Nürburgring 24 hours: ten Opel Astra OPC Cup cars compete in the world’s toughest endurance race on June 21 and 22.
There are venues that hold an outstanding place in their respective sports. Without a doubt, the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife is one of the world’s most famous motor racing circuits – especially when the legendary ADAC Zurich 24h-race takes place there for the 42nd time on June 21 and 22, 2014. Opel, one of the most successful marques in the race at the “green hell,” will be represented by ten Astra OPC Cup cars, alongside numerous privately owned race cars.
Opel Astra OPC Cup - Racing car
Successful racing cars from Rüsselsheim have a long tradition in the 36-year history of the VLN endurance racing championship. Nine champions have driven to victory in an Opel, with the Rüsselsheim-based manufacturer responsible for 17 outright wins. With 594 class victories, Opel is the third most successful brand. The overall victory at the 2003 24 hours by Manuel Reuter, Timo Scheider, Marcel Tiemann and Volker Strycek in their Opel Astra V8 Coupé remains a memorable moment in motor racing.
Opel Astra V8 Coupé winning the 24 hours race at the Nürburgring in 2003.
Last year, Opel revived this grand Nordschleife tradition with its Opel Astra OPC Cup. The racing version of the Astra OPC, which has been optimized for the 2014 season to combine high performance and professional technology at an affordable price, provides the technical basis for the Cup models.
Opel Astra OPC Cup - Racing car
However, the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife is more than just an extremely demanding race. It is also the site of one of the largest events in international sports and attracts some 200,000 fans every year to a gigantic party for everyone lucky enough to be there.
The tension increases: The legendary ADAC Zurich 24h-race takes place on the Nürburgring for the 42nd time.
The 42nd ADAC Zurich 24 hours starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2014.
Opel shows hot Astra OPC EXTREME as race-bred variant for public roads and track
Super sports car: This OPC EXTREME will be the fastest street-legal Opel Astra ever.
Opel will reveal a true super sports car at the 84th Geneva Motor Show (March 6 – 16). The study follows the tradition of the Astra OPC X-treme Concept shown in 2002. Then, as now, a real race car found its way from the racetrack to public roads. While the red OPC X-treme from 12 years ago remained a single specimen, the new EXTREME in typical Opel motorsport colors is to be the foundation for a low-volume production run. This OPC EXTREME will be the fastest street-legal Astra ever, true to the Opel Performance Center motto: “OPC. Pure Passion”.
Opel Astra OPC X-Treme Concept (2002)
The Opel Astra OPC EXTREME is a direct derivative of the Astra OPC Cup racecar from the Nürburgring Endurance Championship (VLN) – and street-legal ! High quality, carbon components reduce its weight compared to the 280 hp Astra OPC launched in 2012. An integrated safety structure, racing seats and six-point seatbelts means it comes equipped for the racetrack.
Opel Astra OPC Cup - Racecar
Opel Astra OPC EXTREME sports coupé features uncompromised racing technology for use on public roads – including the occasional detour to the Nürburgring Nordschleife. That’s where the idea for the Astra OPC EXTREME was born, at the Opel Performance Center which is based right next to the legendary track. Be it the Corsa OPC, Astra OPC or Insignia OPC – all Opel sports stars must successfully complete extensive, full-throttle test drives and a grueling 10,000 kilometer endurance program under the toughest conditions on the Nordschleife.
More information about the Opel Astra OPC EXTREME will follow next month.
FIA & MSA confirm that Opel/Vauxhall have set/broken 18 World and UK records
Astra covered over 3,000 miles in 24 hours on tortuous banked circuit
Exceptional reliability: Zero down-time for lead record car, despite 125+ mph average
Receiving the trophy and certificates for the 18 records: Volker Strycek, Head of OPC and Opel Motorsport, Alan Gow, Chairman of the MSA and Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director (from left).
Opel/Vauxhall flew into the record books today, after motorsport’s governing bodies confirmed that a recent attempt by two standard Astras to set and break 18 World and UK Speed Endurance Records had been successful. The lead Astra 2.0 CDTI 165 hp in the attempt covered a total of 3002.44 miles at an average 125.101 mph, only stopping for fuel and a single, cautionary change of its Michelin tires.
The two winning Astras make it over the finishing line
In partnership with sister company Vauxhall, Opel attempted two sets of speed endurance records at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, UK: 12 in the FIA’s* 1600-2000cc forced-induction diesel production car class, and a further six in the MSA’s* 1500-2000cc forced-induction diesel production car class. All 18 records (see table below) were achieved, with key records such as the World 1-, 6-, and 12-hour broken conclusively, and the long-standing UK 24-hour smashed by 25 mph.
