Seven-time Australian Rally champion, Possum Bourne, thinks he has opened the door this year for someone else to take the title, by only contesting six of the seven rounds of the 2003 Super Series.

Bourne will be forced to miss Rally Queensland, which clashes with Cyprus as he juggles his first Group N World Rally Championship campaign with his domestic title defence.

He remains determined to take an eighth consecutive title, but concedes the odds are against him. While an element of doubt exists in his mind about his own chances, he is convinced that a blue car of Subaru Rally Team Australia will take the title.

"I've left the door ajar, no doubt about that, but it gives the opportunity for Cody (Crocker) and Dean (Herridge) to step up," said Bourne.

Every heat counts in 2003 and Bourne knows he will be starting 40 points behind everyone else in the championship.

"We just have to go to each event and try to win them, and if we can achieve that we will make it eight straight," Bourne said.

"I effectively dropped an event last year, which made winning the championship very hard, but we made it in the end so I hope that we can do the same again.

"But the team as a whole has benefited enormously from our experience last year, where things didn't go to plan but we still walked away with one-two in the championship, plus got the Manufacturers' title.

"Cody is certainly going to be a tougher competitor this year and I know Dean will step up as well. Don't get me wrong. I want to win, but as long as it's a blue car at the end of the day I'll be happy.

"It's going to be a great championship. There's no doubt that the arrival of Finnish driver Juha Kangas is going to add an extra element, but that is great for the championship and the sport."

Cody Crocker knows he has added responsibility within the team in 2003, and he relishes the challenge.
"Naturally, we want to go one better than last year," Crocker said.

"Our approach is to improve our individual results. While we were runners-up last year, there are a number of events where we can dramatically improve the outcome this year.

"The car should be much better this year as well. We spent most of 2002 chasing our tail in terms of dealing with a car that was really in a development phase. This season we start off on a good level and we'll work to take it higher.

"We have a really hectic start to the year, three rallies in five weeks, and we are thinking that this will work to our advantage. Spending time in the car is just vital. Hopefully it gives the season just the start we want and then we can go on with the job."

At the season opener, the Forest Rally in Western Australia from March 28-30, Bourne will drive the 2002 model car he took to fourth place in the Group N World Championship round in Sweden last month. Crocker will return to his 2002 Impreza WRX STi.

Bourne hopes to be in a 2003 Impreza by the Subaru Rally of Canberra in April, but says the other two team members will wait before making the model change.

"We'll take on the new model first and do the development work. When we are happy with it I'll sit down with Subaru Australia and work out when the other two make the change," Bourne said.

The man driving the car that took Bourne to the 2002 Championship when the action gets underway in Busselton will be the junior member of Subaru Rally Team Australia, Dean Herridge.

Herridge made his debut with the team in 2002 after winning the 2000 and 2001 Privateer's Cup.

He finished the year in sixth place on the points table, but is looking for a higher ranking this season.
"I'm really looking forward to a big 2003," Herridge said.

"I've got the learning year with the team out of the way. I was really happy with the way we finished off in Rally Australia and can't wait to build on that.

"I've been really motivated during the off season. I've certainly upped the ante in terms of my physical preparation and I've never been fitter or keener.

"I recognise that I need to take the next step and I obviously want to spend the year at the pointy end of the results.

"Driving Possum's old car should be great. Obviously it's been totally refreshed but it's got the runs on the board - it's got the pedigree - and I can't wait to get into action at the Forest Rally, in what's effectively my home event."

Glenn Macneall will once again be Herridge's co-driver. Crocker will be partnered by regular Greg Foletta, while Mark Stacey will sit in Bourne's passenger seat in both ARC and WRC events.