The ADAC Rallye Deutschland and its Young Talent

• German WRC event provides the stage for a new generation of drivers
• Presenting: Marijan Griebel and Fabian Kreim from the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team
• ADAC: Promoting young German motor sport talent

Munich/Trier, 15 August 2014 – When will we see the next Walter Röhrl, a German driver who can ascend to the Olympus of WRC stars? Spectators of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland in August 2014 may get an answer to this question which German rally fans have been discussing for years. For, not only does the German WRC rally draw the world elite to the greater Trier area, but it is also a major platform for young talent.

Thus, the spectators will not just see stars like Sébastien Ogier, Mikko Hirvonen, Robert Kubica or Thierry Neuville, but can also lay their eyes upon very promising young drivers such as Marijan Griebel and Fabian Kreim, who will compete for the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team. The ADAC sport foundation grantees have been successful recently in their Opel ADAM R2 cars at the ADAC Rallye Masters (Division 5) and the German rally championship DRM (Class R2).

Marijan Griebel looking forward to “home game”

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland will take place virtually on the home turf of Marijan Griebel and his co-driver Alex Rath. The winner of the 2013 ADAC OPEL Rallye Cup is highly motivated before his “home game”: “The atmosphere with all the spectators along the course is quite something. When I started in 2011, I could hear the fans’ cheering on the Panzerplatte even in the car. That’s motivating, but at the same time you should not get too carried away.”

Asked about the particular attraction of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the 25-year-old points out the start in Trier. “The surroundings are always quite unique there, especially at the Show Start in front of the Porta Nigra. That’s where drivers also have time to watch and enjoy the spectacular. In addition, it’s simply an absolute thrill to be able to get three days of rallying in a row. The Special Stages are both challenging and diverse, and that’s what makes the ADAC Rallye Deutschland so attractive for us drivers.”

Even if he were not a competitor, Marijan Griebel would not miss the action on the Baumholder military range for the world: “The Panzerplatte spectator point is an absolute must. This year, spectators will see an additional Sprint test there for the first time. Plus, there will be plenty of support events to make that day an unforgettable experience for everyone.”

Griebel, who works for the police force in his day job, aims to make further progress in motor sport this season. “I would like to use the unique opportunities afforded to me by the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team to advance both as a driver and as a person. In addition to the Deutsche Rallye Meisterschaft, international rally events are a particularly good opportunity for me to progress.” Griebel knows that the ADAC young talent sponsorship also plays an important part: “Being a grantee of the ADAC sport foundation since 2013 has been a great honour for me. I have benefited from the special training courses and workshops in many ways.”

Fabian Kreim has his money on Thierry Neuville

When it comes to forecasting the winner of the 2014 ADAC Rallye Deutschland, Fabian Kreim does not hesitate a moment: “Thierry Neuville – he was really fast here last year. And he’s my idol”, said the 22-year-old. The young talent from Fränkisch-Crumbach is actually following successfully in the footsteps of his rally idol: In 2013, he finished the ADAC OPEL Rallye Cup in fourth place with some victories to celebrate.

In August 2014, the CNC milling specialist will compete in his second ADAC Rallye Deutschland. He looks forward to this highlight with great anticipation: “I look forward most to the Special Stages in the vineyards and to the Baumholder Panzerplatte - the more than 42km long, extremely challenging crown jewel of the rally where you can win lots but also lose everything. It also makes me happy to know that there will be so many friends and fans to cheer us on along the track.”

The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team driver has deliberately not set his aims too high for this season: “This is only my second rally season and I will try to learn as much as possible along with my co-driver, Josefine Beinke. While the sponsorship provided by Opel and ADAC certainly lays the perfect groundwork, we always look ahead and try to move forward.”

Kreim considers his acceptance onto the roster of the ADAC sport foundation this year an important milestone in his motor sport career: “It feels great to be an ADAC sport foundation grantee. You always get full support any time and in any situation – whether it’s your development as a driver or issues such as physical and mental fitness.”

The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team

The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is a joint engagement between Opel and ADAC. Marijan Griebel and Fabian Kreim, the two best juniors at last year’s ADAC Opel Rallye Cups and winners of a major screening, will take the next steps in their careers as drivers in the 2014 season. Marijan Griebel/Alexander Rath and Fabian Kreim/Josefine Beinke are the first Opel works drivers in over seven years.

The ADAC Opel Rallye Cup

The ADAC Opel Rallye Cup has brought new excitement to the German rally scene since 2013. The joint Opel/ADAC project, in which participants compete in identical Cup models of the Opel Adam, provides an ideal stage, especially for young drivers. The ADAC Opel Rallye Cup is a single-brand cup with its own separate standings and attractive prize monies as well as a specially awarded “Rallye Junior” classification. In a final test, the best Rallye Junior may qualify for special further support from ADAC and Opel during the next season.

ADAC sport foundation – new motor sport talent

The non-profit ADAC sport foundation is a key element of ADAC’s young talent sponsorship. Since 1998, the foundation has fostered the careers of young, talented racers, played an active part in improving motor sport safety and helped victims of serious accidents. In 2014, a total of 26 young talents both in four and two wheel racing are on the foundation’s roster. In addition to receiving financial support for the motor sport season, they also benefit from seminars and workshops on career planning, fitness, nutrition, media, marketing and technology. Former ADAC sport foundation grantees include motor sport celebrities such as Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, Timo Glock, Nico Hülkenberg, and Adrian Sutil.

Get your tickets now!

The pre-sale for the 2014 ADAC Rallye Deutschland is in full swing. Rally passes are now available for €69 (€64 for ADAC members) under “Tickets” at www.adac.de/rallye-deutschland. Along with the pass, you can pre-order the official rally magazine at an extra €5.

Rally passes in detail:

In 2014, the rally pass will once again be the flat rate ticket to four action-packed days at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. It provides access to all spectator areas along the Special Stages, to the Shakedown and to the Service Park. There, rally fans are right in the middle of it all, watching the teams at work and admiring the rally drivers.

The pass includes:
– 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
– An ADAC Rallye Deutschland pass lanyard
– An ADAC Rallye Deutschland sticker

Now available: The official magazine of the 2014 ADAC Rallye Deutschland

To put your anticipation of the German rally spectacular into overdrive, the official magazine of the 2014 ADAC Rallye Deutschland is out. On 100 pages full of action it brings to life the German WRC rally. Everything you want to know about the drivers, teams, itinerary, spectator point and WRC-Rules and Regulations. Detailed maps, exciting background stories, exclusive interviews and many fascinating rally topics round off this indispensable companion for fans at the event and at home. The magazine is now available for €5 at www.adac-rallye-deutschland.de and www.adrenalin-verlag.com. During the event, it will be available at the on-site ticket offices, info points and Special Stages of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland (21 to 24 August 2014).