Belgian Heindrichs dominates the action at Rally Vosges Grand-Est
Championship leader Alex Español and German Kilian Nierenz complete the podium
Opel Mokka GSE Rally prototype inspires drivers and fans in the Vosges
Tom Heindrichs dominated the third round of the 2025 ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup ‘powered by GSE’ 2025. At the Rally Vosges Grand-Est in northern France, the 21-year-old Belgian and his co-driver Jonas Schmitz were the fastest in seven of the eight special stages in their Opel Corsa Rally Electric and had an impressive lead of 52.8 seconds over championship leader Alex ‘Sito’ Español and his co-driver Borja Odriozola at the finish in Gérardmer. Kilian Nierenz and co-driver Milena Raithel won an exciting three-way battle with the Austrians Marcel Neulinger/Silvano Winkler and the Germans Christian Lemke/Jan-Eric Bemmann and secured their second podium place of the season. In the overall standings, Español's lead over the new runner-up Heindrichs is now 17 points.
At the finish, winner Heindrichs¸ brother of World Rally Champion Thierry Neuville, was satisfied: "After the start of the season did not go quite to plan for us, we are all the more pleased with this win. The fact that we were able to win seven out of eight stages here shows that we are on the right track. Now it is important to keep at it and make up more ground on Sito in the championship. We are looking forward to the next events in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup."
Kilian Nierenz was no less happy, after moving up into third in the overall standings thanks to another podium finish: "The rally was awesome! At the shakedown, we were really shocked at how challenging but also beautiful the route is here. Tom was outstanding, but we're super happy with third place and the second fastest time in the Power Stage. Opel Corsa Rally Electric also worked great on these hard tracks and we were able to gain a lot of valuable experience again. It was a lot of fun!"
Opel Mokka GSE Rally: Prototype causes a stir on and at edge of track
New all-electric Opel Mokka GSE Rally also caused a stir among French rally fans. Opel veteran Horst Rotter and his co-driver Conny Nemenich drove the 207 kW (280 hp) prototype as an advance vehicle over the demanding special stages and gained further important insights in the development of the powerful electric car. "The car already works really well and is a lot of fun with its high torque of 345 Newton meters," Rotter praised.
"As in the past two years, the Vosges Grand-Est Rally has proven to be a challenging but also very enjoyable event for our young participants," said Jörg Schrott, Head of Opel Motorsport. "The fact that all the cars saw the chequered flag in Gérardmer speaks for our teams and the qualities of the Opel Corsa Rally Electric. Tom Heindrichs put on an outstanding display. Above all, I am happy about the great performances of Marcel Neulinger and Thyrsa Eertmans, who have impressively shown their potential here. And our new Mokka GSE Rally has left a strong impression on the French fans."
Teams of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup ‘powered by GSE’ will now take a short summer break. The fourth round of the world's first electric rally one-make cup will take place on August 15 and 16 as part of the ADAC Saarland-Palatinate Rally around St. Wendel.
Standings ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup ‘powered by GSE’ after 3 of 7 rounds:
An excellent proposal to enter the world of rallying
Forerunner of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup "powered by GSe"
Forty years ago, in 1984, the Italian single-make championship debuted, initially reserved for Opel Corsa-A 1.3 SR (the GSi was not yet available) prepared according to the international Group N regulations.
The event, launched by the then importer of the German manufacturer, was born in the wake of the enthusiasm for the successes of the Opel Ascona 400 in the Italian and world championships of the specialty - which materialized respectively with the titles of “Tony” Fassina and “Rudy” Dal Pozzo in 1981 and Walter Rohrl and Christian Geistdörfer in 1982 - and aimed to introduce young enthusiasts to the specialty.
How did it start?
