Preparations for the second season of the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup are underway at great speed, anticipating the restart of the fight for points, scheduled for the ADAC Actronics Rally, in Sulingen (Germany), on the road from the 6th of May . The world’s first electric single-make rally cup takes on an even higher level in the new 2022 season, higher than in its successful debut year.
The Opel Corsa-e Rally was also the subject of important updates, improvements integrated during the winter closed season. A newly developed multi-disc limited-slip differential increases the traction capacity of this electric rally car to 100 kW/136 hp, while the integrated software update improves the thermal management of the 50 kW/h battery. In addition, a modified sound system increases the acoustic appeal of your passage.
The attractive calendar includes seven rounds of the German Rally Championship (DRM*), which are joined by complementary events in Austria, France and the Netherlands, boosted by the very international spectrum of participants. German rally aces face competitors from six other nations. The Germans Lukas Thiele, Christian Lemke, Joe Baur, Max Reiter and Alexander Kattenbach, as well as the Dutch veteran Timo van der Marel, are six old foxes who are betting on a second season of this electric cup; on the opposite side, Timo Schulz, just 22 years old, makes his debut at the wheel of the Corsa-e Rally with the support of ADAC Saarland.
But there are other rookies with high ambitions, such as the Swede Calle Carlberg and the Finnish Kalle Markanen, both defending the colors of the experienced Schmack Motorsport team. Luca Pröglhöf, young (22) and promising Austrian talent from Sittendorf, will compete in an Opel Corsa-e Rally from Opel Austria, entered by Stohl Racing. Dutchman Jari van Hoof enjoyed the sport so much at last year’s Rally Sachsen that he will now play a full season in the cup, in the team of his mentor Timo van der Marel. Finally, Saintéloc Racing, the French team that won the championship a year ago, presents itself from the start with the 30-year-old Romanian Cristiana Oprea, the only female driver in this illustrious list of entries.
Two British Corsa-e Rally’s in the cup and a TotalEnergies ‘VIP’ unit
Two interesting new entries come from the UK. One of them is done through the British brand Vauxhall, which enters a Corsa-e Rally that will be driven by guest pilots, in a rotation system; the other highlight comes from the enrollment of a second unit, even receiving sponsorship from the British Government, in a project driven by Simon Moss, who teaches motorsports management at Myerscough College in Bilsborrow, Lancashire, using the innovative concept of ADAC Opel e- Rally Cup as a showcase for your studies.
In addition, the Total Energies “VIP” Corsa-e Rally unit will be used in selected events as a vehicle for co-drive sessions, or even registered in the races, with invited drivers. Global technology partner of the Stellantis Group, Total Energies is increasing its involvement in the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup for this season.
ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup 2022 Calendar
6-7 May ADAC Actronics Rallye Sulingen DRM
20-21 May ELE Rally, Eindhoven Netherlands
10-11Junho ADAC Rally Stemweder Berg, Lübbecke DRM
14-16 July Rallye Weiz Austria
19-20 Agosto ADAC Saarland-Palatinate Rally, St. Wendel DRM
8-10 September Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine France
14-15 Outubro ADAC 3-City Rally, Lower Bavaria DRM
