Strong Field in ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup 2022

• World's first electric one-make rally cup made even more attractive
• Teams from seven nations are at the start at seven events
• Romanian Cristiana Oprea takes on the otherwise male field of participants

Opel Corsa-e Rally

Preparations for the second season of the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup are entering the home straight before the battle for points resumes at the ADAC Actronics Rally in Sulingen from May 6. The world’s first electric one-make rally cup is even better positioned for the 2022 season than it was in its successful debut year. Opel Corsa-e Rally was optimised with detail improvements over the winter. A newly developed multi-disc limited slip differential increases the traction of the 100 kW/136 hp electric rally car and upgraded software improves the thermal management of the 50-kilowatt-hour battery. In addition, a modified sound system enhances the acoustic appeal of the electric rally car.

Attractive schedule with seven rounds in the German Rally Championship (DRM) as well as guest outings in Austria, France and the Netherlands is enhanced by the very international field of participants. German rally aces face competitors from six other nations. With Germans Lukas Thiele, Christian Lemke, Joe Baur, Max Reiter and Alexander Kattenbach as well as the Dutch veteran Timo van der Marel, six ”old hands” go into their second e-Cup year. Timo Schulz (22) makes his debut in the Corsa-e Rally with the support of ADAC Saarland.

They all face ambitious newcomers such as Swede Calle Carlberg and Finn Kalle Markanen, both of whom are competing for the experienced Schmack Motorsport team. With 22-year-old Luca Pröglhöf from Sittendorf, a promising young Austrian talent will compete with the Opel Austria Corsa-e Rally entered by Stohl Racing. Dutchman Jari van Hoof got such a taste for the sport at last year's Sachsen Rally that he will contest a full Cup season in 2022 in the racing team of his mentor Timo van der Marel. And last year's champion team Saintéloc Racing from France goes to the start with 30-year-old Romanian Cristiana Oprea, the only female driver in the illustrious field.

 Cristiana Oprea with Opel Corsa-e Rally

Two Opel Corsa-e Rally from England in Cup plus VIP vehicle from TotalEnergies

Two highly interesting new entries come from the United Kingdom. British Opel sister brand Vauxhall is entering a Corsa-e Rally, which will be piloted by rotating guest drivers. Excitement is being stirred up by the second British vehicle, which is even sponsored by the British government. The project is driven by Simon Moss, who teaches motorsport management at Myerscough College in Bilsborrow, Lancashire and uses the innovative concept of the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup as a showcase for his studies.

In addition, TotalEnergies' VIP car will be used at selected events as a rally taxi and course car or with guest drivers in competition. Global technology partner of the Stellantis Group is increasing its involvement in the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup this season.

Strong Partnership: Marijan Griebel Back at Opel Motorsport

• Lots of experience: 2016 European rally champion tests electric Opel Corsa-e Rally
• Long relationship: Former works junior Griebel becomes Opel Motorsport rally representative
• Good connections: Griebel assists young drivers of the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup

 Marijan Griebel with Opel Corsa-e Rally

Marijan Griebel and Opel Motorsport are tackling new projects together. Rally driver has enjoyed close ties with Opel since 2013 and in 2016 he was European Junior Champion in an Opel ADAM R2. 30-year-old will contribute to the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup as Opel rally representative and test driver. Griebel has already provided valuable input to the development of the Opel Corsa-e Rally and will accompany the young teams as driver liaison officer at rounds of the world's first all-electric rally one-make cup.

“With his professionalism, his talent, his experience and his ability to work in a team, Marijan has the best prerequisites to support our projects”, explains Opel Motorsport Director, Jörg Schrott. “He knows all the aspects that are important for a one-make rally cup. On the one hand, the cup car should offer good pilots a platform to demonstrate their talent and recommend themselves for higher tasks. However, the car should not overwhelm inexperienced drivers either. Marijan knows exactly what a good one-make cup car should do.”

Griebel has already completed test drives in the Opel Corsa-e Rally and is enthusiastic about the car’s potential. “With the spontaneous torque of 260 Nm and the Torsen differential, Opel Corsa-e Rally comes out of corners really well, reacts immediately to the driver’s inputs and is very agile. I think Opel Corsa-e Rally is ideal for a one-make cup.”

Griebel’s rally career has close links with the Opel brand. In 2013, Griebel was the first titleholder of the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Cup and progressed to the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team the following year. In 2014, the Opel Junior clinched the division title in the German Rally Championship in the works Opel ADAM R2. In 2016, by winning the FIA ERC Junior U27 title, Griebel became the first German to win a European rally championship since 2001. In addition, between 2014 and 2016, the Opel works driver celebrated three class wins in a row in the ADAM R2 at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the German round of the World Rally Championship.

“Marijan is not only a long-time friend and partner of Opel Motorsport, but also the best example of the successful promotion of young talent by Opel and the ADAC. We are proud to have accompanied his successful career for such a long time”, says Jörg Schrott.

Start of the new ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup is scheduled for spring 2021. On November 20-21 this year, registered participants will take part in an official test as part of the ADAC Rallye “Rund um die Sulinger Bärenklaue.”

!NEW! Opel Astra TCR Celebrates Race Debut in Bahrain

• TCR International Series 2016 kicks off on the Bahrain International Circuit
• Target Competition with two Opel Astra TCR driven by Jordi Oriola and Andrea Belicchi
• Testing under special conditions

Campaign opener in Bahrain: Two Opel Astra TCR of Team Target Competition will compete for this first time this season.

