wrc

[GTRSRULE!!!]

hmm no wrc thread...

'Hollywood' stars for Subaru

From correspondents in Karlstad

February 14, 2005

SUBARU's Petter Solberg of Norway gained quick compensation after failing to finish in Monte Carlo last month with success in the Rally of Sweden overnight.

The 2003 world champion, known as "Hollywood" by his fellow drivers, finished the second leg of the season more than two minutes ahead of Estonia's Markko Martin (Peugeot 307), with Toni Gardemeister (Ford Focus) of Finland more than a minute further back in third.

Australia's Chris Atkinson finished 19th on debut for the Subaru team, striking trouble after running as high as ninth on the final day.

He ran wide on a corner and was stuck in a ditch for 12 minutes.

The pace shown by the young Australian was oustanding and in the process he set time inside the top 10 on eight of the 20 stages.

Solberg said he had been dreaming of his win for year.

"I can't tell you how hard the team have worked after the disappointment of Monte Carlo," added the 30-year-old whose extravagant style both in and out of the car has earned him a popular following in his native Scandinavia.

Gardemeister takes over from champion Sebastien Loeb as the new pacesetter in the drivers' title race after the Frenchman's Citroen Xsara broke down late in the day.

Solberg moves up to joint third on 10 points with Loeb, with Gardemeister on 14, one clear of Martin.

Ford lead the constructors' race on 20 points, with Peugeot and Mitsubishi tied for second three adrift.

Solberg set himself up to take the honours by taking Saturday's final stage when he snatched the overnight lead from Marcus Gronholm of Finland.

But Gronholm, Solberg's main obstacle to victory, was another last day casualty when his Peugeot ran off the road on stage 16.

With his two main rivals out of contention Solberg, whose co-driver is Briton Phil Mills, could barely believe how perfectly the final day had panned out for him.

"It's a super feeling,"

Loeb, meanwhile, had a sign of things to come when his car started playing up late on Saturday.

"I didn't sleep very well," he admitted.

"I was driving on a knife edge – we were taking maximum care to make sure the car made it to the finish."

Loeb's care paid off for the first three stages overnight but, with second place beckoning after Gronholm's accident, his car stalled and refused to restart after the 18th special. The WRC roadshow moves to Mexico on March 11 next for the third instalment of the 2005 season.

Agence France-Presse

Atkinson happy after WRC debut

by Robert Grant

February 14, 2005

AUSTRALIAN rally star Chris Atkinson has hailed his world championship debut in Sweden a success despite an off-road excursion which ruined his hopes of a top-10 finish.

"We achieved what we wanted to and much more," Atkinson said.

The 25-year-old Subaru driver – competing on snow for the first time – stunned his rivals by climbing as high as ninth before he plunged into a ditch.

Atkinson eventually finished 19th behind Subaru teammate Petter Solberg, who clinched the event from Peugeot's Markko Martin.

So impressive was the Australian's first rally that Finland's dual world champion Marcus Gronholm even took time during the final leg to congratulate him on his performance.

The Swedish rally presented the trickiest conditions seen for years, but Atkinson managed to set top-10 times on eight of the 20 stages.

He said he was disappointed he had run off the road, admitting he had gone into a turn too fast, but said he and the team had achieved its goals.

"I learnt a huge amount, I pushed and I made mistakes," Atkinson said.

"The biggest gain came when I made some changes to suit my style and made it more of a front-wheel-drive car.

"We wanted to push ourselves on the last day.

"I didn't care that I was (in line for) a world championship point. It doesn't mean a lot to me at this stage. The experience means a lot more."

Atkinson, who rated his drive a seven out of 10 performance, said the Rally of Sweden proved he had the potential to compete at the top level.

"I'm happy we pushed at that stage and saw the times we could achieve.

"It shows we can probably get some reasonable goals through the year.

"I didn't like finishing 19th but what matters is that we have the potential to win in the future.

"We're not too far away, it's not unachievable."

Atkinson's slip-up came when he ran wide on a corner and got stuck in a snow covered ditch for more than 12 minutes.

"Obviously I was a little fast into one corner on the third leg of the final stage," he said.

"I had to choose the best of two bad options – to go off backwards or roll, I took the backwards option.

