Subaru Rally Team Australia pay tribute to Bourne.

Subaru Rally Team Australia have today expressed their "deepest sadness" following the news, their driver Possum Bourne, has lost his battle to live.

A tribute to the three times Asia Pacific champion and seven times Australian champion, on rally.subaru.com.au read:

Subaru Rally Team Australia pay tribute to Bourne.

Subaru Rally Team Australia have today expressed their "deepest sadness" following the news, their driver Possum Bourne, has lost his battle to live.

A tribute to the three times Asia Pacific champion and seven times Australian champion, on rally.subaru.com.au read:

"The death of legendary seven-times Australian Rally Champion, Possum Bourne, has been met with deep sadness by Subaru Australia, for whom he had driven for almost 10 years.

"Possum, the ARC champion from 1996-2002, is survived by wife Peggy and the couple have three children, a daughter Jazlin, aged three, and two sons, Taylor, eight and Spencer, four.

"The family lives at Pukekohe, New Zealand, from where he ran Possum Bourne Motorsport.

"Possum had been rallying for 24 years and gained international recognition, including three Asia-Pacific Championships in his remarkable achievements.

"In addition to defending his ARC title this year, he had also been picked by Subaru Tecnica International (STi) to drive an Impreza WRX STi in the production class of the World Rally Championship.

"His amazing career highlights include New Zealand Rally Champion, 1991; Australian Rally Champion, 1996-2002; ARC Class Champion Group A, 1992; Asia Pacific Champion, 1993, 1994 and 2000. He was also instrumental in contributing points to Subaru's five ARC Manufacturers titles in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

"Possum's company prepares all the cars for Subaru Rally Team Australia, including those of teammates Cody Crocker and co-driver Greg Foletta, and Dean Herridge and co-driver Glenn Macneall."

Subaru Australia General Manager Nick Senior, who also manages the SRTA programme, told the teams official website: "Subaru has lost its most dedicated ambassador. Australian rallying has lost its greatest driver. Possum's family has lost a great Dad.

"Possum was a real character. Full of humour, full of life and abundant in energy.

"He was there in Subaru's pioneering stage at the top level of rallying and remained with the brand since.

"Possum's career and the growth of the brand in Australia are inextricably linked. His results are well documented and need no defence or explanation. He was not only THE driver of his generation, but arguably the best to come out of the southern hemisphere.

"But more than the results was the tireless effort of Possum to grow the sport of rallying. It was not unusual for him to fly from New Zealand to Sydney for a five-minute television interview on Sunday and return home on the next flight.

"He was always accessible to the media and his fans, indeed to everyone who wanted to chat, because Poss loved a chat!

"He worked with rally organisers, rally promoters and motor sport authorities to improve the sport of rallying.

"The growing spectator and media interest in the sport is testament to Possum's all-consuming passion for rallying.

"He was the ideal team leader and team-mate. He never fostered any jealousies or selfishness. What he learned about the car he passed on to Cody [Crocker] and later Dean [Herridge] when they joined the team. He mentored these two and their current success reflects Possum's enthusiasm to develop this new breed of younger drivers.

"Nothing typifies his competitive spirit more than his 2002 championship win. Some people said he had no hope after switching from the World Rally Car to Group N production class. When he didn't take a point from the first round, they said he had even less hope. Yet his competitive spirit and skill shone through and Possum clinched his seventh consecutive title.

"Our thoughts are with Peggy, Jazlin, Spencer and Taylor."

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