Adrian Coppin will switch to a Race Torque prepared Skoda Fabia R5 for next month’s Forest Rally, round two of the Australian Rally Championship.
Coppin and co-driver Erin Kelly drove Race Torque’s Peugeot 208 AP4 at the opening round of the championship in Ballarat.
“I’m very excited and fortunate to be able to drive the Skoda Fabia R5,” Coppin said.
“It was always the plan to campaign one of these cars this year, but we just couldn’t make it work before Ballarat. I’m very grateful to Lane and Lindsay (at Race Torque Engineering) for the opportunity.”
The entry of the Skoda R5 will be the first time an R5 spec rally car has been campaigned in the ARC round, and is another positive step for the championship.
Coppin drove a Peugeot AP4 at the opening ARC round in Ballarat. Photo: Luke Whitten
Coppin plans to test soon in preparation for the Forest Rally, and is eager to get up to speed ahead of his home event, the Netier National Capital Rally, in June.
“I grew up rallying in Canberra, and I know the forests well, so I’m confident we can get a good result there,” he said.
Race Torque Engineering, based in Perth, has campaigned Skodas in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship for six years and have lifted the winner’s trophy each year.
“Lindsay and I are very excited to run Adrian and Erin in the Skoda Fabia R5, and look forward to introducing another brand with a strong rally heritage to the ARC,” Race Torque boss, Lane Heenan, said.
The car will continue to sport a striking livery featuring Coppin’s major sponsors Optus and Castrol, courtesy of his long-term partners AutoGrafika.
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