The Queenslander will compete in the latest spec DS3 World Rally Car with continued backing from Brakes Direct, Rallyschool.com.au and the Australian Motor Sport Foundation.
With Olympic spirit in the air, the livery Atkinson will sport in Finland has an Australian flavour to it.
Atkinson has secured the one-off ride with the Qatar World Rally Team after regular driver Nassar Al-Attiyah has been ruled out due to his commitments representing his country in the Men’s Skeet shooting competition at the London Olympics.
After a brief shakedown, Atkinson is looking forward to competing in a factory-specification Citroen.
“I’m stoked to be back in the World Rally Championship and behind the wheel of a car which has won the last eight world championships in succession,” said Atkinson.
“Last time we competed in Finland we tasted champagne and I hope to replicate this next week and do Australia proud just as our athletes in London will be doing over the next month.
“Finland is the mecca of world rallying and I can’t wait to be back behind the wheel, hitting massive crests at over 200km/h in front the hundreds of thousands of fans who head out to the event.”This will be Atkinson’s second drive in the WRC this year after competing in Rally Mexico in March as team-mate to Ken Block in the Monster World Rally Team.
Atkinson currently leads the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship with the Skoda MRF team.
The Neste Oil Rally Finland will be held next weekend.
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