Opel/Vauxhall invited a team of twelve drivers to complete the challenge, comprising nine motoring journalists and three Opel/Vauxhall staff. Each drove a total of four hours, split between the two cars.
Group photo of journalists and Opel team in front of record Astras
Despite circulating the two-mile banked circuit 1,500 times, both Astras proved hugely reliable and consistently quick, with the fastest two-mile lap achieved in 55.453 seconds at an average speed of 131.852 mph, just 2.148 mph below the car’s official top speed – no mean feat, given the steep banking on Millbrook High Speed Bowl’s fifth lane.
“We’re over the moon with today’s news,” said Volker Strycek, Opel Director Performance Cars & Motorsport and team captain of the world record drivers. “This was an important test for the Astra, and it proved that a car with the qualities that most motorists are after – exceptional reliability, a good performance/economy blend and long-distance comfort – can be found at their nearest Opel showroom.”
“But the attempt was also a success thanks to the stamina and skill of our driving team, who performed faultlessly through the attempt. The team’s ruthless adherence to FIA rules, Michelin’s great support and Millbrook’s efficiency and experience with speed attempts completed the picture and turned an audacious attempt into an unqualified success. Last but not least thanks to the whole Opel/Vauxhall team and especially our fantastic pit crew,”said Strycek.
A smiling team captain Volker Strycek meets his pit crew at the end of the race
A trophy presentation was made to Opel/Vauxhall by the MSA’s Chairman, Alan Gow, on the opening day of the Autosport International Racing Car Show yesterday at the NEC (http://www.autosportinternational.com/).
2013 FIA Land Speed Records
Category B Class 9 (over 1,600cc to 2,000cc): Diesel cycle engine with forced induction
Record
Date
Elapsed time hh:mm:ss.sss
Speed-MPH
Speed-KPH
10 Kilometers
Saturday 05 October, 2013
03:14.629
114,933
184,967
10 Miles
Saturday 05 October, 2013
05:02.551
118.988
191,492
100 Kilometers
Saturday 05 October, 2013
29:16.907
127,322
204,905
100 Miles
Saturday 05 October, 2013
47:00.753
127,625
205,392
500 Kilometers
Saturday 05 October, 2013
02:27:32.572
126,343
203,330
500 Miles
Saturday 05 October, 2013
03:58:41.296
125,686
202,272
1000 Kilometers
Saturday 05 October, 2013
04:55:04.596
126,347
202,337
1000 Miles
Sunday 06 October, 2013
07:58:36.097
125,365
201,755
Distance- Miles
Distance- Kilometers
1 Hour
Saturday 05 October, 2013
128,024
206,036
128,024
206,036
6 Hours
Saturday 05 October, 2013
125,418
201,842
752,514
1211,055
12 Hours
Sunday 06 October, 2013
125,103
201,335
1501,247
2416,023
24 Hours
Sunday 06 October, 2013
125,101
201,331
3002,440
4831,960
2013 British Land Speed Records
Class E (over 1,500cc to 2,000cc) – Group III: Diesel cycle engine with forced induction
Record
Date
Elapsed time hh:mm:ss.sss
Speed-MPH
Speed-KPH
100 Miles
Saturday 05 October, 2013
47:00.753
127,625
205,390
1000 Kilometers
Saturday 05 October, 2013
04:55:04.596
126,347
202,337
1000 Miles
Saturday 05 October, 2013
07:58:36.097
125,365
201,755
Distance - Miles-
Distance - Kilometers
1 Hour
Saturday 05 October, 2013
128,024
206,036
128,024
206,036
12 Hours
Saturday 05 October, 2013
125,103
201,335
1501,247
2416,023
24 Hours
Sunday 06 October, 2013
125,101
201,331
3002,774
4831,960
New FIA/MSA record holders:
The drivers listed below achieved all the above records collectively
Driver
Publication
Owen Mildenhall
Auto Express
Matthew Prior
Auto Car
Richard Aucock
Motoring Research
Alisdair Suttie
The Scottish Sun
David Finlay
Car Keys
Pere Prat
La Vanguardia
Alexander Lidl
Autozeitung
Carlos Hernandez
LUIKE Iberoamericana de Revistas
('Autofácil' and 'CAR&Tecno')
Franco Nugnes
Omnicorse
Volker Strycek
Opel
Peter Hass
Opel
Simon Hucknall
Vauxhall Motors
*FIA – Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile; MSA – Motor Sports Association
Transfer of 20 Racing Touring cars at the Nürburgring
Customer Teams can benefit from comprehensive service package
With the handover of 20 Astra OPC "Cup" takes the racing comeback of Opel to take shape. Right on traditional Nurburgring, the scene of future wheel-to-wheel duels, got drivers and teams the opportunity to know their use device closer. Protagonist of the official Opel return to the racetrack, the new Astra OPC in a race version for customer sport. The on the Nordschleife developed and coordinated Cup cars are technically designed for the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring. As part of this popular grassroots racing series in Europe - the starting flag for the first of ten races falls on 23 March - the Opel customer teams compete in a separate class and the Opel exclusive brand trophy, the Astra OPC Cup to score points. Highlight of the season, the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife (17 to 20 May).
