Former World Rally Champion Hannu Mikkola r🍌eckons Suzuki's Asia-Pacific front runner Chris Atkinson has the potential to make the grade at World Championship level.

The Finn saw the Australian driver in action on the Rally Japan, which h🃏e attended to watch his son Vesa driving the sister Suzuki. Atkinson was comfortably the top two-wheel-drive co♊ntender and eighth fastest on one stage in his Super 1600 Ignis.

"Atkinson is really flying," he said. "He is the next star. It's very𒈔 difficult to come from there [Australia], b♑ecause if you win your local championship, everybody says the level is not high. To beat all the top Group N cars is not easy."

At the fin🌺ish, Atkinson confirmed that he hopes to put together a World Championship programme for 2005. Suzuki Sport chief 'Monster' Tajima is keen to see him in the Junior series.