“Dad decided to retire as my navigator after a recent heart attack and I needed someone to step in,” Coppin said.
“Michael’s business Total Traction Service (TTS) is my major sponsor, so when Michael offered to be my navigator, the deal was done,” he said.
In addition to winning the 2009 ACT Rally Champion drivers award, Michael is also an experienced navigator, guiding his brother Thomas in this year’s ACT series.
Coppin currently lies in 2nd place in the 2010 Rallyschool.com Rally Excel series, only 5 points behind leader, Dave Roberts.. A seasoned campaigner, Robert’s is the current champion. As the new kid on the block, Coppin only started rallying last year, but is already showing potential for the future.
The last event was in Taree on the NSW North coast. On wet and greasy tracks caused when the heavens opened, Coppin found the conditions difficult and only managed a 5th place finish.
“It was my first event in the area and I found the unfamiliar roads at night and in the rain a challenge,” Adrian stated. “I couldn’t match the pace of the leaders but learned a lot,” he added.
This weekend will again see Coppin starting a new event on roads he has never seen before. Again Roberts will be the man to beat along with the Cullen brothers
but hopefully the roads in Sunny Corner State Forest, just east of Bathurst will be more to Coppin’s liking.
The TTS/FSport Excel has been prepared and a new set of Kumho rally tyres fitted in preparation for the event. Despite his lack of experience, Adrian is optimistic and looking forward to the challenge.
“After Taree I’m not making any predictions. First I’ll finish and then we’ll add up the times and see,” Coppin said.
The event starts from the Courthouse, Russell Street, Bathurst at 10:30 am on Saturday 25 September 2010. Competitors will contest 160 kilometres of competitive stages before finishing at the Bathurst Light Car Club Rooms, Conrod Straight at approximately 11:00 pm.
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