In particular, the Opel Corsa Trophy aimed to, if not solve, at least contain the problem of participation costs, which for many were absolutely prohibitive. The series was in fact run as part of the Coppa Italia trials, that is, the first series national rallies with a maximum duration of 400 kilometers, suitable for those who wanted to try their hand at this specialty for the first time. In essence, it was possible to participate in the trophy with a budget of around 10 million lire, thanks to the 14% discount on the purchase price of the car and the equipment kit that included the essential elements for the rally setup of the Opel Corsa. In this way, it was possible to participate in both the Coppa Italia and the single-make trophy which, in each of its more than 60 races, offered a prize pool of 2,250,000 lire. Result: with 64 participants in its first edition in 1984, it immediately achieved the record for the most crowded single-make.
The story continues “electrically”
The history of the Italian one-make series ended 25 years ago at the end of 1999 (coinciding with the launch of the third-generation Opel Corsa) after fifteen consecutive editions, but it can be said that it paved the way for today's ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup "powered by GSe" which is a glimpse into an innovative future of motorsport. The world's first electric one-make rally cup, which was contested for the first time in 2021 with the Opel Corsa Rally Electric, is uncharted territory in every respect. With this pioneering achievement, Opel Motorsport is pushing the electrification of rallying forward, thus combining Opel-typical sustainability and efficiency with high dynamics and emotionality.
Trade fair highlight: Unique Opel Corsa Rally Electric on display until Sunday, August 25 at Gamescom in Cologne in Hall 10.1, stand B031
Electrifying: Rapid Opel rally car demonstrates fascination of electric rallying
ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup as pioneer: World’s first all-electric one-make rally cup is now in its fourth season
Emotional, all-electric and full of energy – this is the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” and the Opel Corsa Rally Electric. How the rapid electric car combines locally emissions-free rallying with show character is demonstrated on rally special stages, and now also at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. At the world's largest trade fair for computer and video games as well as consumer electronics, the Opel Corsa Rally Electric is an extraordinary eye-catcher. It can be admired in a special “Gamescom look” at the ADAC stand B031 in Hall 10.1.
Coloured entirely in yellow, black and white, Opel Corsa Rally Electric is once again a unique show car. Bright yellow wheels and brake calipers increase the wow effect and make the fully electric rally car an absolute eye-catcher. The creatives at @blackfishgraphics are responsible for the unmistakable design.
The “Gamescom Special Edition” demonstrates what is possible: progressive design paired with production technology and state-of-the-art motorsport components. Opel Corsa Rally Electric thus continues Opel's pioneering achievements. With the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe”, the manufacturer and the automobile club have launched the world's first electric one-make rally cup and successfully established it in the rally scene. The international cup is currently in its fourth season and inspires fans and spectators as much as the participants.
Anyone who wants to experience the “Gamescom Opel Corsa Rally Electric” live can do so until Sunday, August 25. The trade fair is open to visitors daily until 8 p.m.
Second half of ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” underway
Calle Carlberg wins ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye comfortably from Max Reiter
Swede now leads World’s First Electric One Make Rally Cup
With an outstanding performance, Calle Carlberg won fifth round ofADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” as part of ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye. 23-year-old Swede, as always guided by his father Torbjörn in “hot seat” of Opel Corsa Rally Electric, set best time in nine of 10 special stages and finally celebrated with a lead of 35.4 seconds over Max Reiter (23) and his co-driver Conny Nemenich his second win of season.
Ttitle fight between Carlberg and Reiter has now really flared up. While the Scandinavian travelled to St. Wendel five points behind local hero, Carlberg now leads overall standings of world's first electric one-make rally cup by the same distance ahead of Reiter.
“I'm really happy about my second victory in ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup,” beamed Carlberg. “We found a good rhythm in cockpit right from start. However, I was quite tense for a long time because I really wanted to win. It wasn't until midday on Saturday, when lead had grown a bit, that I relaxed. It's good to be at top of table now. But nothing changes in my prognosis: title will only be decided at finale!”
“We tried everything, but in end it wasn't enough,” said three-time winner of season, Reiter. “In stage 5 we cracked a wishbone, which cost us some time. Towards end it became clear that we wouldn't catch Calle, so we wanted to at least score full points on Power Stage. Unfortunately, I made a big mistake right there, so we ended up empty-handed. I congratulate Calle on the win and at the same time I promise him a tough fight for coming rallies.”
