Dressed to Impreza

The Australian ace had his first test in Subaru's new Impreza WRC2008 recently in Italy.

It is due to make its rally debut this year and will hold the key to Atkinson's world title hopes.

Despite sitting third in the championship, seven points behind leader Mikko Hirvonen, Atkinson is worried about his chances.

The team's current Impreza WRC2007 is outdated and off the pace of the Ford Focus and Citroen C4, meaning the new car needs a big step forward in performance.

Speaking after finishing a distant third in Rally Jordan, Atkinson admitted his concerns.

“OK, we're third and that's great, but I'm not sure how this has happened,” he says. “We're five minutes behind the winner. We still have work to do.”

Atkinson was joined by teammate Petter Solberg in Italy to take over from test driver Markko Martin in the new car, Subaru's first WRC hatchback.

The pair had two days running on the gravel roads of Sardinia, but details of the test are limited.

“It was always in the plan that they (Solberg and Atkinson) would drive the car for the first time this week,” team manager Richard Taylor says. “The test was part of the development process. I have no comment to make on the technical aspect of the test, but we are pleased with this stage of the program.”

Subaru has not won a WRC round since 2005. Team boss David Richards said earlier this year that the new car would be a clean sheet design, to get the team back into winning contention.

The team still hasn't revealed a date for the car's debut, saying only that it will be mid-season.

Atkinson will be hoping it is sooner rather than later.