Key MA figure Coppin leaves

The future of the Australian Rally Championship, and several other major motorsport categories, has been thrown into doubt by a major loss from Motorsport Australia in Adrian Coppin.

Coppin, the driving force behind the ARC in recent years and also the operational boss for the Shannons SpeedSeries, has resigned.

He is also giving up his roles as the event secretary for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix and oversight for the Australian Off-Road Championship.

Coppin has been one of the key figures for everything short of the Supercars Championship, providing background organisation and on-the-ground logistical leadership.

He was also responsible for oversight of the category management deals between Motorsport Australia and both Supercars and Carrera Cup.

He has quit with immediate effect but, as yet, there has been nothing official from Motorsport Australia.

Coppin joins a number of other high-profile exits from Motorsport Australia, including the resignation of corporate affairs boss Paul Riordan, since the arrival of the organisation’s new CEO, Sunil Vohra, less than a year ago.

Auto Action has been told of widespread unhappiness at Motorsport Australia and that the loss of Coppin and Riordan follows Praven Sinnan, who left a long-term post to work at the Miami GP.

However, Motorsport Australia did salute Riordan when he departed on September 16.

“I’d like to congratulate Paul on a terrific tenure at Motorsport Australia,” Sunil Vohra said in a statement.

“Paul has been an important member of the senior leadership team for many years and overseen media and communications, along with broader strategic initiatives for the organisation.

“Paul has been a sounding board for many in the organisation and the broader industry and leaves a strong legacy.”

That legacy is now in doubt with the departure of Coppin, who has been the operational star of second-tier motorsport.

The ARC, in particular, is expected to suffer after Coppin’s concerted efforts to grow competitor numbers and finesse the title rounds over recent years.

He had even been working on a potential plan to bring the World Rally Championship back to Australia with an event using a ceremonial start in Sydney and a competition base in Bathurst.

Coppin was reluctant to give any background to his decision when contacted by Auto Action.

But he has been a lifelong motorsport competitor and official, competing successful in the Australian Rally Championship and driving in Rally Australia when it was based in Coffs Harbour.

He lives in Brisbane and has two young children, a partial influence on his decision to quit.

“I’m just focussing on my own business,” was all he said to Auto Action.

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