"After going down a bank and through some trees we got stuck on a couple of big rocks and it took about 20 spectators basically lifting the car to get us out.

"Despite losing almost 13 minutes we were very lucky to keep going and get to the end."

Several of the other leading competitors also endured problems, including Gronholm who rolled out of the event when in second place. Atkinson's next drives in the Rally of Mexico on March 11-13, followed by the Rally of New Zealand.

AAP

[GTRSRULE!!!]

Apprenticeship over for Atkinson

By Chris Lines

March 7, 2005

CHRIS Atkinson's one-race apprenticeship in the World Rally Championship is over, but he is not feeling pressure ahead of the biggest race of his career in this weekend's third round.

Atkinson debuted at the Rally of Sweden last month, impressing observers with his speed in the unfamiliar ice and snow.

But this weekend's Rally of Mexico raises the expectation level several notches, with Subaru expecting Atkinson to be more at home on gravel and the Queenslander carrying the responsibility of his performance counting towards the team's championship points for the first time.

Atkinson and young French team-mate Stephane Sarrazin were hired as `project' drivers this season, with Subaru's focus on getting Petter Solberg to win the drivers' title.

"Sweden was totally treated as a learning experience by the team, where this is a little different," Atkinson said from Mexico.

"But if you start worrying about points scoring, then you might lose focus."

"Obviously the team would like a points finish, but that really isn't a pressure situation for me and I'll approach it the same way I approached Sweden.

"It won't be easy – your top guys are here and they have all been here before.

"It's a big challenge now – we have a lot more experience than we had before Sweden and a gravel event will help us.

"If we keep our nose clean we can come through with a decent points finish."

The Mexican rally, first held last year, is staged in the mountains surrounding the city of Leon, with the surface typically light gravel and stones on a firm sand base.

Atkinson believes the surface will suit his driving style, able to call upon his Australian experience.

"Australia has a huge variety of surfaces – I definitely think there will be somewhere in Australia similar to here," Atkinson said.

"Although it can help a bit, everyone has a huge amount of experience – more experience than me – so we are still coming from behind."

As the new boy in Sweden and the first Australian to get a permanent drive in WRC, Atkinson was a specimen of curiosity.

After just one event, however, he already feels more at ease.

He spoke to the media today from a bowling alley, where he had just enjoyed knocking off Solberg.

"We know where we sit a little bit better than we did before Sweden, bowling with Stephane and Petter and having a good time," Atkinson said. "I feel comfortable before this event, I definitely fell a lot more relaxed but still focused on what I have to do."

AAP

[GTRSRULE!!!]

Aussie rookie revs into top three

From correspondents in Mexico City

March 12, 2005

NORWAY'S Petter Solberg seized the early lead in the Rally of Mexico overnight as Subaru's new car made a promising world championship debut.

The 2003 champion, chasing a back-to-back victory after winning in Sweden last month, was 2.2 seconds quicker than world champion Sebastien Loeb over the opening 22.55 km stage from Ibarrilla to El Zauco.

Australian Chris Atkinson, competing for the first time as a nominated Subaru driver, was running a strong third overall, 5.5 seconds adrift of Solberg and comfortably quicker than more experienced rivals.

Belgian Francois Duval, Loeb's Citroen team mate, was in fourth, ahead of Peugeot's two times world champion Marcus Gronholm. The Finn was slowed by a brake problem on the loose gravel stage.

Ford's Toni Gardemeister, the championship leader after two rounds, was suffering from 'flu and languishing in 13th place after starting first as the morning "road sweeper".

Gardemeister leads the standings with 14 points, one clear of Peugeot's Estonian Markko Martin and three ahead of Loeb and Solberg. Ford are three points clear of Peugeot in the manufacturers' standings.

Leading first stage times: 1. Petter Solberg (Nor) Subaru 13 minutes 25.4 seconds

2. Sebastien Loeb (Fra) Citroen 2.2 seconds behind

3. Chris Atkinson (Aus) Subaru 5.5

4. Francois Duval (Bel) Citroen 6.2

5. Marcus Gronholm (Fin) Peugeot 7.1

6. Jani Paasonen (Fin) Skoda 7.9

7. Roman Kresta (Cze) Ford 8.8

8. Markko Martin (Est) Peugeot 11.8

9. Harri Rovanpera (Fin) Mitsubishi 13.1

10.Antony Warmbold (Ger) Ford 13.8

Reuters

[relicr31act]

Go you good thing!!! How good is this kid? We might have a World Rally champion before we have a F1 World champion!!

