Team Citroen Australia’s Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley have rounded out the podium for Heat One of Rally Victoria. The event marks the final round of the season, and Citroen’s debut year in the Australian Rally Championship. Heading in to the event, Coppin sat in third position overall, with view to maintain the crucial podium step, and secure a championship standing for Citroen Australia.
The day commenced with the Armor All Power Stage, a short, rally sprint stage in which the winner gains bonus season points. Typically, we have seen Coppin qualify in the top end of the field, though the conservative approach taken by the Canberran driver saw him fail to qualify.
“I didn’t push in the power stage this morning, as I was thinking ahead for the rest of the event, and the all-important podium position I need to preserve. At this stage of the championship, it’s not worth taking certain risks. This one, I was happy to wear,” said Coppin.
Sullens walked away with third position, but similar to his team mate, was more focused on the bigger challenges that lie ahead in the Gippsland forests.
“The power stage is always a bit of fun, but really, I won’t know how we’re doing compared to the others until we get out in the forest this afternoon. It’s been a year of ups and downs, and this rally, we really feel comfortable with the car, finally, and we’re going to give it all we’ve got,” said Sullens.
The opening rounds of the rally took competitors in to the forests surrounding the township of Neerim, commencing with the eight kilometre Pioneer stage, before concluding with the 18 kilometrr Gunns stage. In the Pioneer stage, Sullens found pace over his team mate, arriving ahead on the leader board going in to the Gunns stage. In typical fashion, Coppin answered back, narrowing the gap and taking time out of Sullens, returning to the service in third position.
“I took a while to warm up out there, and had quite a bazaar moment mid-stage, where I felt I might pass out. Tim talked me back into line and we were able to carry on, but between the two stages I needed to get out of the car, take the helmet off and breathe. It worked, because everything just clicked in the second stage, and the car was just dancing for me back and forth through the corners,” said Coppin.
“I wasn’t too happy with the suspension set-up that stage. It was too soft in the rear, which Julia and I really noticed over the fast, crested sections of road. I am going to adjust it now in service, and I think it will be right where I want it for the afternoon. We’ve done the stages once, so we’ll be going harder this time through,” said Sullens.
An error in tyre choice cost Coppin precious time in the afternoon contingent, something Sullens easily took advantage of, reclaiming third and finishing on high for the day.
“Somehow in the rush of our 20-minute service, the completely wrong tyres were fitted to the front of the car. Medium compound, low profile and skinny. We needed to run hards, and something wider with more traction. Going up hills I was short shifting trying to stop from wheel spinning. We just couldn’t get the power down,” Coppin stated.
“The car felt perfect and I think, after all the different set-ups we’ve tried this year, I’ve finally found my sweet spot. I was grinning in those last two stages, everything was right, and we got the third place back,” added Sullens.
Saturday marks the final day of competition, and the longest, with drivers covering 200 competitive kilometers, before finishing up at the Lardner Park Super Special. It will be the last opportunity for both Coppin and Sullens to pull out all stops in hope of securing the final podium spot.
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO READ THE FULL STORY
