Job Quantock claims Young Driver Scholarship to become Hayden Paddon's understudy

Job Quantock could be the next Hayden Paddon (Getty file)
Job Quantock could be the next Hayden Paddon (Getty file)

Job Quantock will be an official Hyundai Driver for two rounds of next year's National Championship after finishing ahead of 180 hopefuls to win the Young Driver Scholarship.

The scholarship – which involves as much theoretical work in the classroom as it does practical in the driver's seat – was developed by kiwi rally car driver Hayden Paddon.

With a winner now announced, Paddon will have to hand over the keys to his AP4 i20 rally car, worth around NZ$250,000, to Quantock.

"I'm very nervous about that, that's probably the thing I'm dreading the most," Paddon told Newshub.

"But they're all very capable drivers, and at the end of the day we'll find some hidden talent."

Quantock will also become a testing and training driver with Paddon. The 29-year-old said that he was impressed at the quality of drivers the championship found.

"I must admit I've been really surprised with the standard of drivers here"

The final came down to a two-day shootout held in Auckland and the Maramarua Forest.

The finalists went through fitness assessments and classroom sessions from Paddon and other guest experts on sponsorship planning, nutrition, media presence, career planning, writing pace notes and car set-up, before a winner was announced.

And it was the most inexperienced driver Quantock, who impressed the most.

"It's more than we could ever ask for," Quantock said.

"From having started under two years ago to get from there to where we are now is amazing."

Newshub.