[GTRSRULE!!!]

pretty good. yeah chances r wrc world champion will come BEFORE a f1 world champion

[GTRSRULE!!!]

C. Atkinson - G. MacNeall

driver & co. driver

[relicr31act]

On the first stage he said he was taking it "easy" had a half spin and was only 5.5 seconds slower than Solberg!!!

[GTRSRULE!!!]

well if ne car is capable of handing him a world championship it's Subaru or Mitsubishi. note citreon & peugot are already pulling out of wrc. *cough cough* wimps. ford is likely to bail as well

[relicr31act]

Looks like he is out!! Don't know what from yet I hope mechanical and not a crash.

[relicr31act]

No sorry false alarm he is running fifth outright 47 seconds behind Solberg and 12 seconds behind Markko Martin!!! The boy from Bega is tearing it up!!

[GTRSRULE!!!]

Solberg backs Aussie roookie

By Robert Grant

March 14, 2005

A COLLISION with a rock at a 200km/h corner may have sidelined Australian Chris Atkinson from the Rally of Mexico but he's been boosted by his Subaru teammate who won the event.

Norwegian Petter Solberg, the 2003 world rally champion who now leads the series after taking his second straight win last weekend in Leon, had a horror start to his rookie season and had some words of wisdom for Atkinson.

"I think Petter in his first year with Subaru rolled five out of five events, so we're a bit ahead of that - we haven't done that yet," Atkinson said.

The altercation with the rock and subsequent failing oil pressure forced the Queenslander out of the Mexican round - his second world championship event - but the times he set in the first day continue to surprise his rivals as well as his own team.

"We're a long way in front of where a lot of people have been in a similar situation pace-wise," Atkinson said.

"He (Solberg) said that no-one has done this sort of pace since he first came in so that was a good confidence boost for me.

"Obviously he's achieved quite a lot and he was setting fastest stage times in his career early on as well so we're not too far away from that," he said.

"He said these things are going to happen at this speed ... but we're comfortable 99 per cent of the time, it's just a matter of ironing out the little problems.

"The team is quite surprised at the times we're doing and the fact that we're not throwing it off the road.

"We know where we're losing time, we're not taking risks - we got caught out by one rough corner which we actually asked a lot of questions about because we knew it was a dangerous spot.

"Unfortunately we got slightly the wrong line and at 200kmh that's what happens."

Atkinson's performance during the opening two days was impressive - he was running in fifth position at half distance.

During the opening stage of the event he set the third fastest stage time, a career best.

His problem came yesterday while he was closing in on fourth spot - the run-in with the rock on the ninth stage damaged the power steering and he later lost his right front wheel in a pothole.

But, despite repairs, low oil pressure forced his retirement. Atkinson will line up in his third WRC event in the Rally of New Zealand from April 8-10.

AAP

Solberg 'honours' his inspiration

From correspondents in Leon, Mexico

March 14, 2005

NORWAY's Petter Solberg stormed to the top of the world championship overnight and then dedicated his Mexico Rally victory to the man who helped inspire him in the sport.

Subaru driver Solberg picked up his second win of the season ahead of Peugeot drivers Marcus Gronholm of Finland and Markko Martin of Estonia with world champion Sebastien Loeb of France, in a Citroen Xsara, taking fourth spot.

Solberg said the victory was the perfect way to honour the memory of Ryuichiro Kuze. The founding president of Subaru Tecnica International and the man responsible for leading the company into rallying, died in Japan on Wednesday.

"I dedicate this win to Ryuichiro Kuze," said Solberg.

"It is thanks to him that Subaru's adventure in rallying started. Without him, I would not be here today celebrating this win."

Solberg finished with a 34.5sec advantage over Gronholm with Martin 1:38.3 behind and Loeb 3:51.1 off the pace.

The Norwegian also took the lead in the overall standings while Peugeot is top of the constructors' standings.

It was Solberg's 12th career win and follows his win in the Rally of Sweden last month and the result was never really in doubt from the time he snatched the lead on Friday.

