AUSTRALIAN rally driver Chris Atkinson has been confirmed as Banbury's Subaru World Rally Team's second driver for the 2007 World Rally Championship season.

Atkinson and co-driver Glenn Macneall will contest every round of the series together with the team's lead crew, Petter Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills.

Atkinson, 26, became the first Australian to become a full-time WRC driver when he joined the works Subaru team in 2005. After an impressive debut on Rally Sweden, Atkinson has continued to make progress, building experience of the Impreza WRC, the 16 rallies that make up the championship and collecting stage wins and a podium finish along the way.

Atkinson said: "It's great news. I'm happy to continue the relationship. I feel like I've really started to fit in and make difference to the team, so it's good to know that Subaru is putting so much faith in my ability.

"The team is heading in a good direction now and I feel I can help them progress. I'm looking forward to next season, the strategies are in place to improve the overall package and I hope we can look forward to getting some better results."

Subaru World Rally Team managing director, Richard Taylor, said: "We're very pleased to have Chris with us again next year. Our team has a reputation for recognising potential and, as Chris's performances in Australia and the most recent events have shown, he has become an increasingly confident and able driver. With the benefit of more event experience and the full backing of our team I believe he has a very bright future ahead of him.

"Next season we intend to concentrate our efforts on running a two car team on each round of the championship. This means no third car and unfortunately no opportunity for Stephane Sarrazin to drive for us. We are sorry to lose Stephane and I am very grateful for the contribution he made, both on rallies, and as part of our test team during the past two seasons."