However, Possum never got arrogant or pretended to be a hero. Even while touring south east Asia for the APRC tour, he would smile and shake hands with fans including street children if they called out to him, yelling, "Possum!" In addition, he was always eager to help with the international rally organization in Subaru's home country. He came to Japan to consider the possibilities of the Hokkaido Rally (the precursor of Rally Japan event) to be international event and despite a high fever, continued to show people around the stages, putting all his effort into making the Hokkaido Rally happen in Japan. Once this was decided, he entered multiple races in Japan, gaining fame in that country as well. What did Possum want more than anything? He wanted to be world champion. While he continued as both a rally driver and a rally company owner, he finally got his chance in 2003. He entered two Group N Imprezas in the P-WRC alongside Toshi Arai. In the Swedish Rally in February, his first snow rally and his first opportunity to enter a world-class event made him as excited as a little boy. He ended up pulling out due to problems, but must have felt so close to winning the world championship! However, he passed away soon after and was unable to realize his dreams. A life-long Subaru driver Possum now stands as a bronze statue looking down on the New Zealand rally stages. In Toshi Arai's 2007 New Zealand Rally, with his second championship opportunity in the P-WRC, he started off slow with a flat tire, but through some strong catching up, ended up winning. "Toshi, step on the gas to the point that you feel the floor falls out in here New Zealand!." Maybe Possum gave him advice from the top of the hill. This April 30th marked fifth anniversary of Possum's passing. He had a very winsome expression when he smiled. Inside, he was exactly the same person you would think he was judging by his looks. Peter, who interacted with everybody in a genuine manner and with everything in a sincere behavior, was famous for his friendly personality. Since he was from New Zealand, he was given the nickname "Possum," after the animal commonly found in his homeland. This photo(left below corner) is of Possum celebrating his 47th birthday with his family. It was on the final day of the 2003 WRC New Zealand Rally, Sunday, April 13th 2003. This happy family was put in misery only a few days later. Possum, scheduled to enter a hill climb event the following week, got in an accident with an oncoming car while doing a reconnaissance run over the liaison. He went into a coma, and rally fans around the world prayed for his recovery but he passed away on the 30th of the same month. Once he became an established rally driver, he continued driving for only SUBARU, entering every rally in a Subaru machine. This is why he's called Mr. Subaru. In 1983, he went knocking on a local Subaru dealer's door. That same year, he made his debut in the WRC in a Leone, on his home event, the New Zealand Rally. In the same event in '84 and '85, he finished 8th overall consecutively, gaining some serious attention in the process. The following year, 1986, he joined as a member of Subaru's Safari Rally Challenge. In 1987, he finished the grueling event 3rd, the accomplishment gaining him considerable fame. In 1993, he entered a works Subaru Legacy in the APRC (Asia-Pacific Rally Championship) and won the champion title, as many people anticipated he would. In 1994, he took another consecutive APRC title, this time in an Impreza. He entered the WRC's Pacific events in '94 and '95 with Subaru World Rally Team(SWRT), continuing his close relationship with Subaru. In the Australian national championship, he took seven consecutive titles from 1996 to 2002. His unprecedented skill and win records made history.