High honors for two drivers from the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe”. With the German Claire Schönborn (25) and the Belgian Lyssia Baudet (21), two participants from the world's first electric rally one-make cup have prevailed in the final of the “Beyond Rally Women's Driver Development Program”. A total of 15 female rally drivers from 13 nations were invited by the promoter of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) to the final in Krakow, Poland. The three best of them – in addition to Schönborn and Baudet, the Finn Suvi Jyrkiäinen – now have the great opportunity to make their WRC debut in a 230-hp Rally3 car at the Central European Rally from October 17 to 20 around Bad Griesbach. Whoever of the three makes the strongest impression there will win a cockpit in the 2025 Junior World Championship, which is also contested with Rally3 cars. Two other participants from the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, Frenchwoman Emma Chalvin and German Ann Felke, were invited to Poland.

The selection program included three intensive days. It started with tests in the areas of fitness, media work and technical skills, as well as a pace-note workshop, before the women got into the rally car on the following two days. The asphalt tests took place on a karting track in the Czech Republic, while the day after the gravel shootout was held on a muddy forest track about 1 kilometer long, which the participants had to pass twice after just one reconnaissance lap. The jury included former top co-driver Tanja Geilhausen and the 1994 and 1995 ladies' rally world champion, Isolde Holderied, who, among other things, is now working with the ADAC Stiftung Sport.

Claire Schönborn, who contested her first ever rally only five weeks ago as a guest entrant in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup at the ADAC Rallye Stemweder Berg, could hardly believe her choice: “When my name was called, I was speechless and had to fight back tears. I never would have expected to be chosen among so many fast, experienced girls.” The talented woman from Löffelscheid, who will be supported by the internationally experienced co-driver Jara Hain (24) at the Central European Rally, is eagerly awaiting her WRC debut: “I feel honored and will try to prepare myself together with Jara as well as possible and to do my best at the CER. At the same time, I want to approach the rally without pressure. I have nothing to lose. I'm really looking forward to competing in front of this impressive backdrop on these great special stages.”

Lyssia Baudet, who is supported by the Royal Belgian Automobile Club RACB and has already proven several times this season that she is one of the fastest in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, has significantly more rally experience, but the WRC rally is also a big step in her young career: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Although I had prepared as well as possible, I quickly realized how high the level of the competition was. I just gave it my all, and now being among the top three feels like a dream. We are now all the more motivated to get the cockpit in the Junior WRC. I am extremely grateful for the chance, so I will do everything I can to make use of it.” Léa Sam-Caw-Freve (25) will be Lyssia's co-driver at the Central European Rally, as she is in the Corsa Rally Electric.

Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott is very happy about the success of “his” protégés: “The fact that Lyssia and Claire have prevailed against such strong international competition is a great thing and shows how high the level of driving in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup is. I am sure they will do well at the CER. Both Claire and Lyssia are, of course, part of the Opel family, so we will be watching their WRC debut closely and keeping our fingers crossed for them.”