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The finale of the 2025 ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup ‘powered by GSE’ could not have been more dramatic. Until the last special stage, the Spaniard Alex Español and the Belgian Tom Heindrichs fought for every point at the Central European Rally (CER). When it came to the decisive ‘Power Stage’ (SS10) on Sunday afternoon, the Iberian was virtually a mere three points ahead. Full attack, all or nothing, was the motto for both. In the case of Alex ‘Sito’ Español, it was nothing in the end. A few kilometres before the finish, the Opel España driver lost control of his vehicle in a very fast passage and rolled over. Thanks to the high safety standards of the Opel Corsa Rally Electric, both Español and his co-driver Borja Odriozola emerged unscathed.
This cleared the way for second-placed Tom Heindrichs to win the championship: “It will take a while before everything sinks in,” admitted the 21-year-old from the German-speaking part of Belgium, who, as always, was guided by the announcements of his co-driver Jonas Schmitz. “It was a tough season in which not everything always went according to plan. But we accepted every challenge. That made us strong and helped us to keep a cool head in this close final. I’m sorry for Sito, he was an enormously strong opponent. We also had our moments in the Power Stage, but we brought home the title and are extremely happy about it.”
Thanks to this triumph, the younger brother of the reigning World Rally Champion Thierry Neuville will join the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team and will take on Europe’s best rally talents in the FIA Junior European Rally Championship in an Opel Corsa Rally4 supported by Stohl Racing. “That was our goal,” Heindrichs beamed. “I’m extremely proud of the whole team and of Jonas, who did a fantastic job. I can only thank all the partners without whom this would not have been possible. I’ve never learned as much as I have this season!”
Marcel Neulinger was equally happy with his first race victory in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup. The Austrian took the lead in the standings alongside co-driver Jakob Ruhsam on Friday afternoon with the first two of a total of four special stage best times and did not relinquish it until the finish. After the ‘Power Stage’ and a total of 127 special stage kilometres, his lead over second-placed Heindrichs was only 2.1 seconds! “The victory feels fantastic,” said the 20-year-old.
In third place, Christian Lemke and co-driver Jennifer Gräfe celebrated another podium finish to end the season. Narrowly missing the podium, but once again strong with two special stage best times, the French brothers Anthony and Adrien Rott finished fourth ahead of the German duo Kilian Nierenz/Milena Raithel. The pair from Upper Franconia thