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Hayden Paddon: Driven
The explosive autobiography from New Zealand’s most successful rally driver, Hayden Paddon.
Hayden Paddon was just a boy growing up in Geraldine – in love with racing and dreaming big. Starting with nothing, and wholly determined to beat the odds, he set out on a remarkable 20-year pathway to the World Rally Championship, where he footed it with the best rally drivers on the planet.
But it didn’t come easy.
In Driven, Paddon details the many highs and lows along the road to the top. He opens up about his struggles with bullying, depression and loss as a young man, and goes on public record for the first time about the 2017 accident in which a spectator was killed and his controversial dismissing from the Hyundai Motorsport team in 2018.
It’s the real account from Paddon himself, in his own words, as he sets the record straight about his dramatic life on and off the road.
Driven is captivating, complex and inspirational – a mile-a-minute biography that celebrates self-belief, hard work, and turning dreams into a reality.
Hayden Paddon was just a boy growing up in Geraldine – in love with racing and dreaming big. Starting with nothing, and wholly determined to beat the odds, he set out on a remarkable 20-year pathway to the World Rally Championship, where he footed it with the best rally drivers on the planet.
But it didn’t come easy.
In Driven, Paddon details the many highs and lows along the road to the top. He opens up about his struggles with bullying, depression and loss as a young man, and goes on public record for the first time about the 2017 accident in which a spectator was killed and his controversial dismissing from the Hyundai Motorsport team in 2018.
It’s the real account from Paddon himself, in his own words, as he sets the record straight about his dramatic life on and off the road.
Driven is captivating, complex and inspirational – a mile-a-minute biography that celebrates self-belief, hard work, and turning dreams into a reality.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2019
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9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 20, 2019
Very well written. Don’t often pick up my husbands Rally books but having watched Hayden Paddon race from a young age was interested to read this. It was good to read about his life as well as his racing and showed what a humble young man he is with all his achievements. His determination to achieve his dream is an inspiration and is a great read.
December 10, 2019
In “Driven”, Hayden Paddon is truly a man with a plan. Tootling around in a dad-made windscreen-wiper propelled jeep at barely two years old, Paddon was already showing off his love of driving. He was hooked, spending his childhood and school years driving as much as he could. His dream was to become a WRC champion. Starting from nothing, Paddon set himself daily, weekly and annual goals and worked hard to get himself on the pathway to success – but there were many obstacles along the way.
Despite the fact that I am not particularly interested in sporty biographies, I found this one particularly gripping and pacy. Paddon impresses me as having the self-belief to be able to achieve anything – his goal-setting and hard work ethic have certainly taken him a long way – a great read.
Despite the fact that I am not particularly interested in sporty biographies, I found this one particularly gripping and pacy. Paddon impresses me as having the self-belief to be able to achieve anything – his goal-setting and hard work ethic have certainly taken him a long way – a great read.
October 7, 2025
I really enjoyed Haydens autobiography, I'm also a huge fan of his, so I may be somewhat bias.
I found that his story flowed nicely, and Hayden has experienced plenty of misfortune, which makes his story relatable, and interesting.
5 star rating because I do think I will re-read it at some stage, which is a benchmarker to me as to how much I enjoyed it.
I found that his story flowed nicely, and Hayden has experienced plenty of misfortune, which makes his story relatable, and interesting.
5 star rating because I do think I will re-read it at some stage, which is a benchmarker to me as to how much I enjoyed it.
November 8, 2019
One of the most inpiring journey's of one of the most hardworking & determined young man.
Brutally honest, humble and 100% enjoyable book.
Brutally honest, humble and 100% enjoyable book.
December 26, 2019
A must read for every rally fan out there.
March 2, 2020
fantastic story of a good kiwi bloke
January 30, 2021
Dang good read.
July 25, 2022
best book ever.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews