Subaru of America Inc. announced today that former Subaru WRC driver Chris Atkinson will enter Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) Round 9 in Atlantic City, NJ with Subaru Rally Team USA this weekend. The 36-year old Australian will join Subaru drivers Sverre Isachsen and Bucky Lasek at the wheel of a newly-built 2017 Subaru WRX STI prepared by Subaru technical partners Vermont SportsCar and Subaru Tecnica International.
Atkinson has a strong history with the Subaru brand, having driven for Subaru Australia in 2004, before joining the Subaru World Rally Team between 2005 and 2008. Atkinson has accumulated 77 starts in the WRC including 41 stage wins and six podiums.
The Australian is looking forward to re-joining Subaru for a new challenge in the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship. The Atlantic City Red Bull GRC round will be Atkinson’s first-ever rallycross event.
“It’s pretty mad. I’m used to a 340hp rally car and not a 600hp Supercar. It definitely goes well compared to what I’m used to. That was my biggest impression on the car. The rest is quite similar to a rally car in terms of handling and dynamics so I got used to it pretty quickly,” explained Atkinson. “I had a big smile on my face every time I got on the gas! That was pretty cool.”
