The starters in the 2019 ADAC Rallye Deutschland

• Top-notch line-up on the 19 Special Stages in and around the Saarland region
• Home rally for four strong German crews in the WRC 2

Munich. The fans can look forward to a top-notch line-up in the 2019 ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Nine of the current top 10 drivers will compete for WRC points in and around the Saarland region, including the last four Rally Germany winners: Sébastien Ogier (2011, 2015-2016), Dani Sordo (2013), Thierry Neuville (2014), and Ott Tänak (2017-2018). Numerous other stars of international and national rallying will also be at the start, from the WRC, WRC 2 PRO and WRC 2 to a strong line-up of private drivers, competing in the 19 Special Stages of the FIA-WRC Rallye Germany (22 to 28 August 2019).

Prospects could not be better for an exciting ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Ott Tänak (Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team), Sébastien Ogier (Citroën Total World Rally Team) and Thierry Neuville (Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team) have been in a dogfight for the championship right from the season start. The leader, Tänak won last weekend's Rally Finland and slightly built his lead to 180 points. But just ahead of the German rally, Ogier at 158 points and Neuville at 155 points are within striking distance.

Since fourth-placed Elfyn Evans (M-Sport Ford World Rally Team) must give a miss to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland for health reasons, his cockpit will be filled by WRC 2 PRO driver Gus Greensmith. At the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, 11 Priority 1 (P1) crews will compete in the top category WRC cars. The WRC car line-up will include four Toyota Yaris WRC, three Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC, two Citroën C3 WRC and two Ford Fiesta WRC.

The WRC 2 PRO works teams are also sending well-reputed drivers to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland at lake Bostalsee. After Greensmith's moving up to the WRC, Mads Østberg (Citroën) will now spearhead the chase for the championship leader Kalle Rovanperä (Škoda) in Germany. Jan Kopecký (Škoda), Eric Camilli (Ford) and Pontus Tidemand (Ford) are three more seasoned experts of the Rally Germany in new WRC 2 PRO category: 2015 and 2018, Kopecký won the WRC 2 classification of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, Camilli in 2017 and Tidemand in 2014.

There are four German rally aces with good chances among the line-up of 15 in the WRC 2. Marijan Griebel, Fabian Kreim, Dominik Dinkel and Sebastian Schwinn will drive powerful R5 cars in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Reigning German champion Griebel and Kreim, the current leader in the German Rally Championship (DRM), will start in brand-new Škoda Fabia R5 evo. Over the past few years, the erstwhile young talent grantees of ADAC sport foundation were able to deliver good performances at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. For Dinkel, in turn, it will be his premiere in the main field of the Rally Germany. The 25-year-old will challenge the WRC 2 world elite in a Hyundai i20 R5. Local hero Schwinn starts with a Volkswagen Polo R5.

Outside the P1, P2-PRO and P2 categories, 25 further teams will complete the starter field at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, nine German drivers among them. A true veteran of German rallying, Herrmann Gassner Senior, will compete again this year. It will be his 31st ADAC Rallye Deutschland - an absolute record.

All participants in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland will be introduced to the spectators at the official opening ceremony at the Service Park on the shores of lake Bostalsee Thursday night, 22 August. Admission will be free. Directly after the ceremony, the drivers will start into SS St. Wendeler Land from the vicinity of Bostalsee.

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

Passes to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland are available at www.adac.de/rallye-deutschland. The official online ticket shop sells both four-day rally and day passes. ADAC members pay €65 for a pre-sale rally pass (€70 for non-members). The rally pass package is available at an extra €5 and, among other things, includes the pass and the official rally magazine. During the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the regular price for a rally pass will be €80 at all on-site sales points. Day passes (for Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday) are available exclusively on pre-sale and start at €25.

The rally pass package includes:

• 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 magazine (in German with essential information in English and French)

ADAC Rallye Deutschland information:

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland has a unique worldwide reputation. Its mix of hairpin stages in the vineyards, tough tracks on the Baumholder tank range and fast asphalt roads presents extreme challenges for both the teams and the drivers. Excellent driving skills and versatility are of the essence here. 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.