Rally: Kiwi Hayden Paddon chasing redemption as WRC opener approaches

When it comes to the high-pressure, high-stakes world of elite motorsport, perhaps no-one can relate to Brendon Hartley's recent Formula One struggles better than Hayden Paddon.

The Kiwi rally driver faced his toughest year last year, forced to retire from three events and given a reduced schedule this year as a consequence.

On Sunday, Hartley showed one result can change everything, recording his second Grand Prix point of the season in Germany, and Paddon's hoping Rally Finland can do the same for him this weekend.

While Hartley's endured a drama-filled debut season, a single championship point can wash the problems away and Paddon knows how quickly luck can change.

"It is very, very cut-throat," Paddon told Newshub.

"The biggest thing is to ignore the talk, ignore all the speculation, and just get on and do the job."

Sometimes that's easier said than done.

Take Rally Portugal as an example. At one stage, Paddon was leading and the next, he was in hospital - not an ideal situation with contract negotiations around the corner.

"I know there's a lot of talk and speculation about our future, but at the end of the day, I'm the one who can control that the most with the results."

That's what he's planning to do in Finland this weekend at one of the fastest and most dangerous contests on the calendar.

"For me, the goal and the dream is still the same... we've just taken a small step backwards in the last 12 months. Hopefully, we'll make two forward soon."

There's no time to look in the rear mirror for Paddon, because at the moment, what's in front of him is far more important.

Newshub.