ELE Rally: Exciting Night Shifts in ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup

• Round two of ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe”
• Opel Corsa Rally Electric returns to Netherlands after one-year absence
• ELE Rally around Eindhoven is especially challenging

After an exciting start to the season in early May at the ADAC Rallye Sulingen, the teams contesting the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” will travel to the Netherlands for the second round next weekend. The ELE Rally already hosted the world's first electric one-make rally cup in the 2022 season. The asphalt event around Eindhoven impresses with its demanding special stages and an unusual schedule that requires the young teams to work two night shifts in their 100 kW (136 hp) Opel Corsa Rally Electric.

Start of the first leg is on Friday (May 24) at 6:50 p.m., before the cars roll into parc fermé after four special stages and a final service at 11:02 p.m. The action continues on Saturday (May 25) from 12.45 p.m. with the restart of the second leg of eight special stages. The finish in Eindhoven will not be reached until 11:10 p.m. “Driving in the dark is always a special challenge. The co-driver’s instructions must be delivered spot-on to be really fast. The pace notes will therefore be of particular importance, especially for our young teams,” said Opel Motorsport boss Jörg Schrott.

After his first victory in Sulingen, Christian Lemke (23) finds himself in the role of the hunted for the first time: “An unusual role, but one that I’m very happy to take on,” he said. In the points standings, Lemke is only two points ahead of Austrian Luca Pröglhöf, who is aiming for his second cup win in the Netherlands. And Hungarian Bendegúz Hangodi, who is only a further two points behind, is also aiming high: “The podium finish in Sulingen was nice – but I’m going for the maximum!”

Lyssia Baudet

Three women starting in the Netherlands also have a lot of ambition. Lyssia Baudet (21), supported by the Belgian automobile sports association RACB, and her French competitors Alizée Pottier and Emma Chalvin from the FFSA Academy team, want to use what they learned on the opening round to really challenge their male colleagues. New to the cup are 19-year-old Fabian Kamermans and his co-driver Ashley de Boer. Kamermans is one of three drivers who are being evaluated by the Dutch organization KNAF for a regular cockpit in the Corsa Rally Electric for the 2025 cup season.

Two Dutch crews will also be making a guest appearance: Leo Kurstjens and Jan Gerssen will be in the Schmack Motorsport team, while journalist Dries van den Elzen and co-driver Marcel van Elven will be producing an extensive article for the Dutch car magazine “AutoVisie”. Timo van der Marel, who completed a full season in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup in 2021, is also piloting another Corsa Rally Electric as a “taxi driver” for media and VIP guests.