He was helped in his victory push when Loeb was hit with a time penalty after sustaining suspension problems on the opening day. That pushed the French driver down to 18th place before he launched a remarkable recovery to gain a points finish.

Loeb, who won the season opener in Monte Carlo, was sixth on Saturday but took three of the overnight closing stages to finish fourth overall overhauling Ford's Toni Gardemeister and Harri Rovanpera in a Mitsubishi.

"It was a very good race. I think I was a bit unlucky," said Loeb. "The suspension we've had for two years broke. We tried to go as fast as possible, some of my rivals fell by the wayside and that helped. I pushed hard and I am pleased with the performance."

Agence France-Presse

Between a rock and last place

By Robert Grant

March 15, 2005

SMASHING into a rock at 200km/h may have sidelined Australian Chris Atkinson from the Rally of Mexico but he's been boosted by his Subaru teammate who won the event.

Norwegian Petter Solberg, the 2003 world rally champion who now leads the series after taking his second straight win at the weekend in Leon, had a horror start to his rookie season and had some words of wisdom for Atkinson.

"I think Petter in his first year with Subaru rolled five out of five events, so we're ahead of that," Atkinson said.

The altercation with the rock and subsequent failing oil pressure forced the Queenslander out of the Mexican round - his second world championship event - but the times he set in the first day continue to surprise his rivals as well as his own team.

"We're a long way in front of where a lot of people have been in a similar situation pace-wise," Atkinson said.

"He [solberg] said that no one has done this sort of pace since he first came in so that was a good confidence boost for me.

"Obviously he's achieved quite a lot and he was setting fastest stage times in his career early on as well so we're not too far away from that," he said.

"He said these things are going to happen at this speed ... but we're comfortable 99 per cent of the time, it's just a matter of ironing out the little problems.

"The team is quite surprised at the times we're doing and the fact that we're not throwing it off the road.

"We know where we're losing time, we're not taking risks - we got caught out by one rough corner which we actually asked a lot of questions about because we knew it was a dangerous spot.

"Unfortunately we got slightly the wrong line and at 200km/h that's what happens."

Atkinson's performance during the opening two days was impressive - he was running in fifth position at half distance. He will line up in his third WRC event in the Rally of New Zealand from April 8-10.

The Daily Telegraph

[relicr31act]

I won't be surprised if he ends up on the podium in Nz!

[GTRSRULE!!!]

Rally needs new home

By Tim Clarke

March 21, 2005

RALLY Australia is looking for a new home after the West Australian Government announced it is ending Perth's 18-year association with the event.

This year's World Rally Championship event will go ahead in WA as scheduled in November, and the state will also host the event in 2006 if an alternative venue cannot be found within a year.

WA Tourism Minister Mark McGowan said the state was not willing to spend millions in taxpayers money to host the event because it did not provide a big enough return on its investment.

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) had promised to help find a new home for the event in Australia, Mr McGowan said.

"In WA its time has come," he said.

"It is not unusual for events to be moved on when they get a bit tired in the same venue.

"It may do well in another state, we are not saying it is a lemon – we are just saying it's time has come in WA.

"We haven't taken this decision lightly, and we have taken it on very sound and very reasonable economic reasons – we need to get the best outcomes for taxpayers dollars in WA that we possibly can.

"At present Rally Australia is not providing that outcome."

The WA Government said it had spent $5.9 million of its tourism budget to stage the event last year, with a return of $9.3 million.

Smaller events, such as the Australian University Games, generated a greater ratio of return on the money, said Mr McGowan.

Figures released today showed 33,594 tickets had been sold for the rally in 2004, compared with upwards of 42,000 for a West Coast Eagles home game at Subiaco Oval and 42,000 for the Perth cricket Test at the WACA Ground.

Mr Large, a FIA vice-president and member of FIA World Motor Sport Council, said he would have his work cut out to find an alternative Australian venue, particularly with probable interest from countries such as Jordan, Malaysia, China and Portugal.

"My primary objective will be to keep the event here, and I have been assured by Mr McGowan he wants to achieve that," Mr Large said.

"(But) It will not be an easy battle."

