!NEW! Opel Rallye Junior Team Sets Ambitious Goals for Asphalt Festival in Belgium

• Kenotek Ypres Rallye marks start of second half of FIA ERC Junior season
• Emil Bergkvist wants to defend his lead in the FIA ERC Junior in Ypres
• Marijan Griebel banking on his and the Opel ADAM R2’s outstanding asphalt qualities

Frontrunner: Emil Bergkvist wants to impress with his ADAM R2 in Belgium and tighten his grip on the overall lead of the FIA ERC Junior.

From the gravel of the Azores to the asphalt of West Flanders – the Kenotek Ypres Rallye marks the start of the second half of the FIA ERC Junior season. The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team has an ambitious approach to the decisive phase of the strongest junior championship in Europe. Swede Emil Bergkvist (21, from Torsåker) is currently leading the FIA ERC Junior in his Opel ADAM R2 after celebrating two wins in the first three races of the season. His German team-mate Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) has been unlucky so far, failing to finish for the second time this season in his last appearance in the Azores. However, thanks to the scoring system, he still has every chance of moving up the rankings. Only four of the six races of the FIA ERC Junior are taken into consideration for the final points tally.

Ambitious goals: Marijan Griebel wants to make up for not finishing in the SATA Rallye and is targeting a podium finish in Ypres.

“I know the Ypres Rallye from last year and know exactly what to expect,” said Griebel, who along with his co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, Thailen) has set himself ambitious targets for the trip to Belgium. “I like the stages and they should be well suited to me. The competition is probably going to be a lot stiffer than last year because the level in the FIA ERC Junior is so high this year. However, the entire ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is well prepared and we know that we have a fast car, especially on asphalt. I want a podium finish in Ypres!”

The drivers of the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team have demonstrated their potential on asphalt on numerous occasions in the past, most recently when securing a one-two finish at the Rallye Ireland and at the Rallye Wervik in Belgium, which both Bergkvist and Griebel used for preparation for the Ypres Rallye.

Leading duo: Emil Bergkvist and his co-driver Joakim Sjöberg are currently leading the pack in the overall standings of the FIA ERC Junior.

Bergkvist and his co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo) realize that they will be facing a real test. “Marijan will be very strong in Ypres,” said the current championship leader who turned 21 on June 17. “I am looking forward to a great rallye and a new challenge. We dropped some points in the Azores but we are determined to fight for a place on the podium in Ypres. We all realize that is will be tough in this very strong field. However, since Ireland at the very latest we know that our ADAM R2 can win on asphalt if we all do a good job. I obviously want to defend my overall lead, but in this strong field that will only be possible if I attack – and that is what I plan to do.”

Two customer ADAM R2s will also be competing in Ypres, with Julius Tannert and his Luxembourgian co-driver Jennifer Thielen along with Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux racing under the Opel colors.

The first stage of the Ypres Rallye, which in total consists of 17 demanding stages covering 253 kilometers, will start on Friday (June 26) at 16:15 CEST and end at 22:30 CEST. The following day, the action will start at 10:20 CEST and end at 22:30 CEST. Opel offers live timing on the website www.opel-motorsport.com.

The Ypres Rallye on TV:

Friday, June 26
00:00               Eurosport                    Training and preview

Saturday, June 27
00:15               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 1

Sunday, June 28
00:00               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 2
08:00               Eurosport 2                 Highlights Day 2 (repeat)

Tuesday, June 30
23:00               Eurosport                    Inside ERC – The Magazine