Behind two permanent rivals, Joe Baur, with Fabian Peter at his side, drove onto podium for first time in his still young rally career and was correspondingly pleased: “It finally worked out,” said the 24-year-old. “We were quite close a couple of times, but here we managed a clean rally from first to last stage. This makes ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup even more fun!”
Sarah Rumeau, however, was unlucky. 28-year-old Frenchwoman and her co-driver Julie Amblard were once again aiming for their first podium finish when they were slowed down by a transmission issue in their Opel Corsa Rally Electric on fourth special stage. They were back in action the following day, but they could not get more than eighth place and a point for fifth in “Power Stage”. In overall standings, Rumeau/Amblard are now 16 points behind the Austrians Luca Pröglhöf/Dina Ettel, who had to settle for fourth place. Fifth were Christian Lemke and Stefan Schneeweiß, who also hold this position in the standings.
For their sixth showdown of year, Cup teams will travel to France week after next, where another highlight of season awaits electric rally cars, Rallye Mont Blanc Morzine.
Standings ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup 2023 (after 5 of 8 rounds):
Second half of 2023 ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” begins
Electric rally Cup resumes on August 18/19 with ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye
Close leadership contest between Max Reiter and Calle Carlberg
ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye opens the second half of this season’s ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe”. The asphalt stages around St. Wendel are among the most demanding in Germany – a stern test for the teams and the Opel Corsa Rally Electric. For the first time this weekend, the whole field of battery electric rally cars will be updated with the characteristic Opel Vizor brand fascia.
Duel for the lead of the overall standings is heating up. Max Reiter (23) slightly extended his advantage over his closest rival Calle Carlberg (22) with his third win this year on the recent Rallye Weiz in Austria. But with four rounds still to go until the grand finale at the Central European Rally (a new addition to the World Rally Championship), five points are hardly a comfortable cushion. Especially as the slightest mistake could decide the title.
Even if the rest of the field, led by Luca Pröglhöf and Sarah Rumeau, are meanwhile following the leading pair at a respectful distance, Reiter and Carlberg cannot relax. The 24-year-old Austrian clearly demonstrated his ambition on home soil at the Rallye Weiz, where he scored his second podium in succession. And after three fourth-place finishes, the 28-year-old Rumeau is determined to get on the rostrum. Additional contenders for the podium are Joe Baur (24) and Christian Lemke (23), who already placed third on the Rallye du Chablais in Switzerland.
Also closing in on the leaders is the five-time French hillclimb champion Cindy Gudet (27), who is adapting fast to the Corsa Rally Electric. “The car is totally different to the prototype I drive on the hills. Rallying itself is something else. The stages are longer, you have a co-driver and you drive on pace notes. It’s another world, but I’m learning step by step.”
Start in St. Wendel on Friday, August 18, is at 4.10 p.m. before the battery-electric rally cars head out for the first four special stages. Another six stages await the teams on Saturday between 8.50 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.
Standings ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup 2023 (after 4 of 8 rounds):
160 year of Opel innovations for millions: Tradition-rich company celebrates birthday
Start of a new era: Sixth generation Opel Astra arrives at dealerships
40 Years of Opel Corsa: Limited edition “Opel Corsa 40” presented
GSe returns: Opel reveals dynamic and electrified “Grand Sport electric” sub-brand
Electrifying performance: Successful season for Opel Corsa-e Rally and co.
Innovative transport solution: First Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN in customer hands
2022 was an electrifying year for Opel in every respect: for 160 years, the brand with the ‘Blitz’ has been making innovations affordable for a wide audience. This was also the case in the anniversary year - first and foremost with the new Opel Astra, which celebrated its dealer premiere in the spring and has been delighting experts and customers alike ever since. Other bestsellers of the year are the Opel Mokka, the best-selling electric vehicle in its segment in autumn, and the Opel Corsa, which celebrated its 40th birthday this year. As the battery-electric Corsa-e Rally, it once again celebrated a successful campaign in the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the first electric one-make cup worldwide. In the future, Opel will also offer an even more dynamic everyday driving experience with the models of the recently introduced GSe sub-brand. At the same time, Opel is consistently advancing innovations for sustainable mobility in its commercial vehicles as well: for example, the first Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN with hydrogen fuel cell drive are already in use with customers. Today, Opel already has 12 electrified models in its portfolio. These and even more highlights are shown in the electrifying video "Best of Opel 2022: Electrifying Champions" on the Opel Highlights 2022.