Rally Australia has been held in Perth since 1987, predominantly in the state's south-west and and the Perth Hills. In 2003, the `City' stage of the event moved from Langley Park to Gloucester Park in an attempt to generate more interest.

AAP

[GTRSRULE!!!]

New kid ready to rally

By Ray Kershler

March 23, 2005

THE tendency is to underestimate Chris Atkinson. A fresh-faced Aussie kid making a name for himself in the World Rally Championship might be considered lucky.

But at 25 he's no longer a kid and a lot of work was done before he made his own luck.

The world of motor sport sat up and took notice when Subaru plucked Atkinson from the Australian rally championship and gave him a drive on the world stage beside its championship leader, Petter Solberg.

But there was no luck involved in Atkinson's eye-catching performance at the Suzuki rally last year. Neither, when he comfortably beat experienced rally drivers in the WRC round in Perth.

And there was a lot of hard work knocking on closed doors in Europe in between rallies.

Now just three rounds into this year's championship the sport is talking about a star on the horizon.

"I was never content just to win rallies in Australia but I suppose the elevation came quite a bit sooner than I expected," Atkinson said in Sydney yesterday.

And neither is he content to cruise around the world on a learning curve.

"I want to make a name for myself. It's not a game any more," Atkinson said.

"The team wants me to be fast and to do well and we have to push ourselves to the limit.

"As much as people say it's a learning curve, if you run around off the pace all you do is learn to drive off the pace."

Rallies in Sweden and Mexico have proceeded next month's rally of New Zealand. So have two crashes.

"If I wasn't making mistakes I wouldn't find the limit," he said.

"The idea is to go to the limit and stay there.

"A lot of drivers never find the limit. They never find the full capabilities of the car.

"As long as I learn from my mistakes, I'll be all right. That's the key."

Atkinson was understanding when his brother Ben, who had been his navigator in Australia, declined to join the world tour.

He has found another Aussie, Glenn Macneall to call the numbers. One is a hairpin turn. Ten is flat out at 200kmh over a blind crest.

"There's a fair amount of trust involved," Atkinson said. "But when we crash we crash together." THE Rally Australia round of the World Rally Championship will be dropped after 2005 with the West Australian Government saying the event is not financially viable. The ACT is favoured to pick up the rally from 2006.

The Daily Telegraph

[GTRSRULE!!!]

Atkinnson ready for 'home' leg

By Guy Hand

April 4, 2005

AUSTRALIAN Chris Atkinson considers the Rally New Zealand starting on Thursday his home World Rally Championship (WRC) event.

The Queenslander's third race in a promising debut WRC season is shaping as a homecoming of sorts for the Subaru driver.

A posse of family and friends are travelling from Queensland to support him – Atkinson pointing to the fact that Auckland is a lot closer to home for them than Perth's Rally Australia.

"It's obviously one of two key events in the world championship for myself personally," Atkinson said.

"New Zealand is actually closer to home than Perth for me, so it's pretty exciting.

"There's a lot more media interest and people coming over to support me.

"But everyone's got to remember it's only early days. It's only my third race in a world rally car."

Despite that, Atkinson – virtually unknown outside Australian rally circles prior to his surprise call-up to the WRC this year – is winning the respect of peers and pundits alike.

Atkinson, 25, traded times with the best in the game in the previous round in Mexico, climbing as high as fifth before hitting a rock at 200km/h, with the damage caused eventually putting him out of the race.

He also impressed in his first drive, at the Rally of Sweden in unfamiliar icy conditions.

The Queenslander's Subaru bosses have given him a simple brief for this year – learn as much as possible try to finish within half a second of team-mate and WRC leader Petter Solberg.

Atkinson said the instructions were likely to be similar for this weekend's rally around the North Island of New Zealand, which finishes in Auckland on Sunday.

"As far as I understand it will be similar (instructions) to Mexico," Atkinson said.

"It's important for me to get a good overall finish.

"But the key is to adapt to the car this year."

Atkinson competed in the 2004 Rally New Zealand aboard a Group N Subaru – one of the drives that impressed the works team to offer him a spot as a project driver in 2005. "It's quite fast and experience really counts there – we will go into it with the same attitude of aiming to learn and achieve specific goals," Atkinson said.

AAP

[relicr31act]

A podium is not out of the question in my view. go the kid from bega