The season finale of the 2025 ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSE” could not have been more exciting and dramatic. Until the final special stage, Spaniard Alex Español and Belgian Tom Heindrichs fought for every point. However, championship leader Español struggled more than usual at times in the CER and was also slowed down by a broken shock absorber in the eighth special stage on Saturday. Going into the decisive “Power Stage” (SS10) on Sunday afternoon, the Spaniard was virtually just three points ahead. Full attack, all or nothing, was the motto for both of them.

In Alex Español's case, it ended up being “nothing”. A few kilometers before the finish line, the Opel España driver lost control of his car in a very fast section, causing it to roll over several times. Although the driver was taken to hospital for a check-up as a precaution, thanks to the high safety standards of the Opel Corsa Rally Electric, both Español and his co-driver Borja Odriozola surmounted the high-speed accident uninjured.

This cleared the way for Tom Heindrichs, who was in second place, to win the championship title: “It will take a while for it all to really sink in,” admitted the 21-year-old from the small German-speaking part of Belgium, who, as always, listened to the instructions of his co-driver Jonas Schmitz. “It was a tough season in which not everything always went according to plan. But we took on every challenge and tried to make the best of it. That made us strong and helped us keep a cool head in this close final. I feel sorry for Sito, he was an extremely strong opponent. We also had our moments in the Power Stage, but we brought home the title and are extremely happy about that.”

Thanks to this triumph, the younger brother of World Rally Champion Thierry Neuville will join the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team and compete against Europe's best rally talents in the FIA Junior European Rally Championship in an Opel Corsa Rally4 managed by Stohl Racing. “That was our goal,” beamed Heindrichs. “We knew it wouldn't be easy, especially since almost all of the special stages were new to us this year. I am extremely proud of the whole team and of Jonas, who did a fantastic job. I can only thank all of our partners, without whom this would not have been possible. I have never learned as much as I have this season!”

Marcel Neulinger was almost as happy about his first race victory in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup. With the first two of a total of four stage best times, the Austrian, alongside co-driver Jakob Ruhsam, took the lead in the standings on Friday afternoon and did not relinquish it until the finish. After the “Power Stage” and a total of 127 special stage kilometers, his lead over second-placed Heindrichs was only 2.1 seconds! “The victory feels fantastic,” cheered 20-year-old Neulinger. "We also had to give it our all in the Power Stage and ended up in the grass once. But when Tom crossed the finish line, shook his head and said he'd had a few slips, we knew we'd just made it. Now we're over the moon! We'll definitely be celebrating properly today."

Christian Lemke and co-driver Jennifer Gräfe celebrated another podium finish at the end of the season in third place. “I'm a little confused and upset,” admitted the North German. “On the one hand, we are very happy because it was a great event that was a lot of fun. On the other hand, we are also sad about the bad luck of the Spaniards and the Dutch. I'm glad that Sito and Borja are okay. All in all, it was a nice end to the season for us.” As Fabian Kamermans and Stefan Müller, who were in third place, got stuck in a ditch during the Power Stage and only finished ninth, Lemke snatched fourth place in the overall standings from the Stemwede winner.

Just missing out on the podium, but once again performing strongly with two stage best times, French brothers Anthony and Adrien Rott took fourth place ahead of German duo Kilian Nierenz/Milena Raithel. The pair from Naila in Franconia thus secured third place in the final standings. "I'm still a little shocked after seeing Sito's accident. But the joy will come. In the first full championship we have ever competed in, to finish on the podium in such a strong field was more than we could have hoped for. We are overjoyed," said Nierenz, delighted with four podium finishes this year. Sixth place went to Bavarian local hero Johannes Wittenbeck with his co-driver Maximilian Kugler.

Opel motorsport boss Jörg Schrott was also excited by the thrilling finale: "Today, I have two hearts beating in my chest. On the one hand, the finale couldn't have gone any better: an entire season was decided in the very last special stage, at the highest level. Both title contenders had to demonstrate exactly what makes motorsport so fascinating – namely, giving it your all with full concentration. On the other hand, there is this discrepancy between the one who is rightly celebrating and will be starting in the factory team in the Junior European Championship next year, and the other who also would have deserved it, gave his all, and ended up on the roof. So Sito is now going home as runner-up after leading the standings since the start of the season. That's motorsport in all its facets, combined in an incredibly exciting season finale.“

”Sensory overload“ for guest driver Fabian Vettel

Away from the thrilling title battle, Fabian Vettel made an impeccable rally debut at the season finale of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup. ”My main goal was to have fun here, and I had a blast! As far as I'm concerned, the rally could have lasted two days longer,“ emphasized the brother of four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, who was perfectly guided by Gino Kruhs in the ”hot seat“ of the Corsa Rally Electric and finished a respectable tenth. Vettel: ”I think I approached the event with realistic expectations. It was a real sensory overload for me. Every day I learned lots of new things and had new challenges to overcome. I tried to do my best and continuously improve. At least there wasn't a world of difference between me and the experienced Cup drivers. I think I'll have to come back..."

Grand entrance for the fast electric cars in Hauzenberg

As last year, the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup set up its service area in Hauzenberg. And as last year, the Corsa Rally Electric and the new 281 hp Opel Mokka GSE, which Junior European Champion Calle Carlberg drove as the lead car on the CER tracks, became a top attraction in the small town a good 20 kilometers northeast of Passau. As part of market day, the speedy electric cars rolled across the market square on Sunday before the Power Stage, giving visitors a close-up look at the world's first electric rally one-make cup. As in the previous year, the teams were inundated with requests for photos and autographs, and there were interviews on a specially erected stage.

Final standings ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSE” after 7 rounds:

1. Heindrichs 190 points. 2. Español 172. 3. Nierenz 159. 4. Lemke 134. 5. Kamermans 129. 6. Neulinger 122. 7. Wittenbeck 86. 8. Rott 83. 9. Jungnickel 63. 10. Eertmans 62. 11. Steitz 54.