Chris Atkinson
A fearless Australian driver who became a fan favorite in the World Rally Championship, delivering Subaru its last podium finishes.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Australian rally driver·Birthday: November 30·Generation X
Biography
Chris Atkinson burst onto the world rally scene with a raw, sideways style that embodied the sport's most thrilling attributes. The Queenslander earned his shot with the factory Subaru team in 2004, stepping into the iconic blue and gold car at a time when the sport's giants still roamed the stages. Atkinson was fast, spectacular, and occasionally brittle, but his commitment was never in question. His career highlight came in 2008, a season where he consistently challenged for wins, securing second-place finishes in Mexico and Argentina and proving he could battle at the very front. These podiums were among the last for the storied Subaru factory team before its withdrawal, cementing Atkinson's place as a key figure in its final chapter. While a world title remained elusive, his aggressive driving and affable personality made him a standout in the championship, a driver who could electrify a stage and connect with fans, leaving a legacy of what might have been with a longer tenure in top machinery.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Chris was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Achieved multiple World Rally Championship podiums, including second-place finishes at the 2008 Rally Mexico and Rally Argentina.
- Was the lead driver for the Subaru World Rally Team during its final factory seasons from 2005 to 2008.
- Finished fifth overall in the 2008 World Rally Championship drivers' standings, his best season result.
- Won the Production World Rally Championship (PWRC) title in 2022, demonstrating enduring speed and versatility.
Did You Know?
His nickname in the rally world is "Atko."
Before his WRC career, he won the Australian Rally Championship in 2003.
He competed in the iconic Race of Champions, representing the Asia-Pacific team.
After his factory WRC career, he found success in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and Global Rallycross.
“If you're not sideways on gravel, you're not trying hard enough.”