"With the commitment in the VLN Championship makes us reflect on our motor sport roots, the grassroots", Opel Motorsport Director Joerg Schrott told pilots, team managers, VLN representatives and partners. "The Astra OPC, Cup 'offers our customers the ability to run high profile motor sport - with top equipment and sporting perspective on professional level and at reasonable cost. All 20 cars were sold within a few days. This overwhelming response confirms our pleasure and our new concept. "
For Opel grassroots approach includes a comprehensive benefits package. At the center of this package is the new emergency vehicle, the Astra OPC "Cup", which was developed by Opel in close cooperation with the proven partner Kissling Motorsport and built. It inspired the engineers consistently. To the ideas and needs of private drivers Team boss Stefan Kissling: "The series Astra OPC is well suited as a base for a racing car. In preparation for the first season we completed over 7,000 test kilometers with the Cup version. Here there was zero problems and no reason to touch the substance or changing something fundamental. "This resulted in a race car, the high performance and competitiveness at low cost offers.
The Astra OPC "Cup" with two-liter turbo engine produces 300 hp. For technical specifications include the lightweight body with carbon components and integrated security structure, the multi-adjustable Bilstein performance suspension and high-performance 6-piston monoblock brake system of Performance Friction.
About the excellent material also offers Opel motorsport customers the technical and organizational support to the racetrack and fair prices for spare parts. For added attraction provides a prize pot with attractive premiums. "That's a great concept from Opel," says his 48-year-old Berliner Thorsten Wolter of TKS Motorsport team. "The bill for our riders goes to full. With this car you can really move on the Nordschleife what. So I'm glad to have equal access. I look forward to an exciting season. "
Transmission: six-speed gearbox, front axle differential lock
Chassis: HiPerStrut front suspension, Watts link rear suspension, multi adjustable Bilstein performance suspension
Steering: Safety steering column, electro-hydraulic power steering
Wheels: ATS GTR, 9.5 x 18 inches
Braking system: Performance Friction 6-piston monoblock front calliper, ABS system
Disc: 378 mm ventilated (front), 314 mm ventilated (rear axle)
Body: lightweight bodyshell with integrated safety structure
Inside: SPARCO Competition seat (HANS system capable), electrically triggered fire extinguishing system, side impact protection, 100-liter FT3 safety fuel tank, pneumatic quick lifting system (optional)
Outside: Carbon doors and hood, carbon fiber rear wing and front lip, broadened lightweight bumpers and fenders
Electrical: AIM Screen logger system with shift lamp and data recording
Dimensions and weight: length 4,600 mm, width 1,910 mm, height 1,390 mm, wheelbase 2695 mm, 1280 kg
Racing History: Opel sets milestones
In circuit racing sport for the brand with the flash mainly due to her "home course", the Nürburgring Nordschleife, countless touring car victories. Vision function were the triumphs in the professional sector. Thus, as of 1993, controlled by the Manuel Reuter Calibra V6 for Fan icon, first in the DTM and finally winning the title in 1996 in the succeeding series ITC. Other highlights: the manufacturers' championship in 1998 in the DTM / ITC series STW successor to the Vectra and the overall victory at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 2003 with the Astra V8 Coupe.
Customer sport and new talent development with circuit and rally track
Internationally focused rally program with new Opel ADAM Cup
Circuit program focused on Germany with new Opel Astra OPC Cup
Dr. Thomas Sedran, Deputy CEO of the Adam Opel AG and Michael
F. Meyer, Executive Director, Product Marketing & Motorsport Opel /
Vauxhall
Opel is returning to motor racing in the form of an internationally
oriented rally program with the new Opel ADAM and a circuit for the new
Astra OPC that focusses on Germany. "These new motorsports activities
play an important role in the strategic realignment of the company;
they are a fundamental element of our brand profile," says Dr. Thomas
Sedran, Opel’s Deputy CEO. Especially in grassroots, popular sports, the
Ruesselsheim carmaker can look back on a long and successful tradition.
The aim of the company is to create a new competition that appeals to
customers which is both technically sophisticated and reasonably priced,
while at the same time providing a platform for young ambitious drivers
to continuously develop their talent.
