Having captured the imagine of the Coffs Harbour locals two years ago when he steered a MINI World Rally Car around his home stages, Nathan Quinn returns to Coates Hire Rally Australia this year in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX and ready to take on the WRC2 contenders including fellow countryman Scott Pedder.
Despite his talent behind the wheel Quinn has only made occasional appearances on the local scene over the past few years, but when he does make a start he does it in a big way. At the 2013 Rally Australia he stunned his rivals by securing a MINI World Rally Car for his home event, and having sat out last year he was determined to hit back.
“Last year I spent some time showing people around at the rally and at one stage I turned to one of my regular service crew and said that I’d never spectate at Rally Australia ever again,” laughed Quinn.
“So I knew as far back as last September that I’d definitely be driving again this year. I was actually speaking to the team that we ran the MINI with back in 2013 about the possibility of another World Rally Car for this year, unfortunately we just couldn’t make it happen.”
“But they were keen to support us and we came to a deal where we would run in WRC2 to help them score points to assist their regular driver Max Rendina,” Quinn added.
Quinn is entered against compatriot Scott Pedder in WRC2, as well as leading drivers Yazeed Al Rajhi, Yurri Protasov, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari.
“It’s not a big entry in WRC2 but it is a quality entry. I have two aims, to help the team stay ahead of the Subaru of (Gianluca) Linari and to see if I can match Scott Pedder. Scott’s in a superior machine to us but I reckon there are some stages where I can be just as quick, if not quicker.”
Joining Quinn will be New Zealander David Calder, the pair having competed together back in 2012 including at a Round of the Chinese National Championship. “David’s a really great bloke, and a terrific co-driver. It was just a great opportunity to get him over to compete at Rally Australia together,” said Quinn.
Being a Coffs Harbour local Quinn receives massive local support, as witnessed when he ran the MINI World Rally Car back in 2013, and he’s certain the locals will once again be out in force this year.
“Being a local and having that support definitely gives you that extra air of confidence,” he stated. “Plus it helps boost the support for the event. I know a lot more locals come out when they have that connection with someone who works in town or that they have a beer with down at the pub.”
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