Luca Pröglhöf is unstoppable in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup "powered by GSe" 2024. Guided perfectly as always by co-driver Christina Ettel, the 25-year-old Austrian celebrated his fourth win of the season at the ADAC Rallye Stemweder Berg and extended his lead in the overall standings to 42 points. "That was a tough piece of work," sighed Pröglhöf, who had gone into the fifth of eight races of the season with health problems. "We had to give everything from start to finish and couldn't afford to make any mistakes. But that's the way I like it best - fight hard and celebrate hard at the end."

In fact, the Viennese had to fight much harder for his triumph in the asphalt race around Lübbecke than he did recently in his home victory in Weiz. Besides the championship leader, who was the fastest in four of the ten special stages covering a total of 101 kilometers, Christian Lemke, who has been plagued by bad luck in recent events, put in an impressive performance with four fastest times. In the end, the 24-year-old from Martfeld and his co-driver Jan-Eric Bemmann crossed the finish line in second place, 12.9 seconds behind Pröglhöf, thus moving up to fourth place in the overall standings. "After the setbacks of the previous rallies, this second place feels really good," said the delighted winner of the season opener in Sulingen. "We were able to show that we have the speed to fight at the front if everything goes right."

Frenchman Anthony Rott remains second in the standings, climbing onto the podium once again with his brother Adrien in third place. "I'm satisfied, but not very satisfied. There's still a bit missing, but we're getting closer and closer," commented the Alsatian. Fourth place went to the Spaniards Alex Español Jove/Daniel Rivera De La Red, who, like the Rotts, also set a best time. Johannes Wittenbeck also drove a strong rally. The man from Munich and his co-driver Maximilian Kugler got the rally off to a perfect start with the second-fastest time in SS1 and maintained a high rhythm, which ultimately brought them the best result of their Cup career with fifth place. "Simply fantastic," beamed Wittenbeck. "We were well prepared and had agreed for the first time that I wouldn't record any times, but simply drive at my own pace. I could feel in the cockpit that things were going really well. We are really happy!" Kilian Nierenz and Milena Raithel finished sixth, although they did not score any points as guest entrants in their debut in the world's first electric one-make rally cup. "It was big fun! The car is great, we got going better and better and felt right at home in the Cup straight away. We definitely want to be there next year," said Nierenz.

Claire Schönborn also made an impeccable debut in the Cup. The 25-year-old from Löffelscheid, who has made a name for herself as a fast hill climb driver, made an excellent start to her first rally alongside her experienced co-driver Lisa Kiefer in sixth place in SS1. The rally novice also completed the demanding asphalt stages on the second day without any major mistakes and finished in a fine eighth place. "I was a bit nervous beforehand because, despite intensive preparation, I didn't know how I would feel about driving according to the instructions. But it worked well right from the start, of course also thanks to Lisa's perfect guidance," emphasized Claire. "After a good start, I put a bit of a damper on myself with two mistakes on Saturday morning. Things got much better as the day went on, and all in all I can be satisfied with my performance. The support from Opel and the Holzer team was great, and I can only thank everyone who made this guest start possible. I hope it doesn't stop there ..."

Schönborn was the second-best lady in the field behind Belgian Lyssia Baudet and her co-driver Lea Sam Caw Freve. Emma Chalvin and Emy Ailloud-Perraud had a lot of bad luck as they got better and better over the course of the rally, but hit a tree when they went off the road in SS12. The two Frenchwomen were uninjured, but their Corsa Rally Electric was badly damaged. "We hit rolling gravel and that was it. I hope we can fix the car before the next event," reported 23-year-old Chalvin.

Especially as this is a home race for Emma and Emy as well as for their FFSA Academy teammates Alizée Pottier and Manon Perrin and the Rott brothers. The sixth round of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup "powered by GSe" is another real highlight. On September 6/7, the teams will meet with their speedy electric cars at the Mont-Blanc Morzine Rally against the beautiful backdrop at the foot of the highest mountain in the Alps.

Point standings ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” after 5 of 8 rounds

1. Pröglhöf 165 points. 2. Rott 123. 3. Español 96. 4. Lemke 71. 5. Chalvin 68. 6. Hangodi 64. 7. Baudet 63. 8. Wittenbeck 53. 9. Pottier 38. 10. Melse 37. 11. Kamermans 16. 12. Bayer 14.