After two successful tarmac rallies in the Maximum Motorsport Subaru Impreza, Dean Herridge will jump into a different Subaru next weekend as he returns to Mt Panorama to tackle the demanding Bathurst 12 Hour production race.

It was three years ago that Dean teamed with Cody Crocker and Chris Atkinson to finish 2nd outright in a factory run Subaru. This year he returns in the Jim Hunter Motorsport Impreza WRX STi, partnering with Jim Hunter and Barton Mawler

“I really enjoyed the experience in ’07″, said Dean. “This year it’s going to be a little different. A different team and a different car, but I’m really looking forward to going back to Bathurst. I’m going there purely as a driver, so in one way there will be less pressure. I’ll be able to focus just on my role as a driver, and I really want to do well for the team.

“With three rallies during December and January, I’ve not been able to have a drive of the car yet. So I’ll get my first drive during Friday practice; get myself acquainted with the car, and reacquainted with the track and having other cars racing around me. Bathurst is such an iconic track. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and I’m really looking forward to it”.

The Bathurst 12 Hour runs over the weekend of February 12-14, with first practice on Friday morning and the main event starting at 6:30am on Sunday morning.

Approximately 45 cars are expected to grid-up for the enduro, with touring cars drivers like Jason Bright, Cameron McConville, Allan Simonsen, and Paul Morris, touring car greats Jim Bowe, Glenn Seton and Neil Crompton, tarmac rally regulars Tony and Clark Quinn, and even Hollywood star Eric Bana.

Photos courtesy of Vern Norrgard and Subaru Australia.