John Robert Kennard (born 11 February 1959) is a rally co-driver born in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Rally career
Kennard's first taste of the WRC came at the 1985 1000 Lakes Rally where he co-drove in a Toyota Starlet for Brent Rawstron. Kennard is a well-known co-driver to numerous drivers, the most notable being Hayden Paddon at Hyundai motorsport. The pairing had their first win at Rally Argentina in , bring New Zealand to the top step of the WRC podium.
In March 2017, it was announced that Kennard would step down as Paddon's co-driver after Rally Finland and that a replacement for Kennard would be announced soon. The replacement was confirmed the day after to be Kevin Abbring's co-driver Sebastian Marshall. Kennard suffered a hip injury prior to the 2017 Rally de Portugal, which meant Marshall had to substitute for Kennard for the rally. On 30 May, Kennard retired as co-driver earlier than what was planned, because of the injury.
Kennard was voted Marlborough Sportsperson of the Year in 2016, succeeding Sophie MacKenzie.
2023 saw Kennard compete with Hayden Paddon in the 2023 European Rally Championship. The pair came out on top claiming their first European Rally Championship Title, and becoming the first non-european team to win the championship. Kennard and Paddon also fought off local competition to win his 6th New Zealand Rally Championship Co-Drivers Title.
In 2024, Kennard stepped down from his NZRC co-driving duties, allowing up and coming co-driver Jared Hudson to sit with driver Hayden Paddon in New Zealand, with Hudson sitting with Paddon, and claiming a back-to-back European Rally Championship Title.
In 2026 John competed with long-time driver Hayden Paddon in select rounds of the 2026 World Rally Championship. They competed 4 rounds of the 2026 championship, 3 tarmac rallies, and 1 gravel rally. Hayden went on to pick up 2 podiums in the 2026 season. A 3rd place at Rally Croatia, and a 2nd place at the Rally del Paraguay.
Personal life Kennard lives between his homes in Marlborough, NZ and Finland with his wife Satu Lappalainen. They own and run New Zealand vineyard Vicarage Lane producing Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir wines.
Rally victories WRC victories # Event Season Driver Car 1 36° Rally Argentina 2016 Hayden Paddon Hyundai i20 WRC
ERC victories # Event Season Driver Car 1 Rally Serras de Fafe e Felgueiras 2023 Hayden Paddon Hyundai i20 Rally22 Rali Ceredigion2024 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 Rally2
NZRC victories # Event Season Driver Car 1 Hella International Rally of Whangarei 2007 Hayden Paddon Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII2 Rally Nelson2007 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII3 Rally Hawkes Bay2008 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX4 South Canterbury Spring Rally2008 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX5 International Rally of Otago2009 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX6 NAC Insurance International Rally of Whangarei2009 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX7 Trust House/Racetech Rally Wairarapa2009 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX8 Rally Nelson2009 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII9 International Rally of Whangarei2010 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX10 DriveSouth International Rally of Otago2011 Hayden PaddonSubaru Impreza STi N1411 Rally New Zealand2011 Hayden PaddonSubaru Impreza STi N1412 International Rally of Otago2013 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX13 International Rally of Whangarei2013 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX14 Trust House/Racetech Rally Wairarapa2013 Hayden PaddonMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX15 International Rally of Otago2015 Hayden PaddonFord Escort RS 1800 MKII16 DriveSouth International Rally of Otago2016 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP417 Rally New Zealand2017 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP418 International Rally of Otago2018 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP419 Rally of South Canterbury2018 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP420 International Rally of Otago2019 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP421 City of Auckland