2019 ADAC Rallye Deutschland - here we come!

• Participants and organisers look forward to the WRC Rally Germany
• Innovations ensure more excitement and spectator friendliness

Munich: "It's extremely important for us to get a good result at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland and secure points towards the championship," said six-time Rally World Champion Sébastien Ogier (FRA) in the official media interview ahead of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Starting Thursday, 22 August, the world's best rally drivers will meet for the FIA WRC Rally Germany. 19 captivating Special Stages (SS) await the teams in the Saarland, the vineyards of the Mosel region and on the Baumholder military range. In addition to all the innovations in the itinerary and schedule, an element of suspense is added by the dogfight for the title between Sébastien Ogier, Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak.

In the media session held at the Hotel am Triller in Saarbrücken, Ogier answered the journalists' questions in the company of the German rally aces Marijan Griebel (Hahnweiler) and Fabian Kreim (Fränkisch-Crumbach). The round was completed by Clerk of the Course Friedhelm Kissel, ADAC Rallye Deutschland Brand Ambassador Jutta Kleinschmidt, and Saarland Minister of the Interior, Building and Sport Klaus Bouillon.

Over the past few years, Ogier won the German WRC event three times (2011, 2015-2016). Alongside Neuville and Tänak, he is one of the top contenders for the 2019 title. Married to German TV presenter Andrea Kaiser, the Frenchman feels quite at home at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland: "The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is my second home rally - It's always nice to drive here."

For the German drivers, the ADAC Rallye Deutschland is the declared highlight of the rallying season. Both Marijan Griebel and Fabian Kreim will start in the WRC 2 category in brand-new Fabia R5 evo for Team Skoda Auto Deutschland. "The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is the highlight of the season for me, for sure! Being able to go up against the best rally drivers in the world gives you an extra boost of motivation," said local hero Marijan Griebel, who was voted 2018 ADAC Racer of the Year. Kreim, on course for the title in the German rally championship (DRM), still has a score to settle in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland: "After narrowly missing the podium last year, it's our goal to finish on the world championship podium for the first time in the WRC 2 this year."

To ensure that they put together a perfect event, the organisers have been busy non-stop over the last few weeks and months. "The preparations for the ADAC Rallye Deutschland are now successfully completed - so, here we come!" rejoiced Clerk of the Course Friedhelm Kissel going on to present the new features of the WRC Rally Germany. The rally will kick off with a novelty on Thursday, 22 August: For the first time, the official opening ceremony will take place in the Service Park at Bostalsee. After that, the action will move straight to a completely new first stage, the St Wendeler Land SS starting in proximity to the Service Park. On Friday, 23 August, the vineyards in the Mosel region await the teams.

The schedule for rally Saturday, 24 August, also comes with something new: In the morning, the action will concentrate on the area around the town of St Wendel, the afternoon will be dedicated exclusively to the Panzerplatte. "These changes in itinerary and schedule will ensure that fans have to travel less," said rally ex-driver Jutta Kleinschmidt, who was involved in planning the event as the brand ambassador for the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. The Baumholder military range will have new challenges for the drivers as well: virtually all sections will be run in the opposite direction to last year. Rally Sunday, 25 August, will end with another novelty: the Dhrontal SS in the vineyards will be the Power Stage. On all four days, the fans will get to see, smell and feel rallying up close and personal at the Bostalsee Service Park.

Here is a selection of the most important comments from the media session

Klaus Bouillon (Saarland Minister of the Interior, Building and Sport): "It is a big honour for us to be hosting the ADAC Rallye Deutschland in the Saarland for the third consecutive time. The event makes global publicity for our region and has many positive effects on our economy and tourism. I would like to wish all those coming to watch the rally a great and exciting time in the Saarland. And I wish all the participants a successful and accident-free rally."

Friedhelm Kissel (ADAC Rallye Deutschland Clerk of the Course): "This year, the ADAC Rallye Deutschland will be both longer and shorter. It will be longer because the length of the itinerary has grown by 6% to 344km and shorter because the fans will have to travel less between Stages. Closeness to the fans and spectator-friendly conditions are key goals in our entire planning process. The spectators on site are an essential part of the whole event. Therefore, my appeal to the fans is this: Contribute to the rally's success and safety by your exemplary behaviour!"

Jutta Kleinschmidt (ADAC Rallye Deutschland brand ambassador): "In my second year as brand ambassador for the ADAC Rallye Deutschland I had opportunity to work together more intensively with the organisers. It is so exciting to see how many people the rally gets involved. Some 3,000 volunteers will be on duty to ensure a smooth running of the rally. We cannot ever thank them enough! This year, I will again contribute my share as I will be driving the FIA Safety Delegate Michèle Mouton in the FIA Safety Car. I really look forward to this."

Sébastien Ogier (Citroën Total World Rally Team): "The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is my second home rally - it's always very nice to drive here. The rally is a big challenge for us drivers and is very varied with the narrow passages through the vineyards, the Panzerplatte special stages and fast tarmac roads. Unfortunately, I can't take any big risks here because of the way things are in the world championship standings but will have to find a tread a fine line between attacking and finishing. It's extremely important for us to get a good result at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland and secure points towards the championship. We'll do our best to ensure that the fight for the championship remains exciting!"

Marijan Griebel (Skoda Auto Deutschland): "For me, the ADAC Rallye Deutschland is most definitely the highlight of the season and is the only world championship round of the year, so we've focused on the German world championship event in our preparations. Being able to go up against the best rally drivers in the world gives you an extra boost of motivation. Of course, driving here in my home country is also something very special. After completing our preparations, I feel confident that we can achieve a good result in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. The WRC 2 is an excellent and highly competitive class - we're well prepared and able to fight up front."

Fabian Kreim (Skoda Auto Deutschland): "After narrowly missing the podium last year, our goal this year is to finish on the world championship podium for the first time in WRC 2. The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is a tough, very demanding rally where you cannot afford to make mistakes. We've completed the first round of testing with the new vehicle, and feel confident as a result. We can do a bit of fine-tuning during Shakedown. We have an excellent chance of claiming a podium this year."

Last chance until 21 August 2019: discounted rally and day passes in pre-sale

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 EUR65 for a pre-sale rally pass (EUR70 for non-members). During the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the regular price for a rally pass will be EUR80 at all on-site sales points. Day passes (for Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday) are available exclusively on pre-sale and start at EUR25.

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.