Just one WA rally team has made the trek to the New South Wales’ Coffs Coast to compete with the world’s fastest in round 10 of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Coates Hire Rally Australia.
Reigning WA 2WD Champions Razvan Vlad and Daymon Nicoli will line up with contenders from 18 countries, including current FIA World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier, Formula 1 race winner Robert Kubica and Australia’s Chris Atkinson.
This is the MAXYRally pair’s third outing at the event and Vlad said: “I really like Rally Australia because it is the only chance we get to compete on the same roads as the best rally drivers in the world.”
The Ford Fiesta driver, who recently won the Challenge Modern division of WA’s premier tarmac rally, Quit Targa West, expects strong competition from Citroen DS3 drivers Adrian Coppin (ACT) and Tony Sullens (NSW).
Vlad said: “The Citroens are newer than the Fiesta and also faster, so we need to drive very well to be close to them.”
“It will not be easy, but I do enjoy a good challenge and I am sure that it will be a good battle.”
Vlad said weather may also be a factor in the event: “It could rain and the Coffs’ roads are very tricky if it does.”
Coates Hire Rally Australia is also a round of the East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship and kicks off with an official start in the Coffs Harbour city centre on Thursday at 1pm.
The event is run over shire and forestry roads around Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Bellingen and Clarence Valley.
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