The opening race of the Touring Car Racing (TCR) International Series in Bahrain on April 2 and 3 will not only mark the start of the second season of the competition, it will also see the start of a new chapter in 

Opel’s touring car tradition. Two new Astra TCR cars, run by the Italian Target Competition Team, will take to the track in the kingdom on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Thirty-nine-year-old Italian veteran Andrea Belicchi and 19-year-old Spanish youngster Jordi Oriola will be behind the steering wheel of the customer racing cars from Rüsselsheim.

Opel drivers: Italian veteran Andrea Belicchi (39) and 19-year-old Jordi Oriola from Spain will be behind the steering wheels of the 330hp Astra TCRs.

In the light of the specific external conditions on the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, built in the middle of the desert around 30 kilometers from the capital Manama, the Target Team will face a tough challenge. The expected temperatures of over 40C represent a substantial challenge for the engine cooling system, the turbocharger, the transmission and the brakes. Tire wear will also be a major topic in the desert heat. The 5.412km-long Bahrain International Circuit consists of six left and eight right-hand corners together with four straights, the longest being the finishing straight with a length of around 1.1km.

The Astra TCR is thus facing it first major challenge. The technical staff of Opel Motorsport and Target Competition made significant progress in relation to the vehicle set-up during the final test drives on the Spanish Valencia circuit. 1993 German Touring Car championship winner and former Formula One driver Nicola Larini also stated that the Opel Astra TCR “has a very good handling”. Larini was responsible for test all the TCR cars of the different brands to create a basis of the “Balance of Performance” (BoP).

BoP uses the key elements weight and engine performance to create a balance between all vehicle concepts and thus give every carmaker the chance to field a competitive car for customer sport. Equal opportunity is one of the key characteristics of the TCR (Touring Car Racer Series) that was developed for five-door compact class cars with a maximum engine displacement of 2.0 liters. Another major factor in favor of the TCR is the possible use of the vehicles in a multitude of national and continental championships in addition to the global TCR International Series. Three races of the international competition, including the one in Bahrain, will be held as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix supporting program. Each round of the TCR consists of two heats.

Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott is already excited ahead of the Astra TCR’s competitive debut but is also managing expectations. “We are a newcomer to the TCR series with our Astra and will definitely need a bit more time to further optimize the vehicle. Furthermore, the conditions in the desert are unique. Therefore, we should treat the two races in Bahrain as another important test. We aim to learn as much as possible to have a fine-tuned the Astra TCR as soon as possible after the races.”

For customer racing: Opel Astra TCR is based on the serial production Astra and benefits from its lightweight construction and outstanding aerodynamics.

!NEW! Outstanding Aerodynamics: Best Conditions for the Opel Astra TCR

• Efficient aerodynamics are one of the keys to success in touring car racing
• Meticulous wind tunnel work important element of vehicle development
• Already excellent aerodynamics of serial production Astra as the perfect base

Key to success: Aerodynamic efficiency is the result of a well-balanced ratio of downforce and drag. 

Aerodynamics have become increasingly important in motorsports. In the past, aerodynamic problems have often been hidden by simply increasing engine performance. However, the key to success in modern motorsports is now the same as in serial production: efficiency. This was one of the most important development goals for the Opel Astra TCR that was created to compete in the Touring Car Racer Series (TCR).

New Opel Astra TCR: Wind tunnel testing for efficient aerodynamics.

Aerodynamic efficiency is the result of a well-balanced ratio of downforce and drag. In order to achieve the perfect combination of high speeds through the corners and on the straights, engineers strive to have as much as possible downforce while simultaneously reducing drag as far as possible. The new Astra comes with the perfect prerequisites for a close to serial production touring car. The “Car of the Year 2016” has an outstanding drag coefficient for hatchbacks of 0.272. It therefore is perfectly suited to serve as the base for a fast racing car.

Compared to its serial production sibling the width of the Opel Astra TCR has been increased to 1,950 millimeters – the maximum permitted by the rules. The bumpers, fenders and side panels have also been modified. The front splitter and the rear wing are the main elements creating the decisive downforce. Both features have been defined as standard components in the TCR regulations to keep costs down. Manufacturers can thus not change the shape or finish but they can fine-tune the mounting position. The location of the rear wing is especially important. According to the regulations, the rear wing is not allowed to protrude the roofline. Furthermore, it is not allowed to protrude by more than 1,050 millimeters – measured from the center of the rear wheel hub.

Increased width: The front splitter and the rear wing are the main elements creating the decisive downforce.

The downforce created by the rear wing increases the more it stands in the wind. However, this simultaneously increases drag, which is detrimental for top speed. Therefore, a compromise between drag and downforce needs to be found. The same goes for the setting angle of the front splitter. It needs to be as flat as possible while being steep enough to the keep the front axle stable when braking and to prevent understeer in the corners. Once again the aerodynamic balance in decisive, i.e. the downforce ratio between front and rear axle. This ratio needs to be well balanced so that the car remains stable no matter what the driving situation.

Meticulous preparation: Wind tunnel work about the position of the rear wing, the angle of the front splitter and the design of the fenders and the side sills.

In order to get as close to this delicate balance as possible from the very start, the development team around Opel Motorsport’s Senior Manager Dietmar Metrich put the Astra TCR through an aerodynamics test lasting several days. The team decided to use the wind tunnel of Stuttgart University for the tests. “It has a rolling floor and can simulate speeds of up to 250 km/h. That makes it ideal for our purposes,” explains Metrich.

