With his victory in the third race of the Rally Vosges Grand-Est, Belgian Tom Heindrichs has made the title fight in the 2025 ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup ‘powered by GSE’ even more exciting. Spaniard Alex "Sito" Español continues to lead the pack and currently holds a 17-point advantage. But with their outstanding performance in the Vosges, Heindrichs, the brother of World Rally Champion Thierry Neuville and co-driver Jonas Schmitz are serious contenders for the title with everything to play for in the second half of the season in the world's first electric rally one-make cup .
Two German crews will also travel to the Opel Corsa Rally Electric showdown at the ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rally on August 15 and 16 with high hopes. Kilian Nierenz and his co-driver Milena Raithel achieved their second podium finish of the current season in France. And veteran Christian Lemke, in his fifth season in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, will be chasing points and hoping to close the gap at the race around Sankt Wendel with his co-driver Pascal Raabe.
In addition, the Dutch duo Fabian Kamermans/Stefan Müller, who shone with a second place at their home race as part of the ELE Rally, are among the podium candidates, as are the French brothers Anthony and Adrien Rott. By winning the Power Stage and finishing fourth at the last race in France, the Austrians Marcel Neulinger/Silvano Winkler have demonstrated their ambitions. And last but not least, the rally fans' attention will be focused on the only women's team in the field: Thyrsa Eertmans and Justine Demeestere. They impressed in the Vosges by finishing sixth.
The regular teams in the field of fast electric cars are joined by three guest starters at the ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rally. Ireland's Aoife Raftery and Hannah McKillop, as well as the winner of the 2024 ADAC Clubsport Rally Sprint, Sebastian Lange, and his co-driver Paul Gehbauer were already on the grid at the season opener in Sulingen. Nico Leschhorn, on the other hand, is breaking new ground by piloting the Corsa Rally Electric. The veteran can count on the great electrical experience of his co-driver Jara Hain.
Opel Mokka GSE Rally makes German debut at Saarland-Pfalz Rally
German rally fans can also expect a special premiere at the ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rally. For the first time, the new battery-electric Opel Mokka GSE Rally will race over the special stages as a zero car at a German rally. Opel racing legend Volker Strycek and co-driver Conny Nemenich will show the local fans what the first rally car developed according to FIA eRally5 regulations is capable of with its 207 kW (280 hp) and 345 Newton meters of torque.
The rally starts on Friday (August 15) from 16:25 CEST with four special stages. The following day, the electric cars will start at 9:45 CEST and face six stages, and the finish in Sankt Wendel will be reached at 6:35 CEST. Rally fans who cannot attend in person can also follow the electric action on www.adac.de/motorsport via live timing.
Point Standings ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSE” after 3 of 7 rounds:
1. Español 91 points. 2. Heindrichs 74. 3. Nierenz 72. 4. Lemke 69. 5. Kamermans 55. 6. Neulinger 42. 7. Wittenbeck 35. 8. Jungnickel 28. 9. Eertmans 27. 10. Steitz 23. 11. Rott 19. 12. Raftery 10.
