Chris Atkinson meanwhile wants to make sure he gets some more points this weekend after failing to finish on the Acropolis. Atkinson went out on days two and three in Greece, but despite not getting to the finish he was happy with the all-new Impreza WRC2008 and even gave the car its very first stage win on the final leg.
Points will be crucial this Sunday though, if he is to defend his third spot in the drivers' championship and try and stay in touch with
Sebastien Loeb and
Mikko Hirvonen, who are starting to pull away from the rest of the pack.
"Turkey will be difficult again as every stage is so varied. It’s also soon after Greece which was a tough rally so it won’t be easy," said Atkinson, who has only done the Kemer-based event twice, taking his best result in 2006, when he finished sixth.
"Ok, it’s only the second rally for the new car, but we have learned a lot already. I hope can take this into Turkey to take the little steps forward we’re after. We need to get some more drivers’ points, so I’ll be pushing."
STOP PRESS: Crash.net Radio spoke exclusively to SWRT managing director Richard Taylor pre-Turkey. To hear the interview in full: CLICK HERE
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally team:
[
Gigi Galli, car #7 and
Henning Solberg, car #8 and
Matthew Wilson, car #16]
Stobart trio up for Greek challenge.
Gigi Galli is looking for a change in fortune this weekend in Turkey after a disastrous outing on the Acropolis Rally two weeks ago. Galli failed to finish in Greece - retiring on all three days, and the Italian will definitely be hoping for a better run in Kemer.
Gigi has competed in Turkey twice to date and while he missed the event in 2006, he was tenth in 2004 and eighth in 2005 - having led on day one, something that was especially memorable as it was the first time he had ever topped the leader-board on a WRC event.
