David Richards sees Atkinson as the future champion!

David Richards, the director of Prodrive and the Subaru rally team, commented this week on Chris Atkinson’s good results since the beginning of the season. He believes that the Australian can aim to win his first WRC rally this year.

Chris Atkinson has already achieved two podiums in three events since the beginning of the season. The Australian in the Subaru Impreza also recorded his best score in the WRC thanks to his second place last weekend in Mexico.

« Chris [Atkinson] has done a fantastic job and I firmly believe he can win a rally before the end of the year, » Richards told the British press.

Subaru has not won a rally since 2005. This season, with the arrival of the 2008 Impreza, the team hopes to make progress, but it is not expected to arrive until mid-season. However, with the somewhat unexpected good results of Atkinson on the 2007 version, the team has high hopes for 2008.

« It’s an excellent start to the year for me and also for the team, and I hope we can continue on this path, » continued Atkinson, already 28 years old.

« We have made good progress with Sweden. The car is performing better and it has withstood the Mexican heat very well. Now, we are turning to Argentina and hope to achieve the same performance. The sooner I can win, the better it will be. »

David Richards concluded: « We are in a strong position right now and this comes at the best time as we are about to launch the new 2008 version of the Impreza. »