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A shooting star in a blue Subaru

When Chris Atkinson drove a Group N Subaru Impreza WRX to fifth outright at Rally Australia in 2004, few people, if indeed any, thought it would lead to a WRC program.

10th February 2025, 9:00am
by Peter Whitten
Photos by RSM archives, Martin Holmes

Yet just a month later the 25-year-old was being heralded as one of rallying’s future champions after signing a lucrative contract to drive for the Subaru World Rally Team in 2005.

Chris Atkinson shot to stardom with a Group N win at Rally Australia in 2004.

This wasn’t just a token gesture by Subaru either, it was a 15-round program contesting every round of the WRC except Monte Carlo, and alongside the 2003 World Rally Champion, Petter Solberg.

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Author

Peter Whitten

Peter has been the editor of RallySport Magazine since its inception in 1989, in both printed and online form. He is a long-time competitor, event organiser and official, as well as working in the media. In 2020 he received a Motorsport Australia 'Media Service Award'.