KEY POINTS:
After several trips to the podium this year, Australian driver Chris Atkinson is gunning for his debut win in a round of the world rally championship.
But Atkinson, whose nationality stands out in a European-dominated field, isn't prepared to say whether he can break his duck in this week's Rally of New Zealand.
"Obviously I would love to win a rally as soon as possible, but you never know when it's going to happen - it could come quite unexpectedly," he said.
"There are so many varying conditions that it's hard to put your finger on when it's going to happen. All you can do is keep pushing and hope that it comes soon."
Atkinson, 28, is having his best season in the WRC since making his debut in 2004 in New Zealand.
He has had five podium finishes this year, included being runner-up in Mexico and Argentina, both times behind championship leader and four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb.
Atkinson's points tally of 40 heading into the Hamilton-based event, which runs from today to Sunday, has him fourth on the driver standings, 36 points behind Frenchman Loeb.
He is just three points behind third-placed Spaniard Dani Sordo and is 13 ahead of fellow Subaru World Rally Team driver and 2003 world champion Petter Solberg of Norway.
Seventh at the end of the 2007 championship, Atkinson said his climb up the ladder could be attributed to a combination of factors.
"The car has been working better, the team has been working well and we've got more experience," he said.
"You improve through time as you get more experience."
Atkinson and Solberg will be campaigning their team's new Subaru Impreza WRC2008 car on the Waikato's gravel roads.
Atkinson finished third in the new machine on the WRC's last gravel rally, in Finland earlier this month.
"Hopefully we can continue with the same form and be competitive," he said.
"Considering we were fourth here last year, we hope to be able to do better with the new car."
Apart from the fact that New Zealand marked his WRC debut, Atkinson said the event was also special because it was the closest to home.
- NZPA
