Chris Atkinson

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Chris Atkinson
Atkinson at the Telstra Rally Australia 2006
World Rally Championship record
Nationality	Australian
Active years	2001 –
Teams	Subaru World Rally Team
World rallies	58
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podium finishes	5
Stage wins	40
Points	99
First world rally	2004 Rally New Zealand

Chris Atkinson, born November 30, 1979 in the far South Coast town of Bega, New South Wales, Australia, is a professional rally driver in the World Rally Championship. He has driven for the Subaru World Rally Team since the 2005 season. His best finish in the series is second, which he achieved at the 2008 Rally Mexico and Rally Argentina. Other podium placings include third at the 2005 Rally Japan and equalled at the 2008 Monte Carlo Rally. Chris is currently third in the 2008 WRC Driver's Championship behind Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen after round four.

1 Early career
2 WRC career
3 Career highlights
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Early career

At the wheel of a privately-entered Group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, Atkinson impressed in his first full season of competition in the Australian Rally Championship. He finished inside the top ten in Group N and well inside the overall top 20 on every round he contested. During the year, Atkinson set second-fastest stage times on two occasions which, considering his age and experience, gave an indication of his tremendous potential. In one of the most competitive Australian Rally Championship ever, the Atkinson boys finished ninth outright and were crowned Privateer Champions. This performance brought Atkinson to the attention of Suzuki, who offered him the opportunity to drive one of its Super 1600 Ignis models with the Suzuki Sport team in the 2003 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.

Atkinson rewarded the team with a class win in the opening round of the championship in Canberra. Next came a second place in New Zealand, a second in Japan and two remarkable wins in Thailand and India. Atkinson was duly crowned Asia-Pacific Super 1600 Champion, but perhaps of more significance was his position of fifth overall, across all classes, in the Asia-Pacific Championship ahead of many more powerful, four-wheel-drive, turbo-charged cars.

[edit] WRC career

Atkinson at the 2006 Rally Japan.

Atkinson's first world rally was the 2004 Rally New Zealand in a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. For 2005, he was signed by Subaru World Rally Team to drive the Subaru Impreza WRC alongside 2003 world champion Petter Solberg. He finished 12th overall in the drivers' world championship with 13 points. His best results were third in Japan and fourth in Australia.

Atkinson at the 2006 Cyprus Rally.

After a 2006 season with tenth overall in the championship, 20 points and a fourth place as his best finish, Subaru told Atkinson that his job was on the line, and if he couldn't balance his speed with safety and achieve quality results he would be replaced by another driver.

At the start of the 2007 season Atkinson silenced his critics with a fourth place in the 2007 Rally Monte Carlo. Atkinson even recorded three stage wins. On the final day of the rally, Atkinson was 0.8 seconds behind fourth place man Mikko Hirvonen and had to beat him in the super special stage, a 2.4 km run through Monaco which uses part of the world famous Formula One course. Hirvonen set a time of 1:50.9 meaning that Atkinson had to at least set a time of 1:50.1 to beat him, but Atkinson did better and took the stage win with a time of 1:49.9. Hirvonen was the first person over to Atkinson to congratulate him.

At the 2007 Rally Finland, Atkinson posted the fastest time on the short opening super special stage on a horse-racing course at Killeri, to lead the rally for a short time. Atkinson finished the 2007 season seventh overall in the drivers' world championship.

At the beginning of the 2008 WRC season, Atkinson started off strongly, with a third place in Monte Carlo; and in the 2008 Corona Rally Mexico, Atkinson finished with a second place, 30 seconds ahead of Jari Matti Latvala.