The rally is being run in the forests around Canberra and will use many of the stages made famous over the years by the Rally of Canberra.
Hoping to build on the momentum established in the shakedown event, where he challenged more experienced competitors, Coppin goes into the event as one of several competitors tied on points at the head of the 2010 Rallyschool.com.au NSW Excel Rally series, including last round winner Dave Roberts.
Coppin, nominated as the 2009 ACT Rookie Driver of the Year, hopes that he can capitalise on his experience on Canberra’s tight forest tracks to take the fight up to the series leader.
“Canberra events have always been good for me and last time out showed that my team have improved the Renew Landscaping Excels performance over the summer, so I am feeling quietly confident” Coppin said yesterday.
Coppin’s main competition will come from last round winner, Dave Roberts. Roberts, from Bathurst has been campaigning in the Excel Series for several years and was joint title holder in 2009.
“I had a sensational season in 2009 and this year has started well but I’m not getting ahead of myself” Coppin said. “I’m hoping that the Renew Landscaping Excel will finish this event at the front of the series competitors” he said.
But to get over Roberts and several other strong Excel Series contenders, Adrian and his co-driver and father Phil will have to get everything spot on this weekend. “The time for talking is over and now Adrian has to put it together and win” Phil said.
If everything goes as planned and he steps up to the challenge, Coppin is hoping to lead the series into the next round in late June at Taree on the NSW north coast.
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO READ THE FULL STORY