“2022 was an exceptional year for Opel,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl. “With the launch of all-new Opel Astra, electrified for the first time, we are driving into a new era Our Corsa and Mokka models – which are also electric – show what makes real bestsellers in the small car and subcompact SUV segment. We are consistently pursued our electrification offensive – amongst others, with the hydrogen fuel cell van Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN. In this respect, 2022 was also a year in which we continued to drive forward the development towards becoming an all-electric brand in Europe.”
Success story: 160 years of Opel, 40 years of Opel Corsa, 30 years of Opel in Eisenach
In 2022, Opel celebrated a very special anniversary: 160 years ago, Adam Opel laid the foundation stone in Rüsselsheim for a company that developed from a producer of sewing machines to the world's largest bicycle manufacturer to an internationally important automotive brand that always makes technologies from higher vehicle classes affordable for a broad range of buyers. At the same time, 160 years of Opel history show that those responsible have always thought outside the proverbial box and surprised customers with extraordinary solutions.
In addition, one of the biggest bestsellers celebrated its 40th birthday: Opel Corsa revolutionised the small car class with its premiere in 1982 and still enjoys great popularity among customers today in what is now the sixth generation. Current Opel Corsa is one of the most popular small cars ever. The battery-electric Opel Corsa-e also won the "Golden Steering Wheel 2020" 1 and is successful in motorsport as a locally emission-free rally vehicle. Opel celebrated this anniversary by launching the limited edition “Opel Corsa 40” – with the newcomer combining modern technology with numerous nods to the first Corsa generation.
Elsewhere, Eisenach also celebrated an anniversary: Opel models have been rolling off the production line at the Thuringian plant, located in central Germany, for 30 years. Three decades that have shaped entire region and during which the ultra-modern location has renewed itself again and again, so that future-proof vehicles such as the Opel Grandland, of course also as a plug-in hybrid, are produced here today.
All-New Opel Astra: From the dealer premiere to the “Golden Steering Wheel 2022”
2022 was also marked by the new Opel Astra. In May, the sixth generation celebrated its dealer premiere. Completely new, equipped with innovative technologies such as the fully digital Pure Panel cockpit or the adaptive glare-free IntelliLux LED Pixel Light as well as with its clear, bold design including the new Opel Vizor brand face, visitors to the dealerships were able to test drive the newcomer for themselves - for the first time also as an electrified plug-in hybrid. The response was overwhelming, and the order books are brimming.
Readers and the expert jury of AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG agree that Opel is entering a new era with all-new Astra. They awarded the Astra and Astra Sports Tourer the "Golden Steering Wheel 2022" in autumn. Latest generation of the best-selling model beat off strong competition to win one of the most prestigious awards in the automotive industry as "Best Car up to €50,000"2.
At the same time, an "Auto Oscar" went to Rüsselsheim for the third time in a row. In 2020, Opel Corsa-e 1 won the coveted award, and last year the Opel Mokka-e 3 took top honours. Latter has become a bestseller with its design, technologies and suitability for everyday use. In October and November, it was best-selling all-electric car in B-SUV segment in Germany. In November, no less than 65 percent of all Opel Mokka customers opted for the battery-electric, locally emission-free variant.
Dynamic, inspiring and electrified: New GSe sub-brand
Also in autumn, Opel announced: "GSe" is returning - in a new, fresh guise. Where the abbreviation used to stand for "Grand Sport injection", it now becomes Opel's new sporty sub-brand and means "Grand Sport electric". Opel GSe models combine excellent driving dynamics with innovative electrification and will be at the top of the respective model series in the future. Plug-in hybrids Opel Grandland GSe (fuel consumption according to WLTP 4: 1.3 l/100 km, CO2 emission 31-29 g/km; both combined, weighted, preliminary values) as well as Astra GSe and Astra Sports Tourer GSe (fuel consumption according to WLTP 4: 1.2-1.1 l/100 km, CO2 emission 26-25 g/km; both combined, preliminary values) will be available soon.