Time in the wind tunnel is expensive and therefore calls for meticulous preparation. “We used models to prepare various solutions. This gave us to chance to test and change the configurations when we were on site,” says Metrich. “It was mainly about the position of the rear wing, the angle of the front splitter and the design of the fenders and the side sills.”

Dietmar Metrich suddenly turns very quiet when it comes to communicating data and measurements. “I can tell you this much: we feel perfectly prepared thanks to the excellent suitability of the base model. We will only find out where we stand when the cars compete on the race track but that makes the whole thing really exciting!”

!NEW! Opel Dominates FIA ERC Junior Finale

• European Junior champion Emil Bergkvist wins Barum Czech Rally in Opel ADAM R2
• Opel takes first and third place at FIA ERC Junior 2015 finale
• Tire defect costs Opel works driver Marijan Griebel second place

This is what winners look like: Emil Bergkvist and Joakim Sjöberg at ceremony in Zlín.

The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior team finished the 2015 FIA ERC Junior season with another outstanding performance. Swedish Opel works driver Emil Bergkvist (21, from Torsåker) and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo), who had already captured the ERC Junior title before the end of the seaon, won the Barum Czech Rally Zlín in the Czech Republic in grand style. Their brand colleagues Aleks Zawada from Poland and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux took third place in a privately run Opel ADAM R2.

Masterful: ERC Junior champion Emil Bergkvist on his way to third season victory.

“I am overjoyed,“ beamed Bergkvist after his third season victory in the FIA ERC Junior 2015’s six races. “This rallye was the perfect end to a perfect season. Everything went according to plan, we were able to control the race from our leading position. We all worked so hard for this success, and it is great to see that our hard work paid off. Many thanks to my fantastic team from Opel Motorsport. Without them none of this would have been possible.”

High-flyer: Marijan Griebel again showed the Opel ADAM R2’s huge potential at the ERC finale.

In a second works Opel ADAM R2, Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) and co-drive Stefan Clemens (28, from Thailen) had a stroke of bad luck when they suffered a puncture on their right front tire in the eleventh special stage after a top performance that had them on their way to becoming vice champion. As there were still more than ten kilometers to go to the finish line, the duo was forced to stop for a tire change. A good three minutes were lost and so they were only able to take fourth place in the rallye. In the fight for second place, Griebel came in hard on the heels of the young Latvian Ralfs Sirmacis, finishing a very strong third.  

Subdued joy: A tire puncture cost Marijan Griebel and Stefan Clemens the vice championship

But Griebel was disappointed: “We deserved second place. It is really bitter that a tire defect ruined everything. But with a little time and distance, I‘ll be able to look back at this year with the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior team with great satisfaction. We were really competitive in this extremely tough championship and drove a strong season.”

The three customer Opel ADAM R2s were also very fast. Aleks Zawada celebrated his second podium finish in the FIA ERC Junior, where Julius Tannert also could have joined him. But he and his co-driver Jennifer Thielen from Luxembourg lost valuable time on the first day and were stopped by a technical problem on Sunday on the way to the first special stage. The Bavarian duo Dominik Dinkel/Pirmin Winklhofer drove so well in their first European championship race in their Opel ADAM R2 that they would have come in sixth in the ERC Junior (for which they weren’t registered).

Proud boss: Opel Motorsport-Director Jörg Schrott with the winners Bergkvist (l.) and Sjöberg.

Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott was very pleased with the Opel teams‘ performance in the Czech Republic: “This result again shows that the ADAM R2 is currently the benchmark in the R2 class. Our European champion Emil once again gave us a taste of his exceptional talent. I feel very badly for Marijan, who yet again suffered a tire puncture that cost him a better result. My compliment go to Aleks, Julius and Dominik, who were very fast in our customer cars.”

Strong comeback: Opel celebrated first European championship title in 33 years with Emil Bergkvist and the Opel ADAM R2.

!NEW! Opel Astra TCR: 330 hp for the Racetrack

Opel developing a racing car for the 2016 TCR International Series

New Astra for the Racetrack: Opel’s motorsports division is developing a touring car in accordance with the current regulations of the TCR series for national and international customer racing.

Opel is expanding its activities in customer touring car racing. Based on the new Astra K, which will celebrate its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) this September, the motorsports division of the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker is developing a touring car in accordance with the current regulations of the TCR series for national and international customer racing.

The TCR series, inaugurated in 2015, is based on a three-pillar concept that includes national and continental championships along with the global TCR International Series – all of which have exactly the same technical regulations. Therefore, a TCR vehicle can be used worldwide without undergoing any technical modifications. The two-liter turbo-charged engines have an output of 330 hp (246 kW) and maximum torque of 410 Nm.

“Touring car racing has always been an important part of Opel. The philosophy of the new TCR series corresponds to our idea of customer racing. We want to give ambitious privately owned teams a platform for exciting sport at reasonable costs,” said Opel Group CMO Tina Müller.

The Opel Astra TCR is currently under development and the technical specifications will be announced at a later date. Testing of the new customer sports touring car is set to start in October.

!NEW! Opel is European Champion !

• Emil Bergkvist wins FIA ERC Junior in Opel ADAM R2
• Second place at Rally Estonia secures early championship title
• Team colleague Marijan Griebel with good shot at number two season finish 

Champions: Emil Bergkvist and his co-pilot Joakim Sjöberg secured the title in the FIA ERC Junior with their second place at the “auto24 Rally Estonia”.