Dr. Thomas Sedran, Opel’s Deputy CEO in the new Opel ADAM Cup
Rally: Professional talent development in cooperation with the ADAC
With its commitment to rally sports, Opel has the European stage now
in its sights. After all, beyond the core market of Germany, there is a
strong interest in rallying in all of the key European markets of the
brand. Moreover, the World Motor Sport Authority FIA also has fixed
regulations that provide entry points and advancement opportunities for
young drivers. A rally cup version of the new Opel ADAM, which has been
closely specified to FIA R2 standards, will be used in the 2013 season.
As part of the "ADAC Rally Masters” race series these customer cars will
compete in a branded cup (" ADAC Opel Rally Cup "). The allure of the
competition is also increased by the fact that the most successful
drivers can expect to win cash prizes. In addition, there is a special
"junior rally" points system for drivers younger than 27 years. The
overall winner of a set of final trials will get special coaching in the
next season.
New Opel ADAM “Cup“ for amateur/customer sport enthusiasts will take
part in the 2013 season of the “ADAC rally masters” competition as part
of the branded “ADAC Opel Rally Cup” trophy.
As a strong partner Opel was able to gain an ally in the ADAC that
shares an almost identical vision for new talent development. Above all,
the ADAC uses its organizational and motorsport infrastructure for the
common project. Opel's strategy has been devised to last initially until
2016. After that a modular development program has been envisaged where
talented rally drivers can graduate from the “ADAC Opel Rally Cup” to
an international level. In the first two of four stages, the ADAM will
be employed. In stages three and four the next generation Opel Corsa is
expected to be the rally vehicle.
Circuit: “Opel Astra OPC Cup” part of the VLN endurance championships
The automotive element of Opel’s involvement on the circuit is the
new Astra OPC. It is being made available from the 2013 season onwards
as a racing version for customer sports. The Cup cars are engineered to
match the "VLN Endurance Championship" standards which are the most
popular grass roots racing series in Europe. The cars will also compete
in a brand trophy in their own class ("Astra OPC Cup").
New Opel Astra OPC “Cup” designed for amateur/customer grass roots sports
will take part in the 2013 season as part of the VLN endurance
championships on the Nuerburgring
Armed with a rear spoiler: New Opel Astra OPC “Cup” is geared towards
maximum aerodynamics and will take part in the 2013 season of the VLN
endurance championship on the Nuerburgring track.
The highlight of
the season is expected to be a 24-hour race on the Nuerburgring race
track.
An especially attractive benefits package is being offered for
private competitors, which is not limited to top performance and
affordable cutting edge racing technology. In addition to the rally
project, there is a pot of money with attractive cash prizes.
Additionally, customers benefit from competitively priced spare parts as
well as technical and organizational support on and off the race track.
Motor sports history: Opel creates milestones
The most succesful era of the company’s rally history began in the
mid-seventies. It was quite literally “driven” by the German driver,
Walter Roehrl, one of the all-time top rally pilots. During his time
with Opel, he and his Ascona A won the European championship title in
1974 and again in with the Ascona B in 1979.
Opel Ascona A Rally – 1974 version. At the wheel of the Ascona A Walter
Roehrl and his co-pilot Jochen Berger win six out ouf nine races and win
the 1974 European championships.
Bulgaria rally 1974:
„Beyond good and evil“ This is how the “Rally Racing“ magazine describes
the young Opel team and is confident “to witnessed the new European
champions in action“.
The crowning glory of the
Regensburg man’s era was his world championship title in 1982. He
achieved this with his legendary Ascona 400.
Opel Ascona B 400, here with the rally World champion, Walter Roehrl, in the driver’s seat in 1982.
Rally World championships 1982: The Bandana on the Ivory Coast
delivers the decisive win Opel is looking for in the 1982 World
championship. It’s the second titel for Walter Roehrl and Christian
Geistdoerfer in the Opel Ascona B 400 since 1980.
Opel is just as at home on
the racing circuit. In grass root touring cars competitions, the brand
with the famous lightening logo achieved countless successes on its home
turf, the northern loop of the Nuerburgring race track. From 1993
onwards Manuel Reuter became a favorite with the fan community thanks to
his Calibra V6 that competed professionally. He first drove it in the
DTM competition and eventually won a title in the subsequent ITC series.
Opel motor sport ITC Joest team with Manuel Reuter and his Opel Calibra (1996)
Further highlights included the car makers’ championship of the DTM/ITC
in 1998 in the STW series with the help of his Vectra.
Uwe Alzen pictured in 1998 inside his 300 hp Vectra. Uwe Alzen was
the top Opel company driver in terms of points, both in 1998 and the
year before.
Overall victory
in the 24-hour Nuerburgring race 2003 was achieved with an Opel Astra V8
coupé.
24-Hour Race at the Nuerburgring 2003: Opel Astra Coupé V8 (later the overall winner), the drivers: Manuel Reuter, Timo Scheider, Marcel Tiemann and Volker Strycek
