Most Australians are more familiar with sun than snow, but that's all changing for new Subaru recruit Chris Atkinson. Having moved to the UK from Australia's sunny Gold Coast at the end of last year, Chris will make his Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT) debut on February's Rally Sweden, so, earlier this month,

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Subaru sent him to Tommi Makinen's Rally School in Finland for some special driving lessons. Alongside one of the finest rally-driving teachers, SWRT test driver Pasi Hagstrom, Chris buckled up to learn all about the white stuff...

In fact, this snow master class wasn't the first time that the pair had met, as the duo had worked together in September last year, when Chris was participating in Rally Finland. Pasi recalled that Chris had shown a good, natural talent and a hunger to learn more and he was happy to be working with the young Australian again. This time, Chris arrived at the rally school on Saturday 8 January and spent two days and 200km at the wheel of a Group N Subaru Impreza under Pasi's supervision.

On a cold winter day in Jyvaskyla, Pasi began by explaining the difference between driving on snow and driving on gravel, before getting into the driving seat and demonstrating some of the secret techniques of driving quickly on hard-packed snow. Next, the pair swapped seats and Chris tried out the moves for himself. Heavy overnight snow meant the pair began the next morning with 8cm on the road and Chris was able to experience driving in softer conditions.

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Pasi said he was very impressed with how quickly Chris picked up new techniques and understood the differing grip levels.

"I think the surfaces that he's used to driving on in Australia helped him adapt so quickly", Pasi said. "In Australia, the stages feature a loose covering of marble-like gravel, which is quite similar to driving on snow. Chris seemed to be having a lot of fun out there and has an eager mind, which means he learns things very fast."

Pasi concluded his training by giving Chris some general tips on how to prepare for the cold weather, an important feature for anyone competing in Rally Sweden, but even more so for an Australian used to the sun! The weekend rounded off with some demonstration laps with the Flying Finn himself, former SWRT driver and four-time World Champion, Tommi Mäkinen.