Kiwi World Rally Championship (WRC) driver Hayden Paddon has opened up about his struggles this year, admitting it has been the 'most difficult year' of his life.
In 10 races this year, Paddon had failed to complete four of them and only has one podium finish - which leaves the 30-year old ninth in the overall standings.
Along with that, the Canterbury native was involved in an incident at the first Rally of the season in Monte Carlo which led the death of a spectator.
Speaking to Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE's Sunday sport, Paddon admitted things have gone downhill after the incident which occurred at Monte Carlo.
"I must admit it has been very difficult when you look back on the year and the things which have happened," said Paddon.
"It is difficult to put it in a perspective for people to understand. Behind the scenes, within the team and personally as well it has been the most difficult year of my life.
"Lots of it has been out of our control and you do have to ask yourself 'what has caused it?'
"It obviously started badly in Monte Carlo and I think mentally that played a role in the first two months of the season and a few things at home and obviously the co-driver and a couple of things in the team.
"I'm sure once we get everything together we can be right up the front and fight for the championship like we want too."
Along with the down year, New Zealand's bid to bring the WRC back to the country appears to have fallen short which has left Paddon frustrated.
New Zealand has been absent from the WRC schedule since 2012 and Paddon, along with Rally New Zealand chairman Peter Johnston have been working for over a year to try to bring it back.
But it appears the only change for next year will be Turkey replacing Poland on the schedule.
"I'm one for saying never say never but in this case, with the amount of effort gone in behind the scenes and from all the information and people we have spoken to in Europe it is a long shot now, unfortunately," Paddon admitted.
"In this world and the same in any professional sport it is about politics and money and that is what has determined the decision.
"For me, personally I feel it was now or never. The sport is only going to continue becoming more commercialised.
"We had an opportunity now while Rally Australia is not on a high so we had an opportunity to try sneak in there.
"If you asked me three months ago, I thought we were 99 percent to get it across the line, but Turkey came in at the last minute, threw a bit of money around and that is what made the decision."
Paddon has three more races to compete in this season in Spain, Great Britain and Australia. He finished fourth all three of these events last year.
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