Popular RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship broadcast host Dean Herridge has revealed more details about his move between factory backed manufacturer teams during the early stages of his career, and says he has no regrets.
Speaking with Adrian Coppin on the latest edition of ARC Service Park, Herridge shared a snapshot of his impressive career, which was saw him also compete as part of Subaru Rally Team Australia.
Competing alongside rally greats Possum Bourne and Cody Crocker as the team’s third entry in the ARC, Herridge claimed a number of Group N class podiums in the national championship.
On top of his many appearances in the national competition, Herridge also competed overseas and featured in a number of FIA World Rally Championship and Asia-Pacific Rally Championship rounds too.
However, while he did eventually compete with Subaru’s factory squad during the 2000s, Herridge spoke of the move to Subaru he turned down early in his career that was his own ‘sliding doors’ moment.
“Back when I was running around not knowing what I was going to do in the late 1990s, I was chatting to Subaru about running the second car to Possum Bourne,” Herridge said.
“At the same time as that offer coming in, which was them putting a bit of money and crew together for us, Hyundai confirmed a budget to compete in the whole ARC season.
“We felt the gap between deals was too big at the time so we knocked back Subaru and went with Hyundai. Of course a young talented driver in Cody Crocker then came out of nowhere and got the Subaru deal before making every post a winner.
“Moving forward a couple of years, I was back driving my dad’s yellow car as a privateer entry trying to beat the guys who offered us a seat which was interesting.
“I think you make the call at the time and I have no regrets on that stuff because we eventually got a paid Subaru drive and got to run the third car alongside Possum and Cody for 2002 season.
“In some ways it was a dream come true and in other ways it was quite daunting.”
Herridge ended up driving for the Subaru factory team until the end of 2005, before competing with Maximum Motorsport and as a privateer entry.
Watch the full ARC Service Park with Dean Herridge below.