Opel Corsa Rally Electric in Front of World Championship Backdrop

• Central European Rally: Season finale of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” on October 19 and 20
• Rally World Championship: Opel electric rally cars once again side by side with the rallying elite
• International field: Participants from numerous countries

Rüsselsheim.  An impressive field with 16 Opel Corsa Rally Electric, teams from seven nations, in front of the impressive world championship backdrop – the season finale of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup "powered by GSe" at the Central European Rally on October 19th and 20th promises to be to once again be a real highlight.

Even though Austrian Luca Pröglhöf, who will miss the Central European Rally due to illness, already secured the 2024 title at the Rallye Coeur de France, the eighth race of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup holds a lot of excitement. German Christian Lemke and Spaniard Alex Español who are the only drivers besides Pröglhöf to be at the top of the podium this year will be keen to attack on the demanding asphalt stages in Germany and Austria on Saturday and Sunday. This is exactly the goal that Frenchman Anthony Rott, who is on course to become runner-up, has in mind at the finale.

The regular teams in this year’s Cup will be joined by numerous guest drivers from home and abroad in the final round of the season. The German colours are represented by internationally experienced René Noller (22) and the winner of the ADAC Clubsport Rally Sprint 2024, 24-year-old Simon Steitz. Axel Bayer will be there for the third time this year. Belgian Tom Heindrichs shares family ties with one of the greats of international rallying - the current World Championship leader Thierry Neuville is the 20-year-old’s half-brother. Elsewhere Hannah Jakobsson from Sweden while Dutch drivers Fabian Kamermans and Esmée Den Hartigh will be competing with compatriot Hank Melse for a regular seat in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup team supported by the Dutch association KNAF.

Numerous guests and special appearance in Hauzenberg

In addition to the 100 kW (136 hp) Corsa Rally Electric driving in the competition, there are two VIP vehicles driven by Opel junior Timo Schulz and racing legend Volker Strycek. They will chauffeur guests from the German and Austrian Opel dealer organisations as well as from Cup sponsor Total Energies across the special stages. In total, more than 30 guests from Opel Motorsport will be present at the final of the ADAC Opel Rally Cup. Rebecca Reinermann, Vice President Marketing at Opel, will also follow the all-electric rally finale live on site.

Another program highlight awaits participants and visitors on Sunday: The Corsa Rally Electric field will regroup at lunchtime in the centre of the small town of Hauzenberg near Passau, where the service park is also located. Electric rallying and Sunday shopping were deliberately combined by city officials. The teams and their battery-electric vehicles can present themselves to the numerous visitors on the market square.

“The final race of the season with the World Rally Championship backdrop is a highlight for our young teams,” said Jörg Schrott, head of Opel Motorsport. “The impressive backdrop of more than 100,000 fans on the slopes, the demanding special stages and participation in the field of the best rally drivers in the world create a very special atmosphere. We look forward to welcoming many guests, for whom we have put together an attractive programme. It will be a challenging weekend for all of us – but also a very exciting one.”

The eighth race of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” 2024 season will start on Saturday (October 19th) at 9:40 a.m. A total of 111.7 special stage kilometres need to be covered before the finish in Passau is reached on Sunday. Rally fans can follow the electrifying rally via live timing on www.opel-motorsport.com.

Participants ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, Central European Rally:

Number              Driver                                                                   Co-driver
101                         Luca Pröglhöf (A)                                            Christina Ettel (A)
102                         Christian Lemke (D)                                      Jan-Eric Bemmann (D)
103                         Anthony Rott (F)                                              Adrien Rott (F)
105                         Johannes Wittenbeck (D)                           Maximilian Kugler (D)
106                         Alizée Pottier (F)                                              Manon Perrin (F)
107                         Alex Español Jove (E)                                    Daniel Rivera de la Red (E)
109                         Esmée Den Hartigh (NL)                             René Bril (NL)
110                         Tom Heindrichs (B)                                        Jonas Schmitz (B)
111                         Fabian Kamermans (NL)                            Stefan Müller (NL)
112                         Simon Steitz (D)                                              Jochen Rheinwalt (D)
113                         Emma Chalvin (F)                                           Amandine Borderie (F)
114                         Hannah Jakobsson (S)                                 Mikael Kjellgren (S)
115                         René Noller (D)                                                Stephan Schneeweiß (D)
116                         Axel Bayer (D)                                                   Rico Wächtler (D)
 

Standings ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” after 7 of 8 rounds:

1. Pröglhöf                 

216 points.

2. Rott                        

174 pts

3. Español                 

155 pts

4. Lemke                    

120 pts

5. Chalvin                  

94 pts

6. Wittenbeck            

90 pts

7. Pottier                    

69 pts

8. Hangodi                 

66 pts

9. Baudet                   

65 pts

10. Melse                   

37 pts

11. Kamermans         

33 pts

12. Den Hartigh         

24 pts

13. Bayer                   

20 pts

14. Felke                    

13 pts