With Lasek and Isachsen Out, Will Atkinson be the Next GRC Star for Subaru?

Lasek and Isachsen are out, Higgins and Atkinson are in for Red Bull GRC Seattle. Is Subaru grooming Atkinson to be the next GRC star?

In a surprising development, Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen will not be behind the wheel of the Subaru WRX STI GRC cars. It will be David Higgins and new Australian WRC driver, Chris Atkinson driving for Subaru Rally Team USA at the next Red Bull GRC round in Seattle.

Subaru hasn’t revealed why Lasek and Isachsen won’t be driving next weekend, but neither driver has had much success lately. They may be wanting to see how their 7-time Rally America National Champion David Higgins will fair in the Subaru WRX STI Dirtfish Rally School GRC car. What about Atkinson?

Will Atkinson be the next GRC star for Subaru?

Atkinson, who is a former Subaru World Rally Team driver, will be driving the all-new 2017 Subaru WRX STI GRC supercar that Subaru Tecnica International has been developing. Atkinson did well in his first-ever GRC start in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Atkinson qualified 6th fastest overall and finishing in 3rd position in his Semi-Final race to move on to the hotly contested Final. A tire puncture on the opening lap took him out of the Final.

“It was great fun in Atlantic City and I felt at home in the car pretty quickly, we had a good result beside the tire puncture so I’m really looking forward to taking it another step in Seattle. I think the Seattle track should suit us well,” explained Atkinson.

Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen are out, David Higgins and Chris Atkinson will be behind the wheel of the 2016 Subaru WRX STI Dirtfish Rally School GRC car and the 2017 Subaru WRX STI GRC supercar respectively at Red Bull GRC Seattle. Stay tuned.

Source: Subaru Motorsports

Photo: Subaru