Harry Bates will forego any further Australian Rally Championship points as he changes tyres brands and pushes to impress against the WRC2 front-runners at Rally Australia.
Like all ARC-registered competitors, Bates has had to use the control MRF tyres in recent years, but the newly crowned Australian Champion will switch to Michelin rubber for the four-day Coffs Harbour event.
The change in tyre is expected to make his Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia Yaris AP4 even faster, and should enable him to compete on relatively even terms with the international Skoda Fabia and Ford Fiesta R5s.
"I'm massively looking forward to Rally Australia and can't wait to get going," Bates told RallySport Magazine.
"We've done no back-to-back testing between tyres, but it's more about being on the same tyre as the other WRC2 guys.
"After three years on the MRFs I learnt that they work better in cool and damp conditions, whereas the Michelins have lots of grip in the dry and seem to work right down to a low tread level."
Above-average temperatures in NSW recently could mean that Rally Australia is held in very hot and dry conditions, which will be another challenge.
"When I've used Michelins in the past they did provide more traction and better side grip, but I'll still have a lot to learn about the tyre as the rally progresses."
Harry Bates is looking forward to challenging the WRC2 runners at Rally Australia. Photo: Peter Whitten
Bates has already said publicly that he is hoping to head to Europe in 2020 to start the next phase of his rally career, and competing on an equal footing as some of the sport's leading young juniors, such as Pierre-Louise Loubet and Fabio Andolfi, will give him a good idea of his pace.
The Yaris AP4 will be in the same specification as it has run this year's ARC, but the Michelin is seen as a much superior rally tyre, and should increase the speed of the car over the dry and dusty Coffs Harbour stages.
"I'm desperate for a good result at Rally Australia, and not having the pressure of scoring ARC points will mean I can just focus on my own rally," Bates added.
"I can focus on driving fast and seeing what stage times I can do against the other WRC2 guys."
While his AP4 spec Yaris isn't eligible for the WRC2 victory, the car is of a similar specification as the R5 cars, so his times will be keenly watched by those in the know.
Bates will have a test in Coffs Harbour on the Monday before the rally, alongside his brother, Lewis, in a second Yaris AP4.
Former Toyota factory, Ben Barker, will also join the team for Rally Australia, driving the team's well-used Corolla S2000.
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