- Kick-off at the ADAC Rallye Sulingen: Spaniard Alex Español celebrates first win of the season
- Top placings: With Christian Lemke and Kilian Nierenz, two German drivers finish on the podium
The ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” has made a successful start to its fifth season at the ADAC Actronics Rallye Sulingen. After an exciting battle, which was sometimes decided by fractions of a second in the Opel Corsa Rally Electric, the Spaniard Alex “Sito” Español and his co-driver Borja Odriozola prevailed. After around 108 kilometres of special stages and two special stage best times, the Iberians were 8.1 seconds ahead of the Germans Christian Lemke/Jan-Eric Bemmann and the newcomers Kilian Nierenz/Milena Raithel. “That was a great start,” said a delighted Español. “In the first special stages we had to find our speed first, but from Saturday morning the confidence was back. That was a hard piece of work, so we’re all the happier with the win.”
Last year’s Sulingen winner Christian Lemke was also satisfied with his start to the season: “We worked a lot over the winter – in terms of cooperation in the cockpit as well as in the car set-up. All of this has borne fruit. We didn’t risk anything on the last stages. Sito drove a great rally, and the competition is extremely strong again. The goal has to be to pick up points regularly in order to hopefully be among the front runners at the end of the season.” Elsewhere, newcomer Kilian Nierenz was beaming: “It just went great. We didn’t expect to challenge for the lead and even win the Power Stage in the end. We gave everything and are now really happy. Of course, we will continue to do our best.” Fourth place went to the winners of last year’s Cup final at the Central European Rally, the Belgians Tom Heindrichs and Jonas Schmitz.
Close together: Strong field of participants promises exciting season
The balance in the field of 15 Opel Corsa Rally Electric was remarkable. In addition to the four drivers already mentioned, the Frenchmen Anthony and Adrien Rott as well as the Austrian Maximilian Lichtenegger and his German co-driver Pascal Raabe each achieved a special stage best time. Guest driver Sebastian Lange was also strong. The winner of the 2024 ADAC Clubsport Rally Sprint and his Cup-experienced co-driver Paul Gehbauer made their mark with a fifth and sixth fastest time, among other things, but slipped into a ditch twice and thus out of the standings.
Aoife Raftery and Hannah McKillop made a successful debut in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup. The Irish, who otherwise compete in the Junior European Championship, got along better and better with the Corsa Rally Electric, which was new to them, and finished eighth in the end. “It was not only our first rally in the Cup, but also our first rally in Germany. There was a lot to learn,” admitted Raftery. “I was surprised by the good performance of the Corsa Rally Electric, especially the high grip level that the car offers. It’s important to take the speed with you and let the car run. We will benefit from this experience in other rallies. We felt very comfortable in the Cup. Everything is well organised, all crews have the same material, so everything is fair. It was a great experience.”
Opel Motorsport boss Jörg Schrott drew a thoroughly positive conclusion from the start of the fifth season of the world’s first electric rally one-make cup: “15 teams from seven nations fought an exciting battle. Above all, I was impressed by the numerous newcomers, even if in the end the veterans prevailed again. Our new charging infrastructure worked perfectly, as did the vehicles. This start to the season has whetted the appetite for more.”
The second round of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” 2025 will take place on May 23/24 as part of the ELE Rally around Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Standings ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” after 1 of 7 races:
1. Español 30 points
2. Lemke 29
3. Nierenz 27
4. Heindrichs 22
5. Kamermans 18
6. Wittenbeck 14
7. M. Neulinger 12
8. Raftery 10
9. Jungnickel 8
10. Rott 6
11. Steitz and Lichtenegger both 5
