R.I.P. Possum Bourne

[sniffy]

New Zealand's top rally driver, Possum Bourne, has died in Dunedin Hospital after a car crash on the Waiorau Snow Farm road, near Wanaka, today.

Bourne, 47, was driving down the road as other competitors in the Race to the Sky hillclimb event this weekend were driving up in convoy on a pre-race course inspection, about 12.30pm.

The Subaru Forrester stationwagon Bourne was driving was involved in a head-on collision with a Grand Cherokee Jeep driven by Queenstown competitor Mike Barltrop, who was near the end of the 11-car convoy.

It took more than an hour for the Wanaka Fire Brigade to free an unconscious Mr Bourne who was then flown by Lion Foundation Rescue Helicopter to Dunedin Hospital.

It is understood he was suffering head injuries and two broken legs.

Barltrop, 38, a South Island driver, suffered moderate leg injuries and was flown by Lakes Air Rescue to Dunedin. His passenger was uninjured.

Event director Grant Aitken said the accident happened while the road cars were being driven under controlled conditions and with official lead and tail cars monitoring speeds.

Police estimate that both cars involved in the collision were travelling at less than 60kmh at the time of the accident.

Dusty conditions may have contributed to the collision, which occurred at the top of a rise, he said.

Mr Aitken said Bourne was considered the favourite to win the annual Race to the Sky event this year. He won in 2001 but last year withdrew with a puncture.

"It's unfortunate for those of us involved in motorsport that invariably competitors are injured in road accidents after thousands of kilometres in competition injury free," Mr Aitken said.

The Silverstone Race to the Sky event would go ahead as planned, with practice commencing tomorrow morning and the final Race to the Sky event on Sunday, he said.

Possum Bourne is New Zealand's only professional rally driver and in 20 years of racing has three times claimed the Asia-Pacific title.

He is the reigning Australian Rally champion, having won the title a record seven times.

His main focus this year has been contesting the World Championship production class and defending his Australian crown. He was due to contest the Canberra Rally in Australia next weekend and the Argentine Rally (round three of the world production-car series) next month.

Bourne lived in Pukekohe with his wife and three children and celebrated his 47th birthday on April 13.

Christened Peter, he received the nickname "Possum" after he rolled his mother's car at the age of 15, attempting to avoid a possum on the road.

News issued tonight by Peggy, Possums wife on behalf of the Bourne family in consultation with the medical staff at Dunedin Hospital, as a result of the crash in which Possum has remained in a drug induced coma. His condition was clarified further today with a brain scan which confirmend the extent of the brain injury and as a result his family have requested that the life support system be withdrawn as from this evening (Monday 28th April).

[SS8_Gohan]

yeah very sad, i've just sorta started following rallying, so i was getting to know all the names and what everyone has done. He certainly would have one impressive trophy cabinet...

bu didn't he pass away like last week?

[predator]

Um..yer, hasn't this been covered like in "General Discussion" and other areas plenty?

[makaveli]

rest in peace to a true rally icon!!!!

He was an great driver, and will be missed by many of his fan's.

He was not only a driver but a well respected figure in the rally word who had the utmost respect of many drivers and fan's.

He will be remembered for what he did best!!!

Peace

[sniffy]

yea...well for people like me(not many i know) who dont have a tv, and miss out on a lot of "day to day" disscusion...i only found out last night. so i posted this, because no one else did...and i would have liked to know