Chris Atkinson is closing in on a full-time drive in the Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) next season.
The former WRC factory driver made the switch to rallycross this year joining front-running operation Subaru Rally Team USA in the final four events of the American series.
Although yet to confirm plans for next year, Speedcafe.com understands the 36-year-old Australian is in the frame to secure a seat at the Subaru squad.
Atkinson headed to America in August having never competed in rallycross but has quickly adapted to the format finishing inside the top eight in the final three races.
In a career that has endured false starts since his final season at the Subaru World Rally Team in 2008, Atkinson believes rallycross is where his future lies.
“I’m obviously quite keen to go back and have a go at the championship,” Atkinson told Speedcafe.com.
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“We are looking at our options at the moment and hopefully something comes off.
“I see it as a big future for my career and I still feel young and fit and energised to race.
“It has given me a new lease of life.
“In rally it was difficult to get the right opportunities to show what you can do.
“You can’t turn up for one WRC event and prove something, you can but you will crash.
“The level the guys are driving to is pretty much circuit racing at every corner.”
Growing globally through the GRC and the FIA World Rallycross Championship, rallycross rookie Atkinson admits he still has plenty to learn but is throughly enjoying the challenge.
“I think on the positive side it suits my driving style,” he said.
“It wasn’t too hard to adjust to. The cars are obviously quick.
“Like anything you adapt to it and you learn to deal with the power and it becomes a game of getting the best out of the car on the lap.
“On the racing side the starts are super important and I’ve had some really good starts and some bad ones.
“That is a matter of learning the grip and if you don’t get a perfect start you are really in trouble.
“I’m still working on some of the finer details of holding people up and blocking and putting the car in the right place. This will come with time.
“I’m not afraid to mix it up and get involved.”
The winner of 41 WRC special stages maintains his rallying career is far from over and is keen to contest selected events including Rally Australia in the future.
The influx of new WRC regulations next year, which will see faster and more aerodynamic cars, has piqued his interest.
“I’ve always liked rally because of the competition and that challenge and I still have that there in rallycross,” he added.
“To me there is still nothing that beats a WRC car on a stage flat out.
“It is exciting for the WRC to go to those cars and I think they would actually suit my driving style a bit better than the current cars.
“Hopefully one day I will get a chance to drive one in an event. It would be nice to come back and do Rally Australia and have a go at it again.”
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