It's been a tough trot for Chris ‘Atko' Atkinson. The Australian WRC driver was entering the peak of his career with the famed Subaru World Rally Team when Fuji Heavy Industries pulled the plug at the end of 2008, leaving him without a drive.
Since then, he has put together a series of impressive results, winning the Asia Pacific Rally Championship in 2012 while grabbing the occasional WRC outing.
While aiding his understanding of various cars and teams – he has driven the Citroen DS3 WRC, Ford Fiesta RS WRC and MINI JCW WRC, as well as his Hyundai i20 WRC -- there's no doubting it's been a hard road.
“The experience has been good, but the ultimate is to grow with the same car from event to event,” he explained to motoring.com.au at the Australian round of the WRC today.
His experience was instrumental in the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team hiring the 34-year-old to assist in developing its challenger through 2013. As a result of his input, he was awarded a part-time race seat in 2014.
“We knew we had two events, minimum, and it would include Rally Australia,” he said. The first, in Mexico way back in March, netted seventh place and six world championship points for Atko and co-driver Stephane Prevot.
From Mexico, Atkinson has had little time in the i20 WRC: “We were able to do a test after Germany, on gravel roads in France,” he said, “but it rained heavily so the feedback wasn't really representative.”
Despite being a ‘local', he hasn't driven on Coffs Harbour roads since 2001. This, combined with limited seat time, led to a cautious approach on Thursday morning's shakedown.
“I used it as my test session. The first run through was basically just to get a good look at the stage, and from that point we were able to build speed and make some positive changes to the car.”
Atkinson is cagey about the changes, but the sight of a differential being replaced indicates alterations to the way the car manages drive, in addition to damper tuning.
He finished today's shakedown in 11th position, but felt that with increasing familiarity, he can mix it comfortably inside the top 10 when the event starts tomorrow.
“If I can be on the pace of [Kiwi team-mate] Paddon and Ostberg, I'd be… well, not happy, but content. But of course I want to win… that's what we are all here for.”
As to his future, Atko's thought process was simple: “I just need to focus on doing well here. I don't think I'll be back in the car again at a race this year, but who knows what could happen with a good result?”