Canberran driver Coppin, who has campaigned a Ford Fiesta R2 in this year’s East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship, has revealed that he will make the step up to a Citroen DS3 at the all-tarmac Croatian event.
“I’m really excited to have been able to pull this deal together for Rally Croatia,” Adrian said. “It’s been in the pipeline for a little while now and it’s an incredible opportunity, I can’t wait!”
The opportunity to compete in Croatia was helped along by Molly Taylor, who contested the Scout’s Rally SA with Coppin earlier in the year. “I’ve got to thank Molly, and the team at United Business who run Molly in the European Championship, who have helped get this adventure off the ground,” commented Adrian.
Rally Croatia is regarded as a unique test in the European Championship, with the tarmac renowned as being incredibly slippery even in dry conditions, while the locals flock in huge numbers to the stages to spectate.
“I’ve been trying to soak up as much info as I can about the event, but from what I’ve heard it’s a big challenge regardless of your tarmac experience. For me it’ll be a new country, with big language barriers on a surface I’ve not rallied on before and in a car I’m not familiar with.”
“So in short it’s going to be a massive challenge but I also can’t wait!” Adrian added.
While Coppin hasn’t rallied on tarmac before he has some sealed surface motorsport experience to fall back on having contested the Aussie Racers series in 2009.
“When we purchased our Ford Fiesta R2 it came in tarmac trim, so I’m hopeful of getting some experience under my belt before we head overseas,” he explained.
Having run an identical car for Molly Taylor at Scout’s Rally SA, Coppin will again line up against Taylor at next month’s Coates Hire Rally Australia, before the pair jet off to Europe bound for Croatia.
“It’s going to be great to rally against Molly again, we had a great fight in Adelaide earlier in the year, and I’m hoping it’ll be a close fight again when we get to Rally Australia,” Adrian said. “Then it’ll be a case of packing the cars up, getting on a plane and heading into the unknown!”
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