AP: Chris Atkinson round five summary

Atkinson's Chinese Run Ends Early

Gold Coast rally driver Chris Atkinson took to the start line in the fifth round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) in China last weekend, for the first time in his career it was without his brother Ben as co-driver.

Atkinson, the defending APRC Super 1600 Champion, was joined by Glenn Macneal in the co-drivers seat for the event.

After battling a severe stomach virus in the lead up the event Atkinson took to the start line feeling very off colour but determined to make the event a successful one with Macneal as his co-driver for the first time.

Unfortunately for Atkinson his opening day was over almost as soon as it began when he rolled out of the event seven kilometres into the first stage.

"We went into a turn that had a one metre bank on either side flat out in fourth gear and clipped the bank which tipped us end for end three or four times," said Atkinson.

"I was pushing pretty hard, probably too hard as my mind wasn't 100% but I was still pushing my normal 110%. If you don't push too hard every now and again though you can't learn from you mistakes, I know where I went wrong and it wont happen again."

Following some extensive repairs by the crew on the Suzuki Ignis Atkinson returned to the event yesterday.

Unfortunately his event only lasted a little bit longer than it did in the opening leg with an overheating problem sidelining him following the completion of the opening stage.

"It is a disappointing way to finish the year with the team but that's a part of rallying I suppose, you win some and then you lose some, unfortunately for us it has been the loser part this weekend."

Atkinson returns home tomorrow morning before preparing for next month's World Rally Championship round at Telstra Rally Australia on November 12-14.

-ar-