Chris Atkinson says he has to drive next year but doesn’t want to pay for a seat

Posted by Scott Coursey 19 December, 2008

Chris Atkinson says he has to drive next year but doesnt want to pay for a seat

Image: ©willyweyens-rallyworld

Chris Atkinson has admitted he was shocked by Subaru's decision to pull out of the 2009 WRC but wants to drive something next year though states he does not want to pay for a seat, according to news.com.au.

Atkinson commented to news.com.au about his current predicament:

At the moment I still have a contract with Subaru for 2009. But obviously if they are not competing then neither am I. That's about as much as I know at the moment. I've been loyal to Subaru and that's the disappointing thing.

There are only five or six drivers in the world at our level so hopefully I will be wanted somewhere.

He admitted he was surprised when told of Subaru's decision, to quit the WRC, by Prodrive.

I'm a little bit surprised. I definitely didn't expect it, especially with everyone having contracts for next year.

Maybe at the end of next year . . .

Obviously I still want to race and compete, but with the championship at the moment it looks difficult to get a drive. You've always got to keep your eye out for what's available, but there is not too much to chase in the WRC."

Atkinson does not want to pay for a drive next year:

I think of the options that are available they require sponsorship to be brought. It wouldn't be ideal. That's not what I want to do.

I have to drive something. You can't just stop.

He says that he might consider a move to the IRC:

There are a lot of good things about that championship (the IRC) and we need manufacturers in there, so that's an interesting situation. I don't know if Subaru is planning anything on that front, or the Super 2000 category, but they will still be involved in Group N.

I'll be happy if the phone rings, but we have to see what happens. I don't want to be too confident. I haven't looked at too many options. We only found out on Monday."