Chris Atkinson will this weekend debut a Volkswagen Golf that has been specifically designed by Prodrive for the Chinese Rally Championship.

Officially called a VW Golf SCRC, the car has been constructed in less than six months and while not conforming to FIA regulations, it is running many of the major components, roll cage and safety items as the WRC cars.

The Longyou Rally, which doubles as a round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, will mark the Prodrive Golf’s first competitive outing.

“We have very much built the car to the spirit of the WRC regulations, but with the Chinese Rally regulations in mind,” Prodrive Motorsport managing director John Gaw said.

“There is more freedom in the Chinese regulations and that has helped us to create this car in such a short time frame.

“However, while the first cars will initially compete in China, the car can readily be modified to compete in most ‘open’ class rally series, of which there are many in Europe, Asia and North America.

“The team that has designed and engineered the Golf SCRC worked on both the MINI WRC and later versions of the Subaru Impreza WRC.

“Everything we know about rallying has gone into making this Golf and we believe it is the best rally car we’ve ever made.”

While remaining part of the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team, Atkinson’s future in the World Rally Championship remains unclear after the Korean marque named Dani Sordo as driver of the second i20 in 10 of the 13 rounds of the 2015 WRC.

Atkinson’s history with Prodrive includes his stint at the factory Subaru World Rally Team prior to its closure in 2009.

The China Rally Longyou 2014 covers a total competitive distance of 230.92km over 13 special stages.