Opel electrifies motorsports: Impressive Rally record in 2022
Opel has also literally electrified international rallying in the 2022 season. Laurent Pellier and the Opel Corsa Rally4 dominated the Junior European Rally Championship (JERC), clinching the fifth Junior European title for Opel. At the same time, the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup established itself as the first electric rally one-make cup worldwide and continued its upswing. In rally runs that were as demanding as they were varied, the teams fought for points and trophies in the Opel Corsa-e Rally. In this way, organisers showed how electric rally sport can inspire. Next year, the cup will enter its third season!
From Opel Rocks-e to Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN: E-offensive in full swing
Even with the smallest and largest models in the Opel portfolio, the manufacturer is pushing the pace in terms of electrification. Opel Rocks-e, for example, makes young people from the age of 155 in Germany mobile and brings a breath of fresh air to the light vehicle segment as an innovative electric vehicle for two. Elsewhere, the first customers have been behind the wheel of the Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN since this year. Pioneering hydrogen fuel cell transporter shows how versatile electric mobility can be in the commercial sector. It is the ideal solution for fleet customers who want to cover long distances without local emissions and need to refuel quickly. When fully fuelled, it can travel up to 400 kilometres (according to WLTP). Refuelling with hydrogen takes just three minutes.
All in all, Opel took full advantage of 2022, once again taking huge strides towards becoming a fully electric brand in Europe by 2028. This is exactly the path the company will continue to follow in the coming year – with models such as the first fully electric Opel Astra Electric and many other innovations.
[1] AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG edition 45/2020, category for “Small cars”.
[2] AUTO BILD edition 45/2022 and BILD am SONNTAG edition 46/2022, category for “Best car up to €50,000”.
[3] AUTO BILD edition 45/2021 and BILD am SONNTAG edition 46/2021, category for “Best car under €25,000” incl. environmental bonus.
[4] Preliminary values determined using the more realistic WLTP (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure) test method which replaces the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) test procedure. A vehicle's consumption, CO2 emissions and range not only depend on the efficient use of energy by the vehicle but are also influenced by driving style and other non-technical factors. The information on consumption and emissions does not refer to an individual vehicle and is intended solely for purposes of comparison between the various vehicle types. Vehicle not available yet.
[5] Applies to four-wheeled light motor vehicles with a rated continuous/utilised power not exceeding 6 kW, with no more than two seats and a maximum speed not exceeding 45 km/h.
Edition of international multi-discipline competition in France
Mega-event with 1,000 competitors from 100 nations
Opel Motorsport will perform slalom competition with Opel Corsa-e Rally
With the FIA Motorsport Games, which will be held for the first time in 2019, FIA (Fédération Internationale d'Automobile) is building a bridge between racing and other motorsport disciplines. At the first edition three years ago in Vallelunga, Italy, 49 nations competed for glory and medals in five disciplines. At the second FIA Motorsport Games from October 26-30, 2022, in southern France, around 1,000 competitors from 100 nations will compete.
This time there will be 17 different motorsport disciplines at four venues. New to the FIA Motorsport Games programme is the automobile slalom, for which the organisers had envisaged the use of battery-electric vehicles from the outset. As one of the leading manufacturers of battery-electric vehicles, Opel was an obvious choice with the Corsa-e Rally. Opel is successfully running the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup together with the ADAC and is also the only carmaker to have an electric rally variant already in use in its portfolio. Opel Motorsport will perform the agility test between the pylons with three of the 100 kW/136 hp one-make cup racers. Course is at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, the venue of the Formula 1 French Grand Prix.
“With its enormous torque of 260 Nm and high agility, Opel Corsa-e Rally is ideal for slaloms and therefore a perfect choice,” says Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott. “FIA Motorsport Games promise to be a mega event with a high international profile, which we are very happy to support. We are delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate the performance of the world’s first electric rally one-make cup car once again.”
