by Rob Wilkins


Subaru's number two driver, Chris Atkinson has said that he will be targeting regular podiums and stage wins in 2007, his third season with the Banbury-based outfit.

Atkinson's best result this year was a fourth place finish in Japan and while he showed good pace on other events, including in Australia, ultimately a mistake on day two in Oz while leading, dropped him down the order. Chris is determined though, that things will be different next year and is hopeful Subaru will provide him with a more competitive package to try and get the job done.

"I think I am driving pretty well," he told Crash.net Radio recently. "It has just been hard [this year]. The whole team is working flat out to get things back to where we want to be. It is not easy. Hopefully though, we will see some improvements with the whole package next year and the results that we have been trying to get will come."

Asked about his expectations, he said he definitely wants to try and get podiums, something he has managed in the WRC only once to date, when he was third on the Rally Japan in 2005.

"I think come our third year we can really start to push on a bit more," he continued. "We want podiums. We really wanted them this year, but there have been obvious problems and that has not helped us. The whole team is working hard and if we can be on the podium a fair bit and win some stages, then that will be good.

"I'm always positive though – and I am just looking forward to getting back out there. There is nothing like setting fast times and leading rallies, so that is hopefully what we will be doing a bit more in 2007.

"We are flat-out testing up until the end of December now and then we start again in early January. There is some running with the new car and then obviously testing for Monte Carlo and Sweden. So, no time to go home [to Australia], but it is good to be busy and keep working on the improvements."

As for the new appointments at the SWRT and the fact that Prodrive boss, David Richards, will be more hands-on in '07, Chris reckons it should all help, as the team look to bounce back from a pretty dismal time this year: "Everything is progress and I think the atmosphere at the team will be boosted by Richards' return. It is good news and I think that the decisions that have been made are heading the team back in the right direction."

2007 though will have one notable absence for Atkinson, namely the Rally Australia. While that is obviously a shame, Chris is pleased his home country will rejoin the WRC fold in 2008, when the event moves from Perth to Queensland.

"It is obviously disappointing not to have a home event next year, but in 2008 hopefully we will be in a good position. We have led our rally twice now at home but it would be nice to lead it all the way to the finish. Hopefully we can do that in 2008," he concluded.