The Subaru
World Rally Team has announced that
Chris Atkinson will remain with the squad next season, once again partnering number one driver Petter Solberg, who resigned for the outfit back in June.
Atkinson has also been given a further boost with confirmation that he will contest every round in the 2007
FIA World Rally Championship in the number two car.
This season the Aussie has shared the second car with Stephane Sarrazin - the Frenchman nominated to score manufacturers' points on the asphalt events. Although Chris still contested the rounds in Monte Carlo, Spain, France and Germany, he did so in the 'third' car.
"It is great news," said Atkinson. "I'm happy to continue the relationship. I feel like I've really started to fit in and make difference to the team, so it's good to know that Subaru is putting so much faith in my ability."
Atkinson joined the SWRT in 2005 and in doing so became the first Australian to become a full-time WRC driver. Since then he has done reasonably well, picking up several stage wins and a podium finish in Japan last year. Thus far this season, despite the fact the Banbury-based squad have struggled, he has scored 14 points and notched up seven top ten finishes.
"I'm looking forward to next season, the strategies are in place to improve the overall package and I hope we can look forward to getting some better results in 2007. The team is heading in a good direction now and I feel I can help them progress," he concluded.
A spokesperson for the team meanwhile confirmed to
Crash.net that it is a one-year deal, with options beyond 2007.