Rally2020 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP422 International Rally of Otago2021 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP423 International Rally of Whangarei2021 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP424 Rally of South Canterbury2021 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP425 Rally Hawkes Bay2021 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP426 International Rally of Otago2022 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP427 International Rally of Whangarei2022 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP428 Repco Rally New Zealand2022 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 N Rally229 International Rally of Otago2023 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 N Rally230 International Rally of Whangarei2023 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 N Rally231 Daybreaker Rally Manawatu2023 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 N Rally232 Rally Bay of Plenty2023 Hayden PaddonHyundai i20 AP4
Rally results WRC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Points 1985 Brent Rawstron Toyota Starlet MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN44 ITA CIV GBRRet NC 0 1987 Stuart Weeber Toyota Starlet MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE USA NZL7 ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR 46th 4 1988 Malcolm Stewart Audi Coupé Quattro MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE USA NZL3 ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR 20th 12 1989 Simon Davies Subaru Leone SWE MON POR KEN FRA GRE NZLRet ARG NC 0 Chris Birkbeck Peugeot 205 GTI FINRet AUS ITA CIV GBR 1991 Greg Taylor Mazda 323 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZLRet ARG FIN AUS ITA CIV ESP GBR NC 0 1998 Juha Kangas Subaru Impreza WRX MON SWE KEN POR ESP FRA ARG GRE NZL FIN ITA AUS GBR24 NC 0 2007 Paddon Direct Green Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MON SWE NOR MEX POR ARG ITA GRE FIN GER NZL49 NC 0 Team Jordan Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX ESP FRA JPN IRE GBRRet 2008 Paddon Direct Green Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MON SWE MEX ARG JOR ITA GRE TUR FIN GER NZL12 ESP FRA JPN GBR NC 0 2009 Hayden Paddon Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX IRE NOR CYP POR ARG ITA GRE POL FIN AUS9 ESP GBR NC 0 2010 Pirelli Star Driver Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SWE MEX JOR TUR26 POR20 BUL FIN21 GER19 FRA35 ESP GBR19 NC 0 Hayden Paddon Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX NZL14 JPN12 2011 New Zealand World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STi SWE MEX POR11 JOR ITA ARG9 GRE FIN19 GER AUS6 FRA ESP34 18th 10 Hayden Paddon Subaru Impreza STi R4 GBR13 2012 Hayden Paddon Škoda Fabia S2000 MON SWE23 MEX POR16 ARG GRE NZL12 FINRet GER GBR26 FRARet ITA ESP20 NC 0 2013 Hayden Paddon Škoda Fabia S2000 MON SWE MEX POR ARG GRE ITA FIN11 GER8 AUS17 FRA GBR 18th 8 Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC ESP8 2014 Hyundai Motorsport N Hyundai i20 WRC MON SWE MEX POR ARG ITA12 POL8 FIN8 GER AUS6 FRA ESP9 GBR10 15th 19 2015 Hyundai Motorsport Hyundai i20 WRC MONSWE5 AUS5 GBR 5 9th 84 Hyundai Motorsport N MEX17 ARG16 POR8 ITA2 POL4 FINRet GER9 FRA5 ESP6 2016 Hyundai Motorsport N Hyundai i20 WRC MON25 MEX5 ARG1 GER5 CHNC FRA6 ESP4 GBR4 4th 138Hyundai Motorsport SWE2 PORRet ITARetPOL3FIN5 AUS4 2017 Hyundai Motorsport Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC MONWD SWE7 MEX5 FRA6 ARG6 POR ITA POL FIN GER ESP GBR AUS 13th 33 2019 M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC MON SWE MEX FRA ARG CHL POR ITA FINWD GER TUR ESP AUS NC 0 Ford Fiesta R5 Mk. II GBR38 2022 Hayden Paddon Hyundai i20 N Rally2 MON SWE CRO POR ITA KEN EST FIN BEL GRE NZL ESP JPN 21st 8 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 N Rally1 MON SWE KEN CRO3 ESP POR JPN7 GRE EST FIN PAR3 CHL ITA SAU 11th* 15*
ERC results YearEntrantCar123456789101112Points2013Symtech RacingFord Fiesta S2000JÄNLIECANAZOCORYPR RetROMZLÍPOLCROSANVAL62nd52022Paddon RallysportHyundai i20 N Rally2AZO1AZO2CANPOLLAT 6ITACZEESP29th152023BRC Racing TeamHyundai i20 N Rally2PRT 1CAN 2POL 2LAT 2SWE 2ITA 3CZE RetHUN1st1632024BRC Racing TeamHyundai i20 N Rally2HUN 4CAN 6SWE 3EST 5ITA 6CZE 12GBR 1POL 31st145
References
External links
eWRC