rally,'' he said.
Paddon's dedication to improving his own performance is never-ending.
''We've focused on a lot of the weak areas from 2016. This year, John and I want to make the same step forward that we did last year.
''That's now at a point where we have to be critical of every little detail. I think we have grown a lot over the past three years and I feel we are finally in a position where we have enough experience to allow us to be more competitive. So once we have Monte done with, it's pedal to the metal for the remainder of the season.''
Hyundai Motorsport fields a three-car line-up in all rounds of the 2017 FIA WRC, running under the unified Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team name.
Hayden Paddon and John Kennard, Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul and Sordo and Marc Marti will compete in cars 4, 5 and 6 respectively.
The two highest-placed crews from each team will score points for the manufacturers' championship in each event.
