Subaru's Chris Atkinson wants to increase his points tally on the Rally of Turkey, the latest event in the WRC.

Subaru's number two driver Chris Atkinson wants to make sure he gets some more points this weekend in Turkey after failing to finish on the Acropolis Rally two weeks ago.

Atkinson went out on days two and three in Greece, but despite not getting to the finish he was happy with the all-new Impreza WRC2008 and even gave the car its very first stage win on the final leg.

Points will be crucial this Sunday though, if he is to defend his third spot in the drivers' championship and try and stay in touch with Citroen's Sebastien Loeb and Ford's Mikko Hirvonen, who are starting to pull away from the rest of the pack - the latter is now nearly 20 points in front.

"Turkey will be difficult again as every stage is so varied. It's also soon after Greece which was a tough rally so it won't be easy," said Atkinson, who has only done the Kemer-based event twice, taking his best result in 2006, when he finished sixth.

"Ok, it's only the second rally for the new car, but we have learned a lot already. I hope can take this into Turkey to take the little steps forward we're after. We need to get some more drivers' points, so I'll be pushing."

Subaru World Rally Team operations director Paul Howarth meanwhile thinks it will be another rally of attrition, with a heavy emphasis on survival and endurance.

"After Greece we had four days back at base before heading off to Turkey, and with a brand new car it doesn't give us much time. We haven't been to Antalya for two years, but I think it'll be just as difficult as Greece," he continued.

"We're hoping that this time we won't get any rain, after the absolutely horrendous conditions last time there. Petter [Solberg] goes very well there, and the stages seem to suit Chris as well. They are very demanding roads, and probably narrower in general than we saw in Greece so it will be just as much about staying on the road and getting to the finish."

STOP PRESS: Crash.net Radio spoke exclusively to SWRT managing director Richard Taylor pre-Turkey. To hear the interview in full: CLICK HERE