Noller/Kopczyk start in Opel Corsa Rally4
Team Germany will take part in the FIA Motorsport Games with a total of 22 male and female competitors. Michelle Tute (28, Hanover) and Marcel Hellberg (29, Löhne) are nominated for the slalom competitions. Furthermore, 20-year-old René Noller from Abstatter and his experienced co-driver Stefan Kopczyk (41, Heilbronn) will represent Germany in the rally discipline in an Opel Corsa Rally4. Opel’s new customer rally car with the French crew Laurent Pellier/Marine Pelamourgues recently won the fifth European Junior Rally Championship (JERC) title for the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team.
Röhrl Monte winner: 1982 victory with Opel Ascona 400 was one of his best
Röhrl Opel GT lover: Perfect mix of driving fun and social acceptance
Röhrl Opel Corsa-e Rally fan: Respect for the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup
Röhrl birthday-boy: Up and down the mountains in snow-shoes
Walter Röhrl in Opel Ascona 400
Rally driver of the century. Best rally driver of all time. Driver of the millennium. Even the late, great Niki Lauda called him a “genius on wheels”! Who else could it be but Walter Röhrl, former Opel works rally driver, double world champion rally driver and multiple winner of the famous Monte Carlo Rally, who today celebrates his 75th birthday.
However, titles like these leave the Bavarian motorsports icon stone cold. All he ever wanted to do was prove that he was simply the best rally driver in the world. “My aim was to show that I can win in any car,” said Röhrl in the book Opel Motorsport mit Tradition. And his life’s ambition was to win the Monte Carlo Rally, which he achieved in four different cars.
Opel the reliable: Röhrl and Opel Ascona 400 defeat powerful rivals to win 1982 Monte
According to Röhrl himself (who won the 1974 European Rally Championship in a works Opel Ascona A with co-driver Jochen Berger), one of his best Monte Carlo victories of all came in 1982 with the Opel Ascona 400. “We were up against Hannu Mikkola in the Audi Quattro with four-wheel drive and at least 400 hp,” he remembers. “Our Opel Ascona 400 however, had only rear-wheel drive and 260 hp! But Opel ‘der Zuverlässige’ (Opel the reliable) did the name proud and by the second stage we were already firmly in the lead.”
Rest is history, as they say, and following the Monte win Röhrl went on to claim his second World Rally Drivers Championship title (and Opel’s first) on the gruelling Ivory Coast Rally.
Röhrl remains closely connected to Opel to this very day. For instance, he owns an Opel GT that he acquired from his former chief mechanic, Herbert Fabian. “I like to take the GT when I do the shopping,” he smiles, “it is the perfect mixture of driving fun and social acceptance – when you turn up in an Opel GT there is no jealousy, only admiration.”
ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup: “Remarkable achievement”
Röhrl, the perfectionist behind the wheel who is famous for his straight-talking, is also a keen follower of the all-electric ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup with the Opel Corsa-e Rally. “It’s remarkable what they have achieved there,” he acknowledges. “Charging is a particular difficulty. Of course, the stages have to be shorter now. Long stages that we used to drive are impossible electrically. But if that is the price for bringing rallying into the 21st century then it is the right way to go.”
Opel Corsa-e Rally
Today, as usual, the sports fanatic Röhrl will celebrate his birthday on snow-shoes: “Two hours, first trampling uphill then downhill – glorious! If I don’t do sport every day I get crabby, even though I’m not as fit as I used to be. But recently I was on my bike with friends – some of them only about 50 – and I still blew them off, not only downhill, but uphill too!”
That is pure Walter Röhrl, the legendary race and rally driver idolized by motorsport fans all over the world. What else is there to say but “Congratulations and many happy returns on your 75th from everyone at Opel!”
