Kiwi driver Hayden Paddon looks to be in danger of missing out on a spot with Hyundai for next year's World Rally Championship.
The Geraldine native has signalled his intention to remain with the team next season, but a host of recent signings by the manufacturer indicate he may be on the outer.
French legend Sebastien Loeb - a nine-time world champion - has been signed up to compete in six rounds beginning in the season opener in Monte Carlo in January
Dani Sordi's also inked a new one-year extension, but there's no mention of Paddon in the Hyundai plans.
Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen also have existing contracts with the manufacturer.
Hyundai team principal Michael Nandan recently insisted that Paddon was still on their rader for their upcoming campaign.
"We are also still in talks with Hayden to see how we can work together into 2019," he said.
"He is a great talent and a tremendous ambassador for Hyundai NZ"
Paddon endured a frustrating start to the 2018 season, but stormed home with a podium finish in Turkey and two fourth-place finishes in Sardinia and Finland to ultimately finish eighth in the overall drivers rankings.
"Discussions are going on at the moment in the background," Paddon told Newshub in September.
"They're all quite positive, so for sure, we'll be back there, but obviously there's a lot of T's to cross and I's to dot on how that looks and how that's going to work out."
Newshub.
