Adrian Coppin and Tim Batten from Team Citroen Australia have placed second in the opening round of the Australian Rally Championship, held in Canberra over the weekend. Fellow team members Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley weren’t able to follow in the footsteps of Coppin and Batten, struggling with issues on both Saturday and Sunday, and unable to complete the event. The three day long event saw the pair test the limits of their Citroen DS3s, and prove the capability of the specially prepared rally cars.
Both teams had a strong start to the weekend, climbing the ranks in qualifying to make the cut for the exclusive power stage, where only the fastest 5 cars in the field battle it out in a sprint showdown. Sullens and Barkley were the first of the team on course and set the bar high, significantly bettering their qualifying time. Hoping to answer back but falling just shy, Coppin and Batten came in a mere one tenth of a second behind. Both teams were thrilled with their debut performance in the Citroen DS3, closing the day with a fourth and fifth place. The competitiveness of the cars had been proved, along with the first taste of in-house rivalry.
Heat 1 commenced on Saturday, which saw the teams venture on to the dirt forest roads on the outskirts of Canberra. Sullens and Barkley were on the pace from the beginning of the day, setting a solid time in their first competitive stage. However, much to their disappointment, their luck soon ran out, after a fuel miscalculation forced an early retirement from competition in the morning.
Citroen's Tim Batten (L) and Adrian Coppin (R) were second in Canberra.For Coppin and Batten, they eased in to the day, starting out in tenth and progressing up the ladder as their confidence grew across the eight competitive stages. A torrential downpour at midday proved to be the biggest challenge for the entire field. Even the most experienced teams came unstuck on the unpredictable surface, with a somber mood developing over the service park, as many cars returned with serious damaged. Aware of the dangerous conditions, Coppin and Batten approached the final stages conservatively, bringing home a clean run, and landing Team Citroen Australia third on the podium at the halfway point of the competition.
For Sullens and Barkley, rejoining the competition in the afternoon was a chance to rectify the morning’s mistakes. Although the treacherous conditions proved a hindrance, the pair were feeling confident after suspension adjustments during service. The pair were driving aggressively, recording fast times and reasserting the competitiveness of their Citroen DS3, whilst also reigniting the rivalry between the team.
At the close of Saturday, Team Citroen Australia had their first podium with Coppin and Batten, and had learned some vital lessons in the Sullens and Barkley corner. A day well and truly put down to experience, with the promise of Sunday on the horizon.
On the final day of competition, competitors were greeted with clear skies and better driving conditions. The morning stages saw Coppin and Batten leading Sullens and Barkley by a small gap, with the pair maintaining third and fourth positions respectively. Over the event, the gap grew smaller, with Sullens and Barkley reversing the order in stage 12, recording a third place time and leaving less than as second to Coppin and Batten. Bringing their confidence boost to an all too early end, once again, technical issues ceased the team’s competitive efforts mid-stage, resulting in a DNF for the afternoon contingent of competition.
“Sunday was both a good and bad day. Second time through the same stages in the afternoon, we had a solid go and did a great time. The car was perfect. After the fast stage time, we were on it, everything was great and we couldn’t wait to go out and do it again. Then, the clutch started playing up. Air got in the lines somewhere and eventually it failed. Unfortunately, such a simple job and the car is fixed now and ready to go again,” says Sullens.
“We did such a good stage time and were finding great pace, and then the clutch started to play up. We struggled to get off the start line of the next stage which was just so frustrating. Eventually we couldn’t go any further. It was such a disappointment, but that’s rallying apparently and we can only improve. We both love the Citroen DS3, we have so much confidence in it and we know there’s a lot more to come, says” Barkley.
For Coppin and Batten, the weekend was spent chipping away at car set-up, confidence and speed, something which certainly paid off, with the pair bringing home a second outright.
“I’m ecstatic, and this result is beyond all expectations. This is my first ARC podium and to do that with Team Citroen Australia, at our first event in the CITROEN DS3, well, it feels almost as good as winning. It is an absolute testament to how competitive the CITROEN DS3 is,” says Coppin.
“If you had said to me at the start of this event we would be standing here in second outright, I wouldn’t have believed you. Adrian and I were looking to get familiar with the car, test a few different approaches, and overall, aim to finish with a bit more knowledge. This is just a dream result! I had to pinch Adrian at the presentation and ask “Is this real? Where are we?”” says Batten.
Manual Tyras, National Marketing Manager for Citroen Australia, spent the weekend alongside the team, and is pleased with the outcome for brand’s debut in sport.
"What a great result for Team Citroen Australia. We came to our first race to learn about the CITROEN DS3 in race mode and maybe grab a step on the podium, and we have achieved just that. Adrian and Tim second on Sunday is a deserved result, the boys put in a lot of effort on and off the track and this is their deserved reward. To do it in their backyard makes it even sweeter. Tony and Julia unlucky to DNF on the last stage, but we know they'll come back stronger in Perth. Overall a great team effort and a great event put on by Canberra," says Manuel.
For Team Principal, Ron Cremen, the event prompted mixed emotions.
“Of course, I’m thrilled for the team, particularly Adrian and Tim. A podium and two cars home safely in one piece, for me, that’s ticked the most important boxes. We have proved the cars are reliable and more than fit for the task. It’s up to the team to know how to use them to their advantage more, and that’s both the drivers, and the service crew. The next steps forward will become clear once we debrief next week and prepare for Perth,” says Cremen.
Team Citroen Australia will now travel across the country for the QUIT Forest Rally, being held in Busselton, south of Perth, from the 4th to the 6th of April.
All the action from the National Capital Rally will air on Channel Ten and ONE HD in coming weeks. Please check local guides for times. Dedicated coverage from Team Citroen Australia will be available on the Citroen Australia YouTube channel shortly.
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