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Jan 27– Harmo's decision to sit the 2007 season out may not be favorable with some people, but it may just be what he needed to get back into the drivers seat and to poke the NSW State championship.

With a year now past since you've raced, are you happy with your decision to sit last season out? Any second thoughts?

I'm 100% stoked with my decision, it couldn't have been better timing for me. I needed to step away. I've been racing in either the IPRA, Drag Racing or Motocross ever since I was 16, so this year was amazing for me. I got to step away from racing and enjoyed watching everyone else going round. The main reasons for choosing not to compete were, 1: the team didn't really want to go and 2: it's really hard to put so much time and effort into something that we benefit little from. I was tired and a bit over it. I got to re-group and do a lot of fun things that I have never been able to do in the past, and now I am back and have a great outlook. We have a brand-new '08 racecar that is leaps and bounds better than what we've had over the last three years or so. With new motivation and a new car, I think it will be a fun season.

You mentioned a new racecar that is far better than years past. Does that make testing easier or harder? Do you have to start over, or can you still build off what you learned with last year's car?

We pretty much started our racing program over again. Anyone who tells you that you can't go well unless you spend a fortune is full of it. Besides popular belief, Scott Fleming and I run on a pretty small budgets and Scott has won everything there is to win in this category. This car does what it is supposed to do. From there, between the Team Chaparral and the Rev Doctor Motorsport guys, we made some great choices. I am happy in the racecar and that's what is most important. It is so important to feel a part of the car, and that is something we haven't quite accomplished until now.

Any other changes to your program this season other than the racecar?

Training.... !!! I've been training with Mazsport's Mick Posa for the past 8-10 months and he's a pretty tough task master, doesn't let me have too many days off, my fitness has been great lately. With the racecar, we are in our third year with Rev Doctor Motorsport and the only real difference this year is that we have two years of experience under our belt. The RDM guys run a pretty tight ship in terms of development, the development never stops in either the sister #58 car or in my own car. The problems we've had in the past with mechanical errors have been out of the hands of the team which is extremely frustrating. The decision was made to take things into our own hands and control the program rather than let it lead us. Things are looking great thus far in 2008, so we are just continuing down the same road.

Your three-year deal with Rev Doctor Motorsport is up after the 2008 season. What does the future hold? Will you try to continue on with Rev Doctor Motorsport?

Things are going great at RDM and I would love to continue with them. But in '08 everything is up to me, in a round-a-bout way, no more excuses. I could walk away and not have any results to show how good I can go and that's not why I started racing. I don't really want to waste anyones time, I know it can be hard on the RDM guys too when things out of their control make us look bad. So we have a lot of decisions to make after the season about what Pete Harmston is going to look like beyond 2008. Besides, I think that the guys at RDM really DO love me... *laughs*

Will anything short of a sucessful year in IPRA affect your decisions?

I think my decisions will be pretty much made before the season would be concluding. But at this point I am happy. It's been a frustrating couple of years for everyone involved. We have been off of the pace, some of it has been me, some of it the racecar. I have always turned up keen to go well and have been there to capitalize when someone else makes a mistake. But constantly being bumped back or not finishing is kind of crappy way of life. It hasn't been a whole lot of fun. But with the much-needed time I had off and the introduction of the '08 RDM/Gatorz Eyewear Racing Mazda RX7, things are starting to happen the way they used to. The smile comes more naturally.

It sounds like you have a solid outlook right now. If Wakefield Park round 1 was tomorrow, would you be ready?

Bring it! Sure, we are in January and not exactly where we would like to be come April, but if we had to race, I think we are more prepared than in years past. I would say bring it on, but we do have a lot of work to do yet. I am happy with the way the last 15 months have gone, but there is still some testing that will make it all complete. I know that the other guys like Browny, Wattsy etc. are at home working their butts off. They're consistently fast and strong, and that combination makes them tough guys to beat. But I want to go to work. I want to come out swinging and give it everything we have. If it takes hitting the ground a few times, I am ready.

Other than Browny and Wattsy, who do you foresee battling at the front for podium spots?

In my honest opinion, I think guys like Fleming, Loftus and Browny are a ways ahead. No disrespect to anyone else out there, but taking the past into consideration, those guys are always on top. Graeme Watts and Scotty Bucton are definitely stepping it up. They are both comfortable in their cars and that means a lot. I really hope everyone can step it up this season. There is no better feeling than going out there and battling. At Oran in 06, I had some great battles with Buco and Kees Delhaas and it was awesome.

What's the best part of racing?

Driving a club car on a racetrack as fast as you can, scrubbing kerbs, blitzing straights, and railing turns; it's the best feeling ever. I got to experience a lot of different things this off-season and none of them compare to racing my RDM/Gatorz Eyewear Racing Mazda RX7 in Improved Production. Plus my awesome crew that don't always get a mention. Scotty Fleming, Cameron Glegg, Paul 'the Dog' Cooney, Paul Bartolo, Brian Troy and Matty Clarke who are, in more ways than one, the heart and soul of this team.

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Ready for the 2008 season, the #16 RDM/Gatorz Eyewear Racing Mazda RX7

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