100% electric: Opel is pioneering with the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup 2021
Opel Team Belgium is making a revival and is taking part in this Cup that takes place in Germany
Bernard Munster provided a spectacle 30 years ago
Charles Munster Junior sets the torch on fire again
Charles Munster Junior with the fully electric Opel Corsa-e Rally
30 years ago, Opel Team Belgium was active in Belgian Rallying, in the hands of Bernard Munster , among others . With his Opel Corsa he created a spectacle and even turned his Corsa GSi into a Corsa pickup with a roll over, to the delight of the audience in Ypres. Now it is time for a revival and this time Charles Munster will defend the Belgian colors in a unique concept. After all, Opel is the first manufacturer to organize a Rally Cup with the fully electric Opel Corsa-e.
“I drove an Opel Corsa GSi for Opel Team Belgium for three years. I look back on that period with great pleasure. It was always a pleasant sight, I as a tall pilot and Willy Lux as a small co-pilot. We were a perfect duo and had a great time ”, Bernard tells us, now owner of BMA Motorsport.
Opel Corsa GSi - Opel Team Belgium
And he raised Rally driving to his sons. Both Grégoire and Charles were highly successful in the Opel ADAM Rally Cup for several years. They also learned the business with the Opel cars.
Munster family was immediately ready to take a chance with the Opel Corsa-e, which will compete in a number of competitions in the German championship this year. Electrification is obviously a very big step for them for a family with petrol in their veins, but it is also a unique evolution for them towards better protection of the environment.
Charles thus includes the gloves in the international plateau of this new formula.
“I am really looking forward to defending the colors of Opel Belgium in the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup 2021. This new formula is groundbreaking and is fully in line with the current realm of the responsibility that the automotive sector takes in the context of protecting the environment. I am already fully preparing - physically and mentally - for this championship ”, the sympathetic Charles Munster tells us.
“Car's “early torque” is particularly spectacular. And another big adjustment for us as pilots is especially good management of the brakes, since braking on the engine is not possible or less severe ”, says Charles.
Charles also told us that he has a good feeling about it because all aspects of safety are covered and go even further than for Rally cars with a petrol engine.
Deutscher Motor Sport Bund is responsible for ensuring that strict safety regulations can be met at all times during an event. One of the most important tasks for the DMSB is to train the rally marshals, from the marshals on the special stages to the staff of the Service Park. For all persons who have to perform certain tasks on or with an electric competition car, different safety certificates are required, which are categorized according to the colors blue-green, yellow-orange-red. Only those certified in the red category are allowed to work on the high voltage system of the Opel Corsa-e Rally or any other electric rally car.
The newly developed safety concept for the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup thus covers all relevant areas for the use of electric rally vehicles. It includes the technical specifications, the training of teams and rally marshals, as well as information for spectators at the special stages and in the Service Park.
We will keep you informed of the first achievements that Charles has in store for us!!
Yellow-black foil kit turns Opel Corsa-e visually into a rally car
Rally Design Kit developed with Opel partner SIGNal Design
Foil set available for €890 Euro (excl. VAT)
Opel Corsa-e with Rally Design Kit
Opel Corsa-e drivers can now make their production model look like the Corsa-e Rally competition car. Together with Opel Motorsport and its partner SIGNal Design, the Opel design team has developed a special foiling set for the Opel Corsa-e. Available at an attractive price of €890 (excl. VAT), Opel Corsa-e Rally Design Kit turns the “Golden Steering Wheel 2020” title-holder into an electric sports car look-alike.
Opel Corsa-e with Rally Design Kit
“We recently delivered the first Opel Corsa-e Rally cars to teams competing in the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup. With the Rally Design Kit, customers and fans can now transform their production Corsa-e into an eye-catching replica of our real rally machine”, said Opel Motorsport Director, Jörg Schrott
Looks and performance go together: Opel Corsa-e in rally look
Just like the rally car, the production Opel Corsa-e also has a powerful 100 kW/136 hp electric motor. A strong 260 Newton metres of torque are available from the first squeeze of the accelerator. Opel Corsa-e sprints from zero to 50 km/h in less than three seconds and reaches 100 km/h in just 8.1 seconds. Thanks to its 50 kWh battery, it also has plenty of energy and a WLTP range of up to 337 kilometres 1.
