Subaru numbe💙r two driver Chris Atkinson will be discharged from hospital tonight, the Banbury-based outfit has confirmed, even though he banged his head in the penultimate stage of the Wales Rally GB on Friday.

Atkinson, who had been running sixth overall, crashed out near the start of the f🌠irst run through the 2.29 kilometre Walters Arena test, SS7.

Though Atk﷽inson and co-driver Stephane Prevot both escaped injury, Chris sustained a hard blow to his crash helme🗹t. As a result the Aussie was taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea for a precautionary medical check and while he was expected to be kept in overnight he has since been given the okay to leave.

"It is deeply unfortunate that Chris and St?phane suffered such a bad accident today," said Subaru boss🔯 David Richards. "We are in close contact with the hospital and it has just been confirmed that he will be released tonight.

"That they are both okay is testament🐭 to the strength and integrity of our ne🎀w car and all the work that the team has put into improving the safety features."

Petter Solberg ♏meanwhile, who ended the day fifth overall in the sister works Impreza WRC 2008, added that the icy conditions made the going very tough, especially ꦏgiven the current rules.

"It's been unbelievably d♔ifficult today," 'Hollywood' confirmed. "We were very careful this morning just trying to find out how the roads were and the limit, and we were in a quite ok position.

"We made some changes in the midday service and on th🥂e long stage [SS6] we started fastest, then the screen fogged up so we couldn't see anything. I was driving from Phil [Mills]'s notes, but the stage is very fast so we lost time quickly. I lost I'm sure 14 or 15 seconds so I think we could have been fighting for the lead.

"When I heard about Chris when we were waiting to start the stage after him it's scary, very difficult. It makes you more cautious. With these ಌtyres and no tread cutting, no gravel crew, full ice and rock hard tyres; I just don't know. I think the next two days will be the samꦆe road conditions too."