In its first full season of competition, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team with the Opel ADAM R2 has already taken the FIA ERC Junior by storm. With their second-place finish at the auto24 Rally Estonia, Emil Bergkvist (21, from Torsåker) and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo) already won the title in the continent’s most fiercely contested Junior Rallye category one round before the season’s end. “I’m speechless,” beamed Bergkvist. “I want to thank everyone who contributed to this success, first and foremost Opel Motorsport and the whole team that always gave us a fantastic car. And of course my co-driver Jocke – without his perfect work this wouldn’t have been possible. The ERC Junior is so incredibly competitive that it takes a perfect team performance every time to get anywhere close to a podium finish. I really still can’t believe it!”

Successful duo: Emil Bergkvist impressed once again in his Opel ADAM R2 and could celebrate winning the FIA ERC Junior title in Estonia.

In addition to his high speed at the extremely fast gravel rallye in Estonia, Bergkvist also stole the show with an impressive and clever strategy. The two Swedes maintained a spot in the top 3 during all stages without taking incalculable risks for themselves and their Opel ADAM R2. And they didn’t let a 10-second penalty right at the start of the rallye distract them. Bergkvist said, “We quickly found a good rhythm and were able to attack without going all out. The car once again ran like clockwork. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the Opel ADAM R2 is the best rallye car in this category today.”

Also taking the two void results into account, Bergkvist/Sjöberg have a total of 128 points, which can no longer be achieved by any of their competitors. So the Barum Rallye season finale in the Czech Republic on the last weekend in August will be a show race for the two champions.

Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott was full of praise: “One can’t applaud Emil’s and Joakim’s outstanding performance over the entire season enough. They were at the front of the field in every rallye and very cleverly captured the title. A huge compliment also goes to the whole ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team. This passionate dedication and fantastic team spirit were the key to success. And we are of course extremely proud of our ADAM R2 that proved its ability to win under all conditions. To secure the title early in this tough championship in the first full year is much more than we could have expected. It is simply fantastic!”

Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) and his co-driver Stefan Clemens (29, from Thailen) finished the demanding rallye in the Baltics a strong sixth, giving them a good shot at capturing second place in the FIA ERC Junior at the final rallye in the Czech Republic. “This was one of the hardest rallies I’ve ever driven in,” admitted Griebel. “I am very happy with the result. A lot of teams showed how difficult it was to drive fast here and how easy it was to make a mistake. We got better and better during the rallye and again gathered loads of experience on gravel. And of course I’m thrilled for Emil and Jocke: they and the whole ADAC Opel Rallye Team really deserve this sensational success.”

Potential runner-up: Opel factory driver Marijan Griebel still has a chance of finishing second in the FIA ERC Junior after claiming sixth place in Estonia.

In contrast, Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux were plagued by bad luck in their customer Opel ADAM R2. The winners of the Ypres Rallye hit a rock in the fourth stage that one of the cars in front of them catapulted onto the track. On impact a wheel suspension broke and these parts punched through the oil pan. The next day, Zawada/Derousseaux tackled the second leg with their repaired car, but were again prematurely stopped. A clogged radiator caused the Opel ADAM R2 to overheat, dashing all chances of finishing the rallye. 

!NEW! Opel ADAM R2: New Challenge on the Emerald Isle

• Second ERC Junior event for ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team in Ireland
• Emil Bergkvist arrives as leader of FIA ERC Junior category
• Marijan Griebel counting on Opel ADAM R2’s fine asphalt abilities 

New challenge: Swede Emil Bergkvist proved to be unbeatable on snow but how will he and his ADAM R2 fare on the asphalt roads in Ireland ?

Highly motivated and full of confidence, the ADAC Opel Rallye Team is heading to the second round of the FIA ERC Junior, the high speed Circuit of Ireland Rally, on April 2 – 4, 2015. The stiff competition is up against the Opel ADAM R2’s outstanding qualities on asphalt, and a team buoyed by Swede Emil Bergkvist (20) and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg’s (29) superb victory in Latvia last month, the first ERC Junior round of the year.

Upbeat: Swede Emil Bergkvist and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg currently lead the FIA ERC Junior after their win in Latvia last month. 

Despite his success, the Opel works driver from Torsåker, now leading the ERC Junior rankings, is staying cool, calm and collected. “Even after our win in Latvia, my expectations are exactly the same as at the beginning of the season,” says Bergkvist. “I know that I still have a lot to learn, especially on asphalt. So in light of all the strong opposition in ERC Junior, the Circuit of Ireland will be a new and big challenge. At the same time, the ADAM R2 and the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team have proven their potential to win rallyes at this incredibly high level. So I have a good feeling about Ireland, and its close, fast stages will be tons of fun!”

