Atkinson shows speed in Finland.

Queensland rally driver Chris Atkinson began his campaign in the Neste Rally Finland aboard the Tommi Makinen prepared Subaru WRX Sti in stylish fashion yesterday.

Atkinson was seeded ninth in Group N category and the 53rd car on the road with older brother, Ben as his co-driver for one of the world's most famous and longest running rallies.

The 24-year-old Gold Coaster made an impressive start setting the third fastest Group N time in the opening stage of the event aboard his Subaru WRX Sti supported by Telstra Rally Australia, DMS Shocks, BF Goodrich, Network Ten and Qantas.

Atkinson, the only driver to win two rounds in this year's Globalstar Australian Rally Championship, continued this pace into the next few stages setting the second fastest Group N time on stage three.

His impressive stage times had him placed fourth in Group N and 23rd outright at the end of the opening three stages.

"Realistically we aimed to try to be inside the top five for Group N and so far we are right on track," said Atkinson. "It didn't take me long to settle in with the car and the team, it's not like I could be out of touch with the car, I think I've spent more time in a Subaru lately than I've slept."

Disaster struck for Atkinson on the fourth stage of the day when he endured two flat tyres during the stage costing him over 10 minutes dropping him well down the order.

Further problems began for Atkinson on the following stage when an exhaust header collapsed hampering his turbo boost power.

"I haven't had a flat tyre for quite a while so to have two in one stage was very frustrating, especially when we were going so well," said Atkinson.

"The team did a great job to at least get me back out there and will have the problem fixed, from here it is all about concentrating on setting some good stage times and getting to the end of an extremely tough event."

Despite a lack of power, Atkinson still managed to set times inside the top six of Group N on every occasion.

Marcus Gronholm leads the event outright followed by Sebastian Lindholm and Markko Martin. In Group N Italian Gianluigi Galli leads the way ahead of local driver Kaj Kuistila and Martin Stenshorne.

The Neste Rally Finland continues later today with the second of three grueling legs.