Dean’s big break came in 2002, with Dean joining Possum Bourne and Cody Crocker at Subaru Rally Team Australia.

And he continued with STRA until it withdrew from Australian rallying in 2005. During that time Dean recorded many podium positions in the Australian championship, took a Group N win at Rally New Zealand in 2004, and the Australian leg of the Asia-Pacific championship, Rally Canberra, in the same year. Dean was also 2nd in the Australian series in 2005.

2005

World Championship

• DNF Rally New Zealand
• DNF Rally Australia

Australian Rally Championship

• 2nd Outright Forest Rally, WA (4th Heat 1, 3rd Heat 2)
• 3rd Outright Rally Queensland (2nd Heat 1, 4th Heat 2)
• 4th Outright Subaru Safari Tasmania (9th Heat 1, 3rd Heat 2)
• 6th Outright Rally SA (4th Heat 1, 7th Heat 2)
• 4th Outright Rally of Melbourne (4th Heat 1, 8th Heat 2)
• 2nd Outright Bathurst Rally, NSW (2nd Heat 1, 2nd Heat 2)

Asia Pacific Rally Championship

• 2nd Outright Subaru Rally of Canberra

2004

World Championship

• 1st Group N Rally New Zealand
• 3rd Group N Rally Japan
• DNF Rally Australia

Australian Rally Championship

• 5th Outright Forest Rally, WA (5th Heat 1, 5th Heat 2)
• 4th Outright Rally Queensland (4th Heat 1, 6th Heat 2)
• 3rd Outright Subaru Safari Tasmania (5th Heat 1, 3rd Heat 2)
• 5th Outright Rally SA (3rd Heat 1, 6th Heat 2)
• 10th Outright Premier State Rally, NSW (8th Heat 1, DNF Heat 2)
• 3rd Outright Rally of Melbourne (2nd Heat 1, 3rd Heat 2)

Asia Pacific Championship

• 1st Outright Subaru Rally of Canberra

2003

World Championship

• 2nd Group N Rally Australia

Australian Rally Championship

• =5th Outright Forest Rally, WA (3rd Heat 1, DNF Heat 2)
• 3rd Outright Rally Queensland (3rd Heat 1, 3rd Heat 2)
• 7th Outright Premier State Rally, NSW (6th Heat 1, DNF Heat 2)
• 2nd Outright Rally SA (3rd Heat 1, 2nd Heat 2)
• 8th Outright Rally of Melbourne (8th Heat 1, 8th Heat 2)
• 2nd Outright Subaru Safari Tasmania (3rd Heat 1, 4th Heat 2)

Asia Pacific Championship

• 3rd Outright Subaru Rally of Canberra
• DNF Rally Hokkaido, Japan

2002

World Rally Championship

• 9th Group N Rally New Zealand
• DNF Rally Australia

Australian Rally Championship

• 7th Outright Harbour City Rally, NSW (4th Heat 1, DNF Heat 2)
• 13th Outright Forest Rally, WA (13th Heat 1, 10th Heat 2)
• 4th Outright Rally Queensland (6th Heat 1 and 5th Heat 2)
• 6h Outright Rally SA (6th Heat 1, 5h Heat 2)
• 4th Outright Subaru Safari Tasmania (5h Heat 1, 5th Heat 2)
• 7th Outright Rally of Melbourne (8h Heat 1, 5h Heat 2)

Asia-Pacific Championship

• DNF Subaru Rally of Canberra