Subaru Rally Team Australia driver Cody Crocker is swapping seats to take the wheel of a left-hand drive 2003 model Impreza WRX STi in Telstra Rally Australia, starting tomorrow evening (Thursday).

Having so far campaigned a right hand drive 2002 model Impreza WRX STi in the Australian Rally Championship, Crocker is using the world rally event to decide which car he will drive in the crucial two remaining rallies on the ARC calendar, in Melbourne and Tasmania.

After testing in Perth this week, Crocker said: "We're pretty happy with the set-up. Obviously it's a learning curve and we'll be taking every opportunity at this event to completely familiarize ourselves with the new car, before we make the final call on which one could take us all the way to an ARC title."

Rally Australia has moved forward two months in the calendar for 2003, so weather could be a vital factor in deciding the placings.

Crocker is keen to improve on his 15th place in Group N last year but faces some tough competition from an experienced field including Karamjit Singh of Malaysia, in a Proton and Toshi Arai of Subaru Production Rally Team.

Crocker said: "The world rally events are a great opportunity to prove our talents against a truly international field.

"We've come to Perth with the added incentive of a new car and by the end of the weekend we should be ideally placed to choose between the 2002 and 2003 models for the all important final two rounds of the ARC."

While Rally Australia does not contribute points to the ARC Driver's title, points are allocated to manufacturers' and Crocker says that is another reason to maintain focus: "This is as good as it gets in terms of quality drivers, but we also need to remind ourselves that finishing the 386 competitive kilometres in a leading position also benefits Subaru's ARC manufacturers' standing."

Fellow SRTA driver Dean Herridge is also looking forward to Rally Australia.

He said: "It's a great opportunity to draw directly on the expertise of world rally drivers and we'll certainly be giving it our best shot in front of our home crowd here in WA."
Podium finishes in this year's ARC have bolstered Herridge's confidence and he is keen to underline his credentials on a world stage.
Meanwhile, leading privateer Michael Thompson has been nominated by Subaru to score ARC Manufacturers' points.
Thomson was selected following the withdrawal of Simon Evans from the event.

To follow SRTA's progress during Telstra Rally Australia on the web, see www.rally.subaru.com.au <http://www.rally.subaru.com.au>

Full Group N results including "live" split times in stages will be available.