Former leading World Rally Championship driver, Kenneth Eriksson of Sweden will drive Possum Bourne’s WRC Subaru at the 2004 Silverstone Race to the Sky. His goal is to win the ‘King of the Mountain’ title in memory of his former friend and rival.
Possum died tragically, from injuries received after an accident on the Snow Farm Road, prior to the 2003 Race to the Sky. His distinctive WRC hillclimb based special Subaru has since been bought by Architectural Profiles and Vantage Aluminium.
“We have been long time supporters of Possum and are delighted that Kenneth, who was also a great friend of his, has agreed to drive his car in this year’s Race to the Sky,” says General Manager Craig Vincent, who is also a former co-driver of Possum.
“Kenneth is really looking forward to the event and is honoured to have been asked.”
Craig says the two high profile drivers have always had a lot in common.
“In fact they were both born in 1956 just a month apart. They were really the elder statesmen of the WRC and had a great respect for one another. He is entering the Race to the Sky in his memory but he has made it very clear he wants to win the event for Possum and his family.”
Eriksson has had a long and successful career as a professional factory rally driver, both in the World Rally Championship and in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
He first emerged as a rival to Possum in the 1990s when the pair contested the Group A Division of the World Championship, Eriksson driving for VW and Possum for Subaru.
Eriksson has six wins to his name, on individual rounds of the World Rally Championships, and won the World Group A Champion title in 1986. He was third in the overall World Championship in 1995.
The two drivers were on centre stage at the Asia Pacific Championships in 1994 when Possum edged Eriksson, who was driving a Mitsubishi, out of the title. In 1995 the roles were reversed and Eriksson took top place on the podium
Later Eriksson moved to Subaru and both he and Possum drove Imprezas on the Australian and New Zealand rounds of the world championship.
In New Zealand Eriksson became a popular motor racing personality, winning Rally New Zealand in 1997, in a Subaru, after being runner-up the previous year. He also won the 1996 and 1997 Asia Pacific Championships for Subaru.
During his career he drove for VW, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Hyundai and made his last international appearance for Skoda in 2002.
Silverstone Race to the Sky promoter Grant Aitken says Eriksson’s appearance is a milestone for the event.
“To have someone of his calibre competing at the Race to the Sky is taking it to another level. Kenneth Eriksson is not just going to enter. He wants to pull out all stops to win in Possum’s memory. He obviously held Possum in very high esteem and he is reinforcing that by agreeing to make an appearance at the race.”
The 2004 Silverstone Race to the Sky is scheduled for Easter Weekend, April 10 and 11 at The Snow Farm in the Cardrona Valley, close to Queenstown and Wanaka.
Gates open from 7.00am on both Easter Saturday and Sunday. Gate admission is $35 per adult, child under 14 free, Gold Pass $160
