Following the withdrawal of SRTA from the Australian championship, Dean continued to drive for Subaru Australia in selected tarmac rallies and circuit events, including Targa Tasmania. And he put that tarmac experience to good use, teaming up with Chris Atkinson and Cody Crocker to finish 2nd in the inaugural Bathurst 12-hour endurance race.

Dean and co-driver Bill Hayes also continued to compete in the Australian Rally Championship, but this time in a Maximum Motorsport-prepared Subaru WRX STI. Taking on the big-budget Toyota, Ford and Mitsubishi factory teams, the pair finished 3rd outright both years, collecting back-to-back Privateers titles in the process.

And while not rallying in Australia, Dean and Bill linked up with Subaru Rally Team China, taking the team to it’s first podium finish in the Chinese Rally Championship.

2007

Australian Rally Championship

6th Outright Rally Queensland (2nd Heat 1, DNF Heat 2)
2nd Outright Forest Rally, WA (2nd Heat 1, 3rd Heat 2)
2nd Outright Rally of Canberra (2nd Heat1, 3rd Heat 2)
3rd Outright Rally SA (4th Heat 1, 3rd Heat 2)
4th Outright Rally NSW (6th Heat 1, 4th Heat 2)

Chinese Rally Championship

5th Outright Round 2 Beijing Tarmac Rally
3rd Outright Round 3 Liupangshui Rally
2nd Outright Round 4 Kaiyang Rally
DNF Round 5 Longyu Rally (Winner Leg 2 after Super Rally)

Other Events

2nd Outright Bathurst 12-Hour Endurance Production Car Race (teamed with Chris Atkinson and Cody Crocker)

Asia Pacific Rally Championship

3rd Outright Rally Canberra
DNF Rally China

2006

World Rally Championship

6th Group N Rally Japan
3rd Group N/PWRC Rally Australia (8th Outright, 1 World Championship Point)