Opel Corsa-e with Rally Design Kit
As a prerequisite for the Rally Design Kit, Opel Corsa-e must be painted white. The set is already available for €890 and can be ordered here. There is a discount if ten or more Rally Design Kits are ordered at once.
Opel Corsa-e with Rally Design Kit
Experts should take care of the professional Corsa-e Rally look, ensuring a flawless appearance without annoying "bubbles" under the surface. Foil can be applied locally, but if preferred, the specialists from SIGNal Design can also take care of it for €1,320.
[1] Range determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). The actual range can vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, in particular on personal driving style, route characteristics, outside temperature, use of heating and air conditioning and thermal preconditioning.
Delivery of first 10 Opel Corsa-e Rally cars in Dudenhofen
Teams received car, equipment and information
Teams from six nations to take part in ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup
Delivery of first 10 Opel Corsa-e Rally cars in Dudenhofen
ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup is ready for its debut season. The first ten Opel Corsa-e Rally cars have already been delivered to customers. At the Test Centre in Dudenhofen, rally teams received not only the vehicle but also their equipment, including stylish team tents and racing overalls for drivers and co-drivers.
Opel Corsa-e Rally
During the vehicle delivery, the teams received a comprehensive briefing on the new e-technology. This was followed by extensive functional tests with the 100 kW (136 hp) electric cars. In addition, the customers were able to convince themselves of the high potential of the Opel Corsa-e Rally in the “hot seat” next to Opel racing legend, Volker Strycek, on the spectacular endurance track of the test centre.
Opel racing legend Volker Strycek in the Opel Corsa-e Rally
“Vehicle delivery was an important step for us, the teams and the project,” says Opel Motorsport Director, Jörg Schrott. “It is a clear signal that things are finally about to get underway. Anticipation and excitement for the start of the season could be felt by everyone. Remaining cars will now be delivered successively.”
After the cancellation of the ADAC ACTRONICS Rally Sulingen due to Corona, the season opener of the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup will now take place on June 11/12 at the ADAC Rally Stemweder Berg. In preparation, the teams of the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup will contest a test event beforehand to familiarise themselves with the vehicle and charging infrastructure. In addition, the teams will receive high-voltage training, which will be conducted and certified by TÜV Thüringen.
Teams from Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have registered for the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup 2021. Further details on the field of participants will be announced at a later date.
Three-day test totalling 1,500 km successfully completed
Four all-electric Corsa-e Rally cars simulate two rounds of German Rally Championship (DRM)
ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup begins in 2021 with one test event and eight qualifying rounds
New Opel Corsa-e Rally at the Pferdsfeld Test Center
Opel is electric – on the road and on the special stages. Opel Corsa-e Rally is the first all-electric rally car from a carmaker. Blitz-badged electric vehicles will next year take part in their own one-make series – the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup. Four Corsa-e Rally cars from Opel Motorsport, in the hands of drivers Marijan Griebel, Horst Rotter and Opel racing legend, Volker Strycek, last week completed three days of testing at the Pferdsfeld Test Center. 100 kW (136 hp) cars covered a total of 1,500 kilometres without problems. Opel Corsa-e Rally is based on the successful Opel Corsa-e, the winner of the 2020 Golden Steering Wheel.
Two complete rounds of the German Rally Championship (DRM) were rehearsed during the three-day test programme – including special stages, road sections and servicing. The unique features of electro-mobility, such as times spent driving and charging, temperature management of the battery and fine-tuning the software, were tested for the first time in a rally environment. All-electric cars also completed long runs to test the durability of the new components.
“It was an efficient and successful test”, said Opel Motorsport Director, Jörg Schrott. “We gathered important data and information for the ongoing preparations for the 2021 Opel e-Rally Cup. Unfortunately, several test rallies with our development cars could not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That made our rally simulation in Pferdsfeld even more important – as a result, the new Opel Corsa-e Rally is now ready to go.”
ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup will comprise eight qualifying rounds between spring and autumn 2021. An additional preparation rally for all registered teams is planned before the actual start of the season.
