VIDEO: Hyundai i20 WRC passenger ride

Hurtling flat-out through the forest in a state-of-the-art World Rally Car with one of the world's best drivers is quite an experience.

Try as we might to capture the feeling through words - you can find the story here - inevitably the sights and sounds are best captured through video.

Above is two laps of a high-speed loop in the Coffs Harbour forest alongside Hayden Paddon in the Hyundai i20 WRC, which took place the day after the season-ending Rally Australia. Hopefully it gives you a taste of what was an extremely awesome experience.

Paddon will return to WRC competition with Hyundai in late January, driving the new generation Hyundai i20 WRC along with Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo.

With the return of Citroen and Toyota to full-time competition and four-time champion Sebastien Ogier switching to Ford, it's set to be one of the most exciting WRC seasons ever.