Press conference at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland: WRC stars, young drivers and organisers anticipating the start of the rally

• This year's German FIA WRC event is all geared up
• Rally drivers eagerly anticipating new stages and challenges
• WRC stars awaiting fierce fights at 18 Special Stages

Munich/Trier, 15 August 2016 - "We are definitely going to have a say in the outcome of the rally," so Hyundai Motorsport driver Thierry Neuville at the official press conference prior to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. At last year's German FIA WRC event, Volkswagen Motorsport landed a triple podium. Easier said than done, but Neuville from nearby Sankt Vith/Belgium knows how to win in Germany: he won the German FIA WRC event in 2014.

In addition to Thierry Neuville, WRC star Mads Østberg (NOR), ADAC sport foundation grantee Fabian Kreim (GER) as well as ADAC Opel Rallye Cup driver and "local hero" Johannes Dambach (GER), answered the questions of the many journalists. Last, but not least, Clerk of the Course Alfred Rommelfanger and triple ADAC Rallye Deutschland winner Dieter Depping (1994, 1996, 1997) also attended the press conference in Trier's Frankenturm. The latter is the most successful Rallye Deutschland driver after Sébastien Loeb and will open all Special Stages of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland in the Golf II GTI which won the WRC in 1986.

All attendees, especially Alfred Rommelfanger, look forward to the upcoming rally with great anticipation. The head of the organising team explained that their preparations were complete. "The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is all geared up. Also this year, we have enhanced the rally to make it a very interesting and diverse motor sport spectacular for the fans, many of which are already in the area."

One of the major innovations is the Ollmuth Special Stage on early Friday night. Clerk of the Course Alfred Rommelfanger is expecting lots of spectators at this very hefty circuit course: "The Ollmuth loop is close to Trier and within easy reach. Another advantage is the rather late starting time, allowing last-minute spectators to pay a quick action-packed after work visit to the rally."

Another innovation is the Freisen-Westrich Special Stage, which has not been on the itinerary since 2010. The itinerary between the Saarland and Palatinate regions is the first Special Stage on Saturday, the highlight of the rally schedule with the notorious Panzerplatte Special Stages. On the final day, we will have a new Power Stage in the Sauertal Special Stage near the Luxembourg border. This is where the winner of the 2016 ADAC Rallye Deutschland will be determined.

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is one of Thierry Neuville's favourite WRC events: "I love the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Not far from here is my home town, which is why it is something like a home game for me. However, what makes it a little trickier than other asphalt rallies are its numerous junctions. But I like this and I'm used to it since at home in Belgium we have similar conditions. The stages offer a great variety of challenges: from the narrow, rather slow vineyard roads to the fast asphalt roads in the Saarland or Sauertal." This is also what Ford driver Mads Østberg thinks about the ADAC Rallye Deutschland: "The vineyard roads are very narrow. You have to change speed and direction all the time. For the fans, who are really up-close, this is great. For us drivers, steering our WCR cars through the many hairpin turns with maximum precision is a constant challenge."

For Fabian Kreim, the ADAC Rallye Deutschland is the season's highlight. The 23-year-old ADAC sport foundation grantee competes in the rally in the SKODA Fabia R5. In 2015, Kreim was the best German driver coming in 21st in the overall standings of the German WRC event and 9th in the WRC2. "For me, the ADAC Rallye Deutschland is something very special. I like the stages and I want to use the rally once again as an opportunity to show my mettle in a high-profile international environment." The rally is both premiere and home rally - for driver Johannes Dambach. Hailing from Altlay in the Mosel district of Cochem-Zell, the 23-year-old ADAC Opel Rallye Cup driver starts in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland for the first time. "So far, I have attended this spectacular event only as a fan. After winning our Division in the ADAC Rallye Masters, I was invited behind the scenes of the 2015 WRC rally. To join the competition this year is simply great."

Spectators of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland look forward to four days of maximum motor sport action and attractive supporting events. Downtown Trier is the main venue on Thursday (18 August) where the elite of the WRC drivers will gather for an autograph signing session on the Hauptmarkt at 19:30 hours. At the official Show Start at 20:15 hours, the top drivers will present themselves to the public against the illuminated Porta Nigra. The programme will also feature live interviews, show acts, video trailers and live DJ entertainment. The same location will host the podium ceremony on Sunday (21 August).

