John Kennard
Go fast – it’s easy!
John Kennard
Facts about John
- Nationality
- New Zealand
- Date of birth
- 11. February 1959
- Driver
- Hayden Paddon
- With Hyundai Motorsport since
- 2014-2017; 2026
- WRC starts
- 77 (end of 2025)
- Best Result (in the career)
- 4th (2016)
John Kennard boasts a rally career that dates back to 1985 – few have longevity like John.
The Kiwi co-driver first joined our team alongside Hayden in 2014 and went on to claim a debut podium in Sardina in 2015 as well as a subsequent victory in Argentina in 2016.
John initially stepped down as Hayden’s co-driver when he retired in 2017, but he couldn’t stay away from the cockpit for long. He reunited with Hayden a year later, and they’ve since won numerous championship titles, including three in New Zealand (2021-2023), two in ERC (2023-2024), and most recently in Australia (2025).
John is well known for his strong organisational skills and, like Hayden, leaves no stone unturned in pursuit of faster stage times. 2026 marks 20 years since John and Hayden first began their powerful partnership as they make a welcome return to Hyundai Motorsport.
Q&A with John
What’s your favourite WRC round and why?
Rally New Zealand, although it’s not currently a WRC round, so I would say Rally Finland because it’s so much like New Zealand!
What do you do to focus before a rally?
Preparation work is enough usually to get you into the rhythm of how the event runs.
What profession would you have chosen if you hadn’t become a co-driver?
Currently my other profession is making wine, but before that it was architecture, so I think I would have stayed in architecture or engineering.
Who is your motorsport idol?
I don’t really have one.
What’s your secret to success?
Go fast – it’s easy.