Home rally and prime international showcase: Germany’s strong young rally drivers look forward to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland

• Presenting: Fabian Kreim, Julius Tannert, Marijan Griebel, Johannes Dambach and Hermann Gassner junior eagerly anticipate their season highlight
• Two ADAC Opel Rallye Cup rounds at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland
• From the grassroots to works driver: young drivers promotion by ADAC and Opel
• ADAC’s sport foundation targets motor sport talent for sponsorship and support

Munich/Trier, 7 July 2016 – The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is one of the highlights in the German motor sport calendar. The weekend of 18 to 21 August 2016, when three-time WRC Champion Sébastien Ogier and his fellow WRC stars bring the action to the Trier Region is a special highlight for a group of strong rallying hopefuls such as Fabian Kreim, Julius Tannert, Marijan Griebel, Johannes Dambach or Hermann Gassner junior. Maybe for them, the German FIA WRC event is THE highlight of their season. After all the 18 Special Stages in the Eifel, Mosel, Palatinate and Saarland regions are the ideal showcase where they can show their skills to the broad public. More young drivers can be seen in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup – a powerful supporting act to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Two rounds in this single-brand cup will be run during the ADAC Rally Deutschland – a successful element in ADAC’s and Opel’s joint promotion programme for young rally-racing talent.

Fabian Kreim (ŠKODA Auto Deutschland driver and ADAC sport foundation grantee):

At only 23, Fabian Kreim is a participant in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland for the fourth time in 2016. He started his career in the 2013 ADAC Opel Rallye Cup and right away qualified for the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and joined the cadre of the ADAC sport foundation grantees. In 2016, Kreim competes in the WRC2 classification of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, like last year in a ŠKODA Fabia R5. He has justified hopes of finishing in a good place in the standings. In 2015, Kreim was the best German driver coming in 21st in the overall standings and 9th in the WRC2. Fabian Kreim and his co-driver Frank Christian are doing well in the current season. After five of ten rallies in the Deutsche Rallye-Meisterschaft/German Rally Championship (DRM), the crew is leading in the overall standings. Fabian Kreim: “The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is always something very special. I look forward most to the Special Stages in the vineyards and on the Baumholder Panzerplatte – an extremely challenging terrain that demands absolute concentration. The ADAC Rallye Deutschland rally is a perfect opportunity for me as an ADAC sport foundation grantee to show my mettle in a high-profile international environment.”

Marijan Griebel (ADAC OPEL Rallye Junior Team driver and ADAC sport foundation grantee):

Marijan Griebel is another graduate of the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup “rally school”. 2016 is the 27-year-old’s sixth participation in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. For the Opel works driver, the German FIA WRC event is not just the highlight of the season, but also a “home rally” as the full-time police officer Griebel hails from nearby Hahnweiler in Rhineland Palatinate. In the past two years, he was able to translate this home advantage into two classification wins (RC4 category) in his Opel ADAM R2. He continues to be successful this season. In the FIA ERC Junior, Griebel and his co-driver Stefan Kopczyk celebrated their first win at the Ypres Rally. Half through the season, the crew is in 2nd position. Marijan Griebel: “For a German rally driver, the ADAC Rallye Deutschland is THE event. Apart from the Special Stages, I look forward in particular to the Show Start at the Porta Nigra in Trier. The atmosphere is always awesome. I am confident of another good result in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. I have gained a great deal in international experience in the FIA ERC Junior. I am certain this will help in the WRC.”

Julius Tannert (ADAC OPEL Rallye Junior Team driver and ADAC sport foundation grantee):

Julius Tannert has good memories of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Hailing from Saxony, he won both runs of the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup in 2015. For Tannert and his co-driver Jennifer Thielen from Luxembourg this meant securing the title well ahead of the season finale. They were selected to the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and joined the cadre of ADAC sport foundation grantees. Like his brand mate Griebel, the 26-year-old will start in an Opel ADAM R2. A podium place in the FIA ERC Junior Ypres Rally is proof of Tannert’s current form. Julius Tannert: “I really look forward to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Last year, this was where we celebrated the title in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup. I would obviously like to finish well again here and show that being on the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and an ADAC sport foundation grantee is perfectly justified.”

Johannes Dambach (ADAC OPEL Rallye Cup driver / ADAC Central Rhine regional club)

Premiere and home rally – the 2016 ADAC Rallye Deutschland is both for driver Johannes Dambach. Hailing from Altlay in the Mosel district of Cochem-Zell, the 23-year-old starts in the German WRC rally in his home region for the first time. A master car mechanic by trade, he will start in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup with his co-driver Lisa Kiefer. Last year, Dambach put his name on the boards coming in 3rd in the overall standings of the ADAC Rallye Masters and winning Division 6. Johannes Dambach: “I look forward to the two rallies in support of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland very much. In 2015, I was here as a spectator. After winning our Division in the ADAC Rallye Masters, we were invited behind the scenes of the WRC rally. To join the competition this year is simply great. I know the region well and I am most at home on asphalt.”

