Kiwi rally driver Hayden Paddon fears New Zealand will never host an event on the World Rally Championship (WRC) circuit again.
The WRC has not visited in New Zealand since 2012, when French legend Sebastian Loeb prevailed.
Paddon is behind a campaign to bring the event back, but he told The AM Show that hope has faded, after losing out to Turkey.
"There has been a huge fight and lots of people working behind the scenes, since we last had it in 2012," Paddon said.
"Three months ago, I would have said we are 90 percent sure of getting it. Unfortunately, it is a commercial world, money talks and in the end, Turkey ended up getting it over us.
"Personally, I think it was one of our last chances. Now New Zealanders have to focus on the sport for ourselves."
The 30-year-old finished his troubled season with a podium finish in Australia over the weekend, something he was really satsified with.
"The result was good," he said. "We didn't get it in the way we wanted too, but I think finishing off a tough year with some positivity gives us something good to go into the break with now and reset next year."
Paddon finished the season eighth overall.
Watch the video above for the full interview
