KENNETH ERIKSSON TEST DRIVES POSSUM BOURNE’S SUBARU

Possum Bourne’s WRC Subaru is a powerful machine which will take some skilled handling, but Swedish driver Kenneth Eriksson hopes he can get the performance he wants out of it to win the 2004 Silverstone Race to the Sky.

A former World Rally Car championship driver, Eriksson is now in Wanaka preparing for the Race to the Sky this weekend, after test driving the WRC Subaru in Auckland at the weekend. The high profile Subaru is now owned by Architectural Profiles and Vantage Aluminium, whose managing director Craig Vincent, is one of Possum’s former co-drivers.

Eriksson who is a long time rival and close friend of Possum, after first meeting in Kenya in 1986, was quite overwhelmed to be invited to drive Possum’s car.

 “It was a big honour for me that they choose me as one of the top drivers to do it for Possum and the team. Emotionally I am quite split about it. I know he would have done the same for me and I will really try my best to win the rally for myself and for the spirit of Possum as well. He had a true spirit and a true passion for the sport which few other drivers today would live up to.”

He says his first impression of driving the WRC Subaru was one of ‘a lot of power.’

“I wasn’t really used to it but after a couple of hours you know I got used to the power and it began to feel okay really.”

Eriksson has inspected the Snow Farm Road and says it certainly will not be easy.

“It is hard to say how I will go. Although we have 550hp we are a little bit underpowered compared to Tajima and some other cars. But I still think there is a lot in the driving and I hope I can win the rally. I know there are a lot of good drivers around and it will be a hard fight but my thinking is to win of course.”

Eriksson is now longer competing on the WRC circuit finishing at the end of 2002 after a successful career. He is currently working on a project in Sweden to develop a new car engine which takes less fuel and provides more power.

“We are this summer involved in doing tests on it and there is a lot of other work going on as well so I am not just sitting still at home.”

Since arriving in New Zealand, he has met Possum’s wife Peggy and their children, and he is looking forward to being involved with them at the Race to the Sky.