Hermann Gassner junior (Gassner Motorsport driver / Toyota GT86 CS-R3)

In 2009, Hermann Gassner junior was the youngest German rally champion. Today at 27, he is one of the strongest drivers in the German rally community. Gassner junior and his co-driver Ursula Mayrhofer from Austria were already successful in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland and other competitions. In 2013, he won Class 3 in the German WRC rally. In the current DRM season, run together with the ADAC Rallye Masters, the native Bavarian leads the 2WD standings in this rear-drive Toyota GT86 CS-R3. Hermann Gassner junior: “I have been in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland often enough to say that there are new elements and new challenges every time. This is what makes it exciting. I look forward to the Panzerplatte in particular.”

Two ADAC Opel Rallye Cup rounds at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland

Like last year, two rounds in the 2016 ADAC Opel Rallye Cup will be run at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. From its inception in 2013, Europe’s major single-brand cup has established itself as the leading finishing school for young rally drivers. With ten rookies this year, the Cup presents the largest number of new faces since its premiere. Teams from seven nations will start in the competition. The teams use a cup version customized for rally customers of the Opel ADAM. For the purpose of talent promotion, a special classification will be carried for drivers up to age 27 within the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup – the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Cup. The current leader in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup is Jari Huttunen from Finland. In 4th, the best German Cup driver is Sebastian von Gartzen.
More info at: www.adac.de/opel-rallye-cup
 

ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team, the track to European success

The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is a transposition of the pyramid system – from the bottom to the top – to rally racing, implemented by the joint efforts of Opel and ADAC. The best drivers in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup will be selected to the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team, which follows an international schedule. For instance it participates fully in the FIA ERC Junior. Julius Tannert and Marijan Griebel have both come up from the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup and are competing in the FIA ERC Junior in 2016.
More info at: www.opel-motorsport.com/rallye/adac-opel-rallye-junior-team

The ADAC Opel Rallye Academy, a new stepping stone to professional rally racing

Founded in 2016, the ADAC Opel Rallye Academy is a new building block in the promotion concept jointly pursued by Opel and ADAC. As a platform, it is a useful screening for new talent. Young men and women aged 18 to 25 can use it as a stepping stone into rally racing. Coached by a professional team of instructors, the young drivers and co-drivers are familiarised step by step with the challenges of rally racing. The three-phase programme rewards the best Academy graduate with a cockpit for the 2017 ADAC Opel Rallye Cup and facilitates their introduction to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Opel provides the ‘school cars’, ADAC pays the tuition fee. Applications for the 2016 ADAC Opel Rallye Academy will be received on-line until 31 July. Further information is available at www.adac.de/rallye-academy.

ADAC’s sport foundation targets motor sport talent for sponsorship and support

The programme of the ADAC sport foundation covers more than rally racing. Of the 32 young racers supported by the foundation in 2016 in ten motor racing categories, four are young rally-racing talents: Julius Tannert, Marijan Griebel, Fabian Kreim and Philipp Knof. Since 1999, the charitable ADAC sport foundation has systematically promoted exceptional young German motor sport talent and guided them in their careers. The former ADAC sport foundation grantees include four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, Nico Hülkenberg and 2011 DTM Champion Martin Tomczyk, to name but a few. Members of the honorary Board include ADAC Motor Sport President Hermann Tomczyk, two-time Rally World Champion Isolde Holderied and the German motor sport legend Hans-Joachim Stuck. More info at: www.adac-stiftungsport.de

Get your rally and day passes in pre-sale now!

Just like the planning process, the pre-sale of passes to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland is in full swing. In addition to the four-day rally passes, fans can now also buy day passes for Friday, Saturday or Sunday in pre-sale. On the day printed on the pass, passholders get access to all spectator areas along each Special Stage and the Trier Service Park. Day passes to the 2016 ADAC Rallye Deutschland at €35 are available only in pre-sale. Rally and day passes are now available at http://shop.rallye-deutschland.de.

Attractive packages available in pre-sale

In pre-sale, rally passes for the 2016 ADAC Rallye Deutschland come at a discount and in attractive packages, for the first time including the official rally programme brochure (in German only, with directions, safety instructions etc. in English and French). In pre-sale, a four-day rally pass costs €70 (€65 for ADAC members). The package including the programme brochure is more attractively priced than in past years. Pre-ordered rally passes are also a better bargain than those bought at the on-site ticket offices, where the regular four-day pass will be €80 (no programme brochure and no discount for ADAC members).
 
The rally passes cover:

• Access to all Special Stages on all days
• Access to the Service Park on all days
• Access to the Shakedown on Thursday
• A spectator map providing all the essential information about the rally
• ADAC Rallye Deutschland lanyard
• ADAC Rallye Deutschland sticker
• ADAC Rallye Deutschland programme brochure

ADAC Rallye Deutschland information:

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland has a unique world-wide reputation. Its mix of hairpin stages in the Mosel vineyards, tough tracks on the Baumholder tank range and fast asphalt roads presents extreme challenges for both teams and drivers. This mix requires excellent driving skills and versatility. Diversity, high-class action and closeness to the fans are the ingredients that make the ADAC Rallye Deutschland such an attractive package for spectators as well. Year after year, this major event draws enthusiastic crowds from all over Europe, giving it a special, international atmosphere.