Opel & ADAC extend electric rally partnership
Opel and ADAC have extended their partnership in electric rallying ahead of schedule until 2024. The next will be the third season of the electric racing series, taking part across Europe.
Even before the start of the third season, the electric rally one-make cup, which was previously known as the ‘ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup’, is taking off with the new name ‘ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup powered by GSe’. GSe stands for ‘Grand Sport electric’ in Opel’s designations. Currently, a total of eight events in four countries are scheduled as part of the competition for the 2023 season, including Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland.
The vehicles feature 100 kW/136 hp output based on the battery-electric Opel Corsa Rally Electric. The technical specifications have not changed much from the initially introduced race cars from 2019, although some upgrades to improve driving behaviour have been made since then, as announced in early 2022.
“Opel and the ADAC created the world’s first electric one-make rally cup together. This pioneering spirit has set a powerful and important example in international rallying,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl. “We will continue and further develop this innovative racing series together – in line with our sporty GSe top models and our strategy of becoming a fully electric brand in Europe by 2028.”
The racing series had initially launched in 2020, intended to replace the combustion vehicle-based ADAC Opel Rally Cup. However, technical development was still an issue at the announcement, as Director of Opel Motorsport, Jörg Schrott, explained: “The demanding development programme is going according to plan, but is far from completed yet.”
Since then, the rally has come far, as Schrott now says: “The cooperation between ADAC and Opel is a prime example of successful talent promotion. Both partners share a common philosophy and strategy. Around 120 drivers from 19 nations have taken their first steps in professional rallying since the 2013 season in the ADAC and Opel cups.”
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