John Kennard (co-driver)

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 2016, bring New Zealand to the top step of the WRC podium.^[2]

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.^[3] The replacement was confirmed the day after to be Kevin Abbring's co-driver Sebastian Marshall.^[4] 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.^[5]

Kennard was voted Marlborough Sportsperson of the Year in 2016, succeeding Sophie MacKenzie.^[6]

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.^[7]

Kennard lives between his homes in Marlborough, NZ and Finland with his wife Satu Lappalainen. They own and run New Zealand vineyard Vicarage Lane^[8] producing Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir wines.^[9]