- Exciting: ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup offers superb electric rally sport
- Multi-national: Five drivers from five countries among top five in final standings
- Sustainable: Opel receives “DMSB Sustainability Award 2023” for pioneering Cup concept
- International: ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup to be held in five countries in 2024
In its third season, the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” has once again offered electrifying rally sport at the highest level – with events, competition and a sustainable concept that are already generating eager anticipation for 2024. Preparations for the fourth season of the Cup are already in full swing. Numerous young teams will then compete for points on eight rallies in five countries – international, exciting and, above all, locally emissions-free.
lectric, innovative, sustainable: Successful electric 2023 rally season
In the past few months, teams from seven nations, including three all-female crews, have fought hard battles for tenths of a second. Up to 15 100 kW/136 hp Opel Corsa Rally Electric cars were at the start of the eight rallies in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland. The season finale and highlight was the first participation of electric rally cars in a round of the FIA World Rally Championship. The Central European Rally with special stages in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic presented a special challenge that was mastered with flying colours by the Cup teams and cars.
The season was not only extremely exciting, but also extremely sustainable. This was underlined by the expert jury of the German Motor Sport Federation, which awarded Opel the “DMSB Sustainability Prize 2023”. The highest German motorsport authority praised the pioneering concept of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” with the near-production battery-electric Corsa Rally Electric and the associated infrastructure.
Excitement down to the finish line: Title decided at final around
In terms of sport, the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup 2023 left nothing to be desired. After a tough duel throughout the season, the title contest between Calle Carlberg (23, Sweden) and Max Reiter (23, Germany) was only decided at the season finale. In front of the World Rally Championship elite and around 125,000 motorsport fans, the Austrian Luca Pröglhöf (24) stood on the top step of the winner’s podium for the first time. The four-time season winner Carlberg secured the overall cup victory with second place ahead of Reiter, who fought his way back up to third place after an early puncture. However, this was not enough to overtake the Scandinavian in the overall ranking.
By winning the title, Carlberg automatically qualified to compete in the Junior European Rally Championship (JERC) in the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team. In next year’s European Rally Championship, the young Swede will compete against the fastest rally juniors on the continent.
Sarah Rumeau also caused quite a stir. The 28-year-old Frenchwoman started her electric adventure with a best time in the first special stage of the season opener at the ADAC Rallye Sulingen and was always involved in the fight for the top positions. Rumeau and her co-driver Julie Amblard finished a total of six rounds in the top four and achieved their first podium finish in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup at the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine. Also doing well was the six-time French hillclimb champion Cindy Gudet, who had a promising year in the second Corsa Rally Electric from the FFSA Academy. In doing so, the women’s teams underlined the statement that the eye-catching Opel Corsa Rally Electric designed by Berlin artist Elisa Klinkenberg, symbolised this season: “We drive our way. We are leaders. We drive with confidence. We drive with tailwind. Because we are many and we are loud. It’s time for a FEMALE DRIVE.”
With Carlberg, Reiter, Pröglhöf, Rumeau and the Dutchman Jari van Hoof, five drivers from five different nations headed the 2023 overall standings in the world’s first electric one-make rally cup.
Opel Motorsport boss, Jörg Schrott: “That proves the close competition and international diversity in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, which are also reflected in the increasingly high perception of our project within and beyond the borders of Germany. This third Cup season was even more closely fought and unpredictable than the two previous ones. We had starters from seven nations, the three ladies’ crews were a huge asset and the eight qualifying rounds offered everything that makes rallying so demanding and fascinating. We have therefore raised the bar very high for ourselves for the fourth season but, as always, we are once again determined to clear it.”
Outlook 2024: Eight qualifying rounds in five countries
The ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup 2024 again comprises eight rounds. The season begins, as in the previous three years, with the ADAC Rallye Sulingen, which – together with the ADAC Rallye Stemweder Berg in August – is part of the Germany Rally Championship (DRM). The Cup teams will travel outside Germany five times. After a year’s absence, the all-electric rally cars return to the Netherlands near Eindhoven with the ELE Rally. The Rallye Vosges Grand-Est is the first of three Cup rounds in France.
Then comes the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine at the beginning of September, followed three weeks later by the Rallye Coeur de France, which as the name says, takes place in the heart of France around Vendôme. The Rallye Weiz in Austrian Styria has become a popular fixture in the past two years. The Central European Rally, with its stars from the world rally championship and enthusiastic fans, once again forms the final round.
Entries for the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” 2024 will open soon.
Dates ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” 2024
(Current status):
03./04.05. ADAC Rallye Sulingen (DRM) DE
24./25.05. ELE Rally, Eindhoven NL
15./16.06. Rallye Vosges Grand-Est, Gérardmer FR
12./13.07. Rallye Weiz AT
09./10.08. ADAC Rallye Stemweder Berg, Lübbecke (DRM) DE
06./07.09. Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine FR
28./29.09. Rallye Coeur de France, Vendôme FR
31.10.-03.11. Central European Rally, Passau (WRC) DE/AT/CZ
