Paddon aiming for first win this year, title challenge in 2017

Paddon scored his first podium of the season last time out in Sweden, his first rally with the 2016-spec Hyundai i20.

Although the new regulations in 2017 will demand an entirely new car, the Kiwi doesn't feel the development of the 2016-spec machinery was a waste.

"There is a lot of time and work in this car, we still have to fine tune the set-ups, but I’m sure a lot of information from this car can be used with the new 2017 car as well," Paddon told Motorsport.com.

"While we are focusing on the 2016 car at the moment, in the background we are also working on the 2017 car.

"In 2017, we want to be fighting for the world championship and this year we're trying to make that more possible."

Hyundai to get stronger in European gravel rallies

The next two rounds will be held in Mexico and Argentina respectively, the former run on high altitude, which makes the engine a more important factor than usual.

Volkswagen and Sebastien Ogier were victorious in the past three years as a result, and Paddon expects Hyundai to be at its best on WRC's return to Europe instead as he looks to get his first victory in the series.

"We’re getting confident with the car, we need to develop some more set-ups, which is gonna take a little more time.

"As we do more rallies we’ll be given more information, but I think the base of the car is not bad and I think we can challenge VW  - especially when we get to European gravel rallies.

"We just want to keep making progress, keep learning. We want to be on the podium more often and we want to try to get our first rally win."