Competing in Monte Carlo for the first time, Kiwi Paddon – driving the previous generation i20 WRC – was running a fine fifth overnight just behind his team-mate Thierry Neuville, but a mistake on ice 7kms into the Corps stage would see him hit a tree and take off a rear wheel.
Hyundai quickly confirmed he is out for the day, though is still able to potentially restart tomorrow under the Rally 2 format.
SS3 #Paddon: Slid on an ice patch, touched a tree with the rear and pulled off the RL wheel. Unfortunately he has to retire for the day.#WRC
— Hyundai Motorsport (@HyundaiWRC) January 22, 2016
Paddon wasn’t the only driver to hit problems in SS3, with ex-F1 driver Robert Kubica – who was seventh after the first two stages – sliding off the road just a kilometre earlier as the drivers came across patches of ice around the tricky roads.
Hitting a tree, Kubica – whose rallying future is uncertain beyond the Rally Monte Carlo – is also expected to be out for the day at least.