Paddon is keen to continue improving his performance on tarmac after finishing second in the sealed Rallye Sanremo at the wheel of the New Generation i20 R5 with Seb Marshall in the co-driver's seat last week.
Marshall, who had his debut event with Paddon at the round of the Italian Rally Championship, will take over co-driving duties from Paddon's long-time navigator, John Kennard, after Rally Finland in July.
While Paddon is the first to admit tarmac is not his specialty surface, he wants to set a good pace in his Hyundai i20 Coupe world rally car in the Tour de Corse, which begins on Friday.
''We want to be there to back up our team-mates Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo who will be in a good position to fight at the front.
''We need to focus on improving and getting ever more comfortable, but of course we also lean on our team-mates to help us learn more on this surface,'' he said.
This is the third time Paddon and Kennard have contested the iconic Tour de Corse, known as the rally of 10,000 corners, which features classic narrow, twisty mountain asphalt roads across the whole island. The rally comprises just 10 special stages, ranging from 10.42km to 53.78km in length.
''It's a nice rally, flowing stages and obviously very twisty in places, but one of the more enjoyable tarmac rallies. The itinerary is much the same as last year, so in that sense it's a little more relaxed for us returning to a rally that is mostly unchanged and we know what to expect. The long stages coupled with the faster cars will mean that tyre management will be key,'' Paddon said.
The Corsican terrain delivers its own challenges on Kennard's side of the car.
''The twisty roads obviously make it a slower rally, but the corners are totally relentless and all look much the same, so it's never an easy event to read notes on,'' Blenheim-based Kennard said.
Paddon and Kennard will start the first day ninth based on their championship position.
