Opel Adam Is A Perfect Match For Young Rally Drivers

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

Opel's return to motorsport is picking up speed. This Friday the vehicles were handed over to the 24 participants in the “ADAC Opel Rallye Cup”. The young rally drivers praised the commitment of the Rüsselsheimers.

Opel's motorsport involvement continues to accelerate. After the car manufacturer handed over 20 Astra OPCs to the Opel one-make cup teams at the Nürburgring two weeks ago as part of the VLN endurance championship, the “ADAC Opel Rallye Cup” is now going on. The first race of this competition will be on 5./6. April take place in the Ore Mountains.

Outstanding importance of rallying

This Friday, the Adam Cup was presented to 24 teams at the Opel plant in Eisenach. "We are happy to finally show the flag in motorsport again," said Opel Motorsport Director Michael F. Meyer in Eisenach, where the small car has been produced exclusively since January 10th. The Opel Adam Cup, with which the teams will be on the road, has a 140 hp 1.6 liter naturally aspirated engine with a sequential Sadev five-speed gearbox and costs less than 25,000 euros.

As part of the motorsport commitment of the Rüsselsheim-based company, rallying in particular is of outstanding importance. The "ADAC Opel Rallye Cup" is currently the most important pillar of the strategy, as Meyer emphasized. "At the time, we took a very close look at the interest in motorsport in Europe, deliberately removed our German glasses and realized that there is an even greater interest in rallying than in touring car racing in Opel's core markets," said the Opel motorsport director.

The conclusion was obvious to those responsible. "Something has to be done for the rally youngsters in Germany." Opel has done something and for customers interested in motorsport "put together a perfect starter package for entering the rally: with top material, a professional appearance, professional structures", as Meyer added, "and all of this at manageable costs". A dream partner would have been found in the ADAC.

Praise from the rally youngsters

The Opel employees' commitment is well received by the younger generation. "For us, the ADAC Rallye Cup is a great concept for promoting young talent from Opel, which is also affordable for beginners," said Alexander Rath from Trier during the handover of the vehicle in Eisenach. And his team mate Marijan Griebel from Hahnweiler added: "We are starting in an attractive competitive environment that is motivating and additional." The “ADAC Opel Rallye Cup” has the highest priority this year for the two motorsport enthusiasts, who have also gained their first experience in other racing series.

Anke Glasses from the Helfenstein Automobile Club also praised the new competition. "The Opel Adam is a perfect match for us young rally drivers." Her teammate Melanie Schulz said: "The main incentive is that everyone starts under the same conditions." The interest in this racing series was enormous. "Just 22 days after the official presentation of the new rally series, all 24 starting positions among the more than 70 applicants were already taken," said ADAC Motorsport Director Lars Soutschka.

For the participants in the “ADAC Opel Rallye Cup”, further prospects in rallying open up, because the Rüsselsheim-based company has based its commitment on sustainability. Because of the proximity of the Adam Cup variant to the R2 regulations, the youngsters have the opportunity to upgrade their vehicle for the next higher class with little effort. Opel had already presented such a vehicle to the public at the Geneva Motor Show. (AG / FM)