Atkinson: delay was my fault

Chris Atkinson has blamed himself for the delay that has wrecked his bid for a top 10 finish on his return to the FIA World Rally Championship.

Atkinson, competing on Neste Oil Rally Finland for the first time since 2008, was in eighth overall when he left the road as the result of a misheard pace note less than halfway through the run.

“I’ve got nobody else to blame but myself,” said the Asia Pacific championship leader, who is making his competitive debut in a Qatar World Rally Team Citroen DS3 WRC. “I misheard a note and turned right on a crest instead of left thinking I was at the next corner. I went through some trees and got stuck, it was completely my fault.”

The Australian, a six-time WRC podium finisher, added: “It was so stupid. I had a really good feeling with the car in that stage, the best it has been working all weekend [following set-up changes].”

Atkinson took more than 16 minutes longer than stage winner Mikko Hirvonen to complete the 23.06-kilometre test. His delay means Martin Prokop has moved into the final points-paying position in 10th place.