There will also be an attractive fan programme on Saturday (20 August) at the Panzerplatte: historic car parades and numerous promotion stands will add variety. And don't miss out on the Service Park on the Trier fairgrounds: there is lots to see on all four days. This is where the fans can get up close and watch the teams get their vehicles ready and explore the world of different manufacturers. To commemorate their 50th anniversary, Volkswagen Motorsport are organising an exhibition of historic rally vehicles. Spectators will revel in nostalgia as they admire them at the Panzerplatte parades on Saturday. Another vehicle that may rekindle memories is the official advance car of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland - a precisely replicated 1986 Group A Golf II GTI, the car in which Kenneth Eriksson/Peter Dieckmann won the Group A WRC Championship in 1986. German rally legend Dieter Depping is looking forward to getting behind the wheel: "I'm very honoured to drive the official 0 car of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland - especially when it's such a great car."

Here is a selection of the most important comments from the press conference

Alfred Rommelfanger (ADAC Rallye Deutschland Clerk of the Course)
"Preparatory planning for the 2016 ADAC Rallye Deutschland has all gone smoothly. We want to offer the drivers and fans some novelty every time. I'm sure this is the case also this year. The coordination of the over 3,000 voluntary helpers is one of the biggest challenges in planning the event. The ADAC Rallye Deutschland involves all 18 ADAC regional clubs. Year after year, it makes me happy to see such extraordinary commitment and at the end of it a successful four-day event. This also involves maximum safety and environmental protection - two issues which play a very important role at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. The message we want to get across to the fans along the course is: spectators are an important part of the rally and have their share of responsibility for its success."

Thierry Neuville (Hyundai Motorsport)
"Having won the Sardinia rally in June, I take plenty of confidence into every new race. This year, the ADAC Rallye Deutschland takes us into the vineyards right on day one where we will give it all from the very start and use an attacking driving style. For me, it will be important to find my rhythm soon. If the combination of offensive and concentration is right, everything is possible. We look forward to the crowds of fans and getting cheered on by them at the Special Stages every year."

Mads Østberg (M-Sport Ford World Rally Team)
"I do like challenges and really look forward to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. With the fantastic crowds of fans, the Panzerplatte Special Stages are always something special and spectacular. The atmosphere even gets through to us in our WRC cars. But what we need to do is concentrate on our job. Because on this terrain you can very easily make a mistake and lose precious time. Our strategy, therefore, is maximum concentration - from Special Stage to Special Stage."

Fabian Kreim (SKODA Auto Deutschland driver and ADAC sport foundation grantee)
"It is my fourth start in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland in 2016. My goal for this year is to improve my 2015 super result. Last year, I was the best German driver in the German WRC event - that was great but I believe there's more to come. I want more! In addition to SKODA Auto Deutschland, the ADAC sport foundation is an important partner for me. The ADAC Rallye Deutschland once again is a perfect opportunity for me to show my mettle in a high-profile international environment."

Johannes Dambach (ADAC Opel Rallye Cup driver / ADAC Middle Rhine regional club)
"I really look forward to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. For my co-driver Lisa Kiefer and me, this season is our ADAC Opel Rallye Cup debut and we both love it. Drivers and cars are eye to eye in this single-brand cup. It is a great platform to advance as a driver, just take Fabian Kreim as an example. Starting in German WRC event will surely be a very emotional experience. I hail from this region and there will be many friends and family along the course to steer us on."

Dieter Depping (1994, 1996, 1997 ADAC Rallye Deutschland winner)
"I look forward enormously to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. It has always been something special for me. Back then in the 1990s when I won the rally three times, it was no sanctioned World Championship event, but the line-up included many international top drivers. I am very excited about the 1986 Group A Golf II GTI which I will be driving as the 0 car. Doing the Special Stages in this car will take me on a travel through time because when the car was launched, I started my rally career. We are both from the same rally generation."

Get your rally and day passes in pre-sale now!
Just like the preparations, 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 EUR35 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 EUR70 (EUR65 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 EUR80 (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

The official magazine of the 2016 ADAC Rallye Deutschland
On 80 loaded pages, the official Rally Magazine offers its readers the essential information on drivers, teams, the itinerary and spectator areas of the 2016 ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Exciting background stories, exclusive interviews, an attractive sweepstake and many fascinating rally topics round off the rally magazine. Detailed maps including the official large Spectator Map are further sources of information for diehard rally fans. The magazine is available for EUR5 at www.adac.de/rallye-deutschland. It is also available from the ADAC Rallye Deutschland ticket shop by calling +49 261 13 03 300 or sending an e-mail to ticket@rallye-deutschland.de. It comes free with the 4-day rally pass. It will be available at the on-site ticket offices at the Shakedown and the usual ticket points during the whole event.

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.

Rallye Guide 2 / Road Books / Media Safety Book are published for download
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