Redemption: Marijan Griebel and co-driver Stefan Clemens hope to make up for their unlucky start to the season with an improved display in Ireland

Bergkvist’s German team colleagues, Marijan Griebel (25, from Hahnweiler) and co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, from Weiskirchen), are also raring to go and keen to make up for an unfortunate end to their run in Latvia. Griebel: “I’m only familiar with the rallye in Ireland from on-board videos and TV footage, but I know that narrow roads and lots of jumps await us. The stages are unique and challenging, and will for sure be great to drive. I have no doubt the competition will again be incredibly tough. But as I prefer asphalt surfaces, and the ADAM R2 is evidently well suited for such conditions, I hope that Stefan and I will be among those to be reckoned with in Ireland.“

The competition at the event, part of the FIA ERC and held around Northern Ireland’s capital city Belfast, is once again top-notch. A total of 22 R2 cars from the RC4 category, including 19 teams registered in FIA ERC Junior, will tackle 18 extremely demanding asphalt stages totaling around 215 kilometers in length. Donegall Square in Belfast will be the site of the Circuit of Ireland Rally’s official starting ceremonies on Thursday evening. The first day of competition on Friday comprises eight stages, to be followed by another 10 on the second day.

Fans can keep up with what’s happening at the event through live services provided by Opel Motorsport and FIA by clicking on the button on the homepage of www.opel-motorsport.com, or by going to the FIA website: www.fiaerc.com/events/live/id/28.

Circuit of Ireland TV Schedule:

Thursday, 2 April

23:30               Eurosport                    Preview reports

Friday, 3 April

23:00               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 1

Saturday, 4 April

08:00               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 1 (repeat)

23:15               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 2

Sunday, 5 April

08:00               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 2 (repeat)

Tuesday, 7 April

23:00               Eurosport                    Inside ERC – The Magazine

!NEW! Strong International Interest in ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2015

• ADAC Opel Rallye Cup starts its third season next weekend (March 6/7)
• Participants from nine countries to battle for Europe’s toughest rallye Cup
• Promotion to Opel works team and ERC entry beckons for juniors

High-flyer: The third edition of the successful ADAC Opel Rallye Cup will start on March 6.

On March 6 and 7, the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup begins its third season with the Saarland-Pfalz Rallye. The series for young driving talent has already generated massive international interest and a strong field of 20 teams drawn from nine countries will battle for points in the fight for the 2015 title, confirming the Cup’s status as the most successful rallye competition in Europe. The make-up of the starting line-up promises thrills aplenty: ten experienced Cup drivers are up against ten ambitious newcomers, while the field is more international than ever before, with 40 percent of drivers and co-drivers from European countries outside of 

Germany. And with the Finnish duo of Laura Suvanto/Reeta Hämäläinen and the German-Austrian pairing of Melanie Schulz/Elke Aigner, the starting line-up boasts two all-female teams for the first time. Belgian Yannick Neuville, younger brother of Rallye World Cup star Thierry Neuville, made a strong impression with consistently fast times during his debut season last year and is one of the favorites this season.  

Female touch: Melanie Schulz and her co-pilot Elke Aigner will form one of two all-female teams this years. 

The 2015 Cup schedule offers a tough challenge across a series of rallyes with different characteristics. New events include the season-opener at St. Wendel and the Thüringen Rallye. Opel’s ’home event’, the Rallye Wartburg, will be among the highlights, with its main service area located directly in front of the Opel Eisenach plant. And, of course, participation in the prestigious ADAC Rallye Deutschland, part of the World Rallye Championship, will be a special season highlight for the teams.

While well-proven technology, based around the 140 hp Opel ADAM Cup car, enters its third season unchanged, the sporting regulations were tweaked during the winter break. All participants will now be able to compete for the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup title regardless of age. However, with its own rankings and prize money, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Cup remains exclusively for young drivers born in 1988 or later. The season prize money fund has been substantially increased this year and now totals around 120,000 euros. The scoring system has also been modified. The first three finishers in each rallye will collect 35, 27 and 21 points, instead of the previous 30, 24 and 20. The driver who wins the most stages in a rallye will also earn an additional five bonus points. The so-called ’Power Stage’, a special leg declared by the organizer of each rallye, now brings the top three finishers three, two and one bonus points.

Fast rallye brothers: Belgian WRC star Thierry Neuville (on left) give Opel ADAM pilot Yannick Neuville some valuable advice for the upcoming season

At the end of this season, the best junior drivers have the unique opportunity to take part in a special screening to qualify for promotion to the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and drive the 190 hp Opel ADAM R2 on the international rallye circuit with a focus on the FIA ERC Junior in 2016.

“There are many good reasons to join the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup and we will do everything in our power to keep it that way,” says Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott. “The composition of this year’s starting line-up shows that our concept of combining top-class technology with a professional platform, all at an affordable cost, is working very well. The idea of providing long-term and successful promotion of young driving talent has proven to be very appealing. The popularity of this approach is both a confirmation of its success and also a responsibility for us to maintain. I’m looking forward to an exciting ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2015 season.”

Calendar ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2015

March 6 - 7                    ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye, St. Wendel
April 17 - 18                  ADAC Hessen Rallye Vogelsberg, Schlitz
May 15 - 16                   S-DMV Thüringen Rallye, Pößneck
August 7 - 9                  ADAC Cosmo Rallye Wartburg, Eisenach
August 20 - 23              ADAC Rallye Deutschland (Doppellauf), Trier
September 4 - 5            ADAC Ostsee Rallye, Grömitz

October 23 - 24             ADAC 3-Städte-Rallye, Kirchham

!NEW! Opel Triumphant at Start of European Rallye Championship

• Swede Emil Bergkvist wins Rallye Liepāja in Opel ADAM R2 
• Sensational performance under adverse conditions and against toughest competition
• Marijan Griebel leaves race in second Opel ADAM R2 after accident

Difficult circumstances: Snow, rain, fog, soaked gravel, wet snow and ice – Emil Bergkvist mastered the wintery conditions in his Opel ADAM R2.

Sensational start to the season for the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team! In their first run as Opel works drivers, Emil Bergkvist (20, Torsåker) and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, Ösmo) won the first race of the FIA ERC Junior, the Rallye Liepāja in Latvia, in the Opel ADAM R2. After eleven extremely demanding rounds, the two Swedes won a good half-minute ahead of Norwegian Steve Rokland and Latvian Ralfs Sirmacis (both Peugeot 208 R2), thereby taking over the lead in the overall ratings of the FIA ERC Junior. In addition, in their front-wheel drive vehicle with “only” 190 hp in the midst of considerably more powerful, all-wheel drive competition, last year’s winners of the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup also achieved an impressive sixth place in the overall ratings.

Difficult circumstances: Snow, rain, fog, soaked gravel, wet snow and ice – Emil Bergkvist mastered the wintery conditions in his Opel ADAM R2. 

With three consecutive top round times, Bergkvist/Sjöberg made a clear statement right at the beginning of the first rallye day and laid the groundwork for their triumph, which hardly any of the experts anticipated to this extent. “I am speechless,” exulted Bergkvist. “Of course we knew what a fantastic rallye car the Opel ADAM R2 is, and we went into this race with a lot of confidence in our own abilities. But we also knew how tough the competition would be in the FIA ERC Junior. The driving skill level here is absolutely top. And the external conditions were extremely difficult – snow, rain, fog, soaked gravel, wet snow and ice kept taking turns. So I’m all the happier that Jocke and I brought the car across the finish line without any major mistakes. My thanks to the entire team that worked perfectly both during the rallye and preparations leading up to it. I can hardly wait for the next races in the Opel ADAM R2!”

Victory pose: Emil Bergkvist (right) and his co-pilot Joakim Sjöberg (left) won the first race of the FIA European Junior Rallye Championship in Latvia in their Opel ADAM R2.

Marijan Griebel (25, Hahnweiler) and his co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, Weiskirchen) in the second works ADAM R2 had an unfortunate end to their race in Latvia. The duo had found a good rhythm in the fourth round, driving in ninth place when the sudden end came after night had already fallen over the Latvian Baltic Sea coast. “Small mistake, big consequence,” said Griebel. “As long as the car was precisely on track, grip was good with the spike tires. But just a few centimeters off of the ideal line, traction was completely gone. That’s exactly what happened to us in a fast right curve. We drove too far out and slid into the ditch, which in and of itself wouldn’t have been a problem. Unfortunately we hit a crossroad head-on, the car pitched down and rolled over.”

Disastrous night: Marijan Griebel was forced to abandon the race after suffering an accident in his Opel ADAM R2 when night fell. 

Because the accident site was around one hundred kilometers from Liepāja, it took hours before the damaged ADAM R2 made it back to the service area. There the team led by Technical Director of Opel Motorsport, Dietmar Metrich, decided to forego an attempt to repair the vehicle on site.

The extremely challenging conditions also took their toll on both Opel customer teams during the start of the European Championship. Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux had just clocked their best time in round six when they slid into a ditch and had to withdraw from the Rallye in the following round. German Julius Tannert and his Luxembourgish co-driver Jennifer Thielen had a stroke of bad luck when they lost a wheel in the second round without the involvement of any external force. In order to complete further test kilometers on gravel and snow, Tannert/Thielen competed again on the second Rallye day and at least reached the finish line in Liepāja.

The next race for the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is March 6-7 at the ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye. The asphalt race around St. Wendel, which is also where the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup season starts, is to serve as another test for Griebel and Bergkvist for the second ERC Junior race taking place in Ireland on April 2-4

!NEW! Opel ADAM R2 – Extremely Successful

• Opel ADAM R2 shakes up European rallye circuit
• Championships in Germany, Spain and France
• 28 class or division wins in 39 starts 

German Rallye Championship and ADAC Masters: Marijan Griebel won six out of eight national championship races and celebrated the Division 5 title before the last race of the season.

The Opel ADAM R2 has shaken up the European rallye circuit and shocked the strong competition in the first year of its international registration (homologation). In 39 starts, the pilots of the ADAM R2 with 190 hp celebrated 28 class or division wins and four national championships.

French Rallye Championship: Yoann Bonato celebrated his fourth win of the season at the Rallye du Var and celebrated the title in the R2 category. 

The ADAM R2s of Opel Motorsport Team France hit it big in the French Rallye Championship last weekend. Yoann Bonato outpaced 42 opponents at the season finale, the Rallye du Var, in the south of France, celebrated his fourth win of the season and cruised to the title in the R2 category. Furthermore, Charlotte Berton recorded her fifth individual success of the season and won the French Women’s Rallye Championship.

French Women’s Rallye Championship: Charlotte Berton (right) recorded her fifth individual success of the season over the weekend and won the title.

Opel factory driver Marijan Griebel won six out of eight national championship races in the German Rallye Championship and the ADAC Masters and celebrated the Division 5 title before the last race of the season. In addition, Griebel won the R2 Category of the ADAC Rallye Germany, one of the races belonging to the World Rallye Championship.

In the Spanish Rallye Championship Esteban Vallin from Red Opel Motorsport Team Spain was in dominant form. Eight class wins gave him the R2 championship title. He was also runner-up in Division 2 for front-wheel drive vehicles and finished fourth in the overall rankings.

Spanish Rallye Championship: Esteban Vallin celebrated eight class wins giving him the R2 championship title. He was also runner-up in Division 2 for front-wheel drive vehicles and finished fourth in the overall rankings.

“Change your mind has also had an impact on the European rallye circuit. Our ADAM R2 has immediately established itself as a modern, fast and reliable rallye car. 28 wins in 39 starts speak for themselves. Championships in Germany, France and Spain along with impressive displays at World and European Championship level have not gone unnoticed. We are obviously delighted with the numerous purchase enquiries from all over Europe because they also show that the ADAM R2 is extremely successful.”

!NEW! Opel and ADAC Extend Existing Partnership by Three Years

• ADAC Opel Rallye Cup to be held until end of 2018
• Promotion of talent in the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team systematically continued

Outstanding performances: Opel ADAM R2 has been impressive throughout the season

Opel and ADAC have already decided to continue their commitment to promoting young rallye drivers in Germany. The two companies agreed to extend their existing partnership by a further three years until the end of 2018, despite the current agreement being valid until the end of 2015. Therefore, the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup will be held until the end of 2018, giving all participants planning security. The ambitious and clear goal of the partners consists of two key elements. On the one hand, the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup needs to maintain and strengthen its position as the quantitative and qualitative strongest rallye series for talented drivers in Europe. On the other hand, the idea is to help the most talented juniors find their way into the European rallye elite via the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team.

Shooting stars: Marijan Griebel and Fabian Kreim registered all eight possible wins in their division in the Opel ADAM R2

“Motorsport is in our genes. The contract extension will prolong the concept for promoting talent with our partner ADAC. It has already proved to be coherent and efficient,” said Tina Müller, Vice President & CMO Opel Group. The Opel ADAM R2, that is currently used by the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and competes in several national championships, has shown that it can hold its own against strong international competition. “We are proud and happy with the development of our Junior Team and will systematically continue this development,” added Müller.

Success rewarded: Opel will continue their backing of the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team

“The ADAC Opel Rallye Cup is a success story and the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team has fulfilled all expectations. Continuing our partnership with Opel and together promoting talents in German rallye sport is the logical step. We are delighted to have a partner in Opel that shares our philosophy for the promotion of young talents,” agreed ADAC Sport President Hermann Tomczyk.

The ADAC Opel Rallye Cup will be fine-tuned for its third edition. In general, the 2013 rules will apply. All participants, regardless of their age, will compete for the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2015, giving both juniors and seniors the chance of winning prize money. In total, around €120,000 will be up for grabs. The prize money will be increased from €40,000 to €60,000 per season. Furthermore, drivers over the age of 27 (seniors) will also have the opportunity to purchase a new Cup-ADAM for the preferential price of €24,900 (excluding VAT). In addition, the best drivers under 27 will compete for an additional season prize money of €60,000 in total and have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to qualify for a place in the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team.

The  ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team will also be continued until 2018. Based on performances at the ADAC 3 City Rallye, a panel will select and announce the final driver on Saturday (October 25, 2014). The respective driver will compete in the 2015 ADAC Rallye Masters and selected international events.

!NEW! Opel ADAM R2 Takes European Rallye Scene By Storm

• Strong showing: Opel ADAM R2 impresses with top performance
• Great results: 12 class wins to date from 15 starts
• High interest: Customer inquiries from many European countries

Shooting Star: The 190 hp Opel ADAM R2 has already racked up 12 class wins from 15 starts in national championship rounds in Germany, Spain, France and Austria.

The Opel ADAM R2 has made a huge impact on the European rallye scene in the seven months since it was homologated for competition by the international motorsports federation FIA (Fédération internationale de l’Automobile). The 190 hp ADAM R2 has already racked up no less than 12 class wins from 15 starts in national championship rounds in Germany, Spain, France and Austria.

In Spain, Esteban Vallin and co-driver Borja Odriozola are leading the R2 class in an ADAM R2 entered by the Spanish importer, while Yoann Bonato and Thierry Michaud in an Opel Motorsport Team France car are also top of their rankings in France. And after a false start on their debut event, Daniel Wollinger and Bernhard Holzer have got into their stride in the Austrian Rallye Championship, claiming two class victories in the last two rounds. Not to be outdone, the ADAM R2 prepared by German customer team Audex Motorsport from Extertal and driven by Dutchman Timo van der Marel has also secured a class win on its debut event in the Netherlands. The German-Luxembourgian duo Julius Tannert and Jennifer Thielen, one of the leading teams in this season’s ADAC Opel Rallye Cup, finished a strong second in the Rallye Luxembourg in a highly competitive field of 19 R2 vehicles.

ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team drivers are providing even more reasons to be cheerful. Marijan Griebel/Alexander Rath and Fabian Kreim/Josefine C. Beinke have taken clear victories in every Division 5 round of the ADAC Rallye Masters to date, failing just once to take a double win. These young Opel works drivers have reached the second stage of Opel and ADAC’s talent promotion pyramid after finishing as the best placed junior drivers in the 2013 ADAC Opel Rallye Cup and achieving selection from a driver screening session. The goal of the Opel/ADAC program is to bring a young German driver to the pinnacle of European rallying in the mid-term – at the wheel of an Opel, of course.

Further proof of the Opel ADAM R2’s competitiveness has come from the GEKP Ypres Rallye in Belgium, held on June 20-21. In a starting field of 44 R2 vehicles, representing all brands who have such a fast car in their portfolio – including all 15 teams from the FIA Junior European Championship – Marijan Griebel/Alexander Rath were battling for a podium finish on one of the most demanding asphalt rallies in Europe when they were halted by drivetrain trouble at the beginning of the 20th and final stage as they were in third place. Former European champion Bruno Thiry was also having an excellent rallye on his debut in an ADAM R2 when he hit a rock and had to retire. Fabian Kreim/Josefine C. Beinke met with a similar fate on the last stage but still managed to finish ninth in the R2 category after stopping to change a wheel.

“The ADAM R2 has completely fulfilled our high expectations to now,” says Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott. “The car is quick and reliable. And our teams praise its driving characteristics and how well it responds to changes in set-up. The ADAM R2’s strong performance is already sparking interest from many customer teams across Europe and we are, of course, delighted about that.”

!NEW! Powerhouse: Opel Astra GTC Now With Mighty 200 hp

• Opel Astra GTC 1.6 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo with 200 hp from 25,250 euros
• New gasoline direct injection Turbo as sporty precursor to OPC Power Package
• Innovative IntelliLink system now brings high-tech into GTC onboard infotainment
• Opel Astra GTC with striking motorsports package radiates rallye charm

Opel Astra GTC 1.6 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo

The Opel Astra GTC is now available with the new-generation, 200 hp 1.6 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo engine. This powerhouse also drives the Opel Cascada and Zafira Tourer and now completes the gasoline engine portfolio. With its powerful performance, it underscores the compact coupé’s sporty character – only the OPC variant is stronger. The Astra GTC impresses with the high-tech under its hood and its unique, sophisticated high performance strut (HiPerStrut) front suspension layout. Modern infotainment technology is featured in all GTC models, with the Opel IntelliLink system offering simplified telephony and navigation while enabling the use of many smartphone functions in the car. Prices for the Astra GTC with the 147 kW/200 hp 1.6 liter Turbo start at 25,250 euros (RRP incl. VAT in Germany).

From zero to 100 in 7.9 seconds: The 1.6-liter Turbo with 200 hp makes it happen

Opel Astra GTC with the new 200 hp 1.6 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo engine -  top speed 230 km/h

The new Opel Astra GTC with the 200 hp 1.6 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo engine reaches a top speed of 230 km/h. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds and sprints from 80 to 120 km/h in fifth gear also in only 7.9 seconds with impressive elasticity. The new-generation gasoline direct injection Turbo is a real powerhouse, with 300 Nm maximum torque (with overboost) enabling its superb sporty performance. Its power output per liter of 125 hp makes it the leader in its class. The power that the Astra GTC brings to the road with this top engine is tastefully visible on the outside. The coupé leaves other road users watching its taillights and admiring its two chrome exhaust tailpipes. There is only one area where the gasoline direct injection unit is miserly: with fuel consumption. In the combined cycle, it needs just 6.6 liters fuel per 100 kilometers and emits 154 gram CO2 per kilometer.

The 200 hp Turbo completes the series production Astra GTC’s engine portfolio. Its counterpart on the diesel side is the high-performance 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI with 143 kW/195 hp and 400 Nm torque. The only engine that surpasses these two top-of-the-line units is the 206 kW/280 hp OPC power plant – a very mighty trio!

Infotainment that is fun: Opel Astra GTC with IntelliLink system

Opel Astra GTC now comes with a high-tech IntelliLink system which integrates smartphone functions into the car via a seven inch high-resolution color monitor that guarantees simple operation and ease of reading.

But the Astra GTC doesn’t only boast a high-tech engine; the infotainment system in all Astra GTC models is also state-of-the-art. With Opel’s IntelliLink system, easy operation of the navigation system and all functions is guaranteed via a seven-inch, high-resolution color monitor that also displays images from the optional rearview camera. Voice control, Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming are possible. 

The top-of-the-line Navi 950 IntelliLink contains maps of all of Europe. Map updates can be downloaded via USB. The driver can also have the system read out incoming text messages. In addition to voice control over IntelliLink, the new Opel system also supports and integrates smartphones’ own voice recognition functions.

Racy model: Opel Astra GTC in motorsport outfit available with all engines

In addition to the introduction of the 1.6 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo engine in its high performance version and the IntelliLink infotainment system in all GTC models, a new special GTC model will also be introduced in 2014. From the spring of 2014, Opel offers motorsports enthusiasts the Astra GTC with an especially attractive package modeled according to the vehicle that successfully participated in the VLN Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring. The characteristic yellow-black-grey striped motorsport stickers give the smart model the right flair. The black grille and logo bar stand in sharp contrast to the white body color, and the graphite black side mirror casings underline its bullish motorsports character. An additional eye-catcher is the Opel motorsport emblem in the form of a stylized racing driver against a yellow background on the B-pillars. This model is available with the entire spectrum of powertrains, ranging from 140 to 200 hp on the gasoline side and from 130 to 195 hp on the diesel side.

Opel Astra GTC in motorsport outfit

Opel Astra GTC is absolutely unique in its motorsports outfit, combining elements from various sports and OPC model versions. The striking front is from the BiTurbo, while the side skirt and rear design come from the OPC Line Package. When opening the door, one’s eye immediately goes to the black running boards. Inside the interior cabin there is also pure rallye and racing ambience. Opel Astra GTC features optional aluminum pedals as well as specially designed floor mats with yellow stitching, and Astra GTC drivers open and start their car with a special motorsport-style key.