ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup: Electrifying Situation Ahead of Final Showdown

• Round seven: Calle Carlberg wins ADAC Rallye Stemweder Berg
• Hard-fought battle: Max Reiter close second ahead of Austrian Luca Pröglhöf

With his fourth win of the season on the ADAC Rallye Stemweder Berg Calle Carlberg has taken a step closer to victory in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe”. 22-year-old Swede, as always with father Torbjörn in the co-driver’s seat of the Opel Corsa Rally Electric, won seventh round of world’s first electric one-make rally cup just ahead of rival Max Reiter and his co-pilot Conny Nemenich. Scandinavian extended his lead over three-time-winner Reiter (Germany) in the standings to 17 points. That means that fourth place in final round in four weeks’ time would be enough for Carlberg to take title.

Asphalt rally around Lübbecke was a reflection of entire season. From first special stage onwards, Carlberg and Reiter fought for every tenth of a second. Lead changed hands between the two rivals several times before Carlberg was able to pull ahead by 5.8 seconds in SS11 and managed this lead until finish. With his fourth best time in the final “Power Stage”, Carlberg collected the maximum 35 points.

“I’m super happy,” beamed Carlberg. “It was such a tough battle with Max. In last two stages we were only separated by a tenth of a second, we were both driving absolutely at limit. Our lead in standings has increased a little, but that doesn't change much in my approach to title fight: I want to try to win final round. We'll see what happens."

Narrowly defeated Reiter, who was fastest on five special stages, was not that unhappy: “It's hard to be disappointed when things are so close. Whole rally was once again a great battle between the Carlbergs and us, it was really fun. Even if our situation in the title fight doesn't look very favourable, giving up is not an option! Nothing has been decided yet. No results are dropped in Cup, which means that he also has to finish. But we don’t want to think too much, we just want to do our best as always and hope for a nice finale.”

After their third podium of season, Austrians Luca Pröglhöf and Christina Ettel are now 17 points ahead of French pair Sarah Rumeau and Julie Amblard, who finished in thankless fourth place for the fourth time. Pröglhöf: “I am very satisfied. Power Stage in particular was cool because the top three were only 0.8 seconds apart.” Rumeau openly admitted “that this rally with the many junctions didn’t really suit us. Yesterday was great, I've always enjoyed driving in the rain. But we just didn't find the right rhythm today.”

Dutchmen Jari van Hoof/Colin Wils and French brothers Anthony and Adrien Rott also put in strong performances in positions five and six. Cindy Gudet, like Sarah Rumeau a member of FFSA French motorsport academy, came seventh with co-driver Jeanne Rey.

Final showdown in ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup takes place from October 27-29 at central European Rally around Passau, a new round in World Rally Championship.

Standings ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup (after 7 of 8 rounds):

1. Carlberg, 226 points.

2. Reiter 209.

3. Pröglhöf 151.

4. Rumeau 134.

5. Van Hoof 94.

6. Lemke 91.

7. Baur 72.

8. Gudet 58.

9. Mendoza 51.

10. Rott 48.