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Al-Attiyah has a clash of events in early September and is committed to driving in a round of the Cross Country World Championship for VW as teammate to the legendary Carlos Sainz.
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"From our past successes in both our previous PWRC outings [2nd in 2006 and 3rd in 2007 at Rally New Zealand] and our performance last year, I guess this means we are now being seen as worthy of helping out some of these top international teams," said Richard.
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"It is even more pleasing when you consider that they have gone for us from here in New Zealand ahead of some very good Aussies who, I'm sure would have been pretty keen to get the drive in their own round of the World Rally Championship...."
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The Masterton Flyers will take their trademark bright yellow BNT Subaru across the Tasman and will run as Car 50 for Al-Attiyah's Qatari Barwa Rally Team.
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"Greg Horne from BNTÂ has been instrumental in helping us put together the funding for this addition to our original programme for this year,
and for that we are extremely grateful.
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"We all left Mystery Creek [WRC Rally New Zealand] last year with a very empty feeling after being forced to retire on the last day when we had such a commanding lead, so this is an awesome chance to 'set the record straight' at the earliest opportunity."
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"And, hopefully, another good [PWRC] result for us, where we take points off his closest rivals, will play a significant part in helping Nasser become the PWRC Champion for the second time..."
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Rally Australia will run from September 3rd - 6th, on roads in northern New South Wales that have never been used for rallying before, so no-one will have any 'Home Town' local knowledge or previous experience to give them any advantage.
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"We understand that the roads to be used are very similar to what we have here, although without the severe camber for which our roads are world famous, but they are predominantly fast and smooth - definitely not Car Breakers..
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"We always seem to go well on new stages, which speaks volumes for the quality and accuracy of the pace noting system Sara and I have developed. So with all that in mind, I think we should be able to put up a pretty good showing..,"
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"With all that has happened here this season and the last few Rally NZ's, we are VERY keen to see what we can do at another overseas [WRC] round. Especially as this time, unlike [WRC Rally] Japan in 2007, we will be in our own car, which we obviously know so well."
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"We seem to thrive on being part of the whole 'WRC' thing, it really does seem to bring out the best in us," concluded the double New Zealand Rally Champion.
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