Hyundai’s WRC factory operation will issue Kiwi star Hayden Paddon with an upgraded engine from Rally Germany next month.

The decision means Paddon will move to the same machinery as the primary team drivers Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo.

Paddon has out-performed the pair in an older spec i20 in the last two rallies for the satellite Hyundai Motorsport N operation he and co-driver John Kennard campaign.

Neuville and Sordo were both issued with an engine camshaft upgrade for Rally Poland earlier this month while Paddon has been using the previous spec powerplant that came into play at Rally Mexico in March.

“We try to update Hayden’s car two rallies after the others, so from Germany onwards he will have the same engine we introduced in Poland,” Hyundai WRC team principal Michel Nandan said.

“The camshaft modification improves the range of useable torque, and while that wasn’t too relevant in Poland, and won’t be in Finland (July 31-August 2), it will be much more effective on twisty events like Germany where you have more corners and braking.”

Paddon scored a career best second in Rally Italy and currently sits eighth in the points on 44, 14 behind fifth placed Neuville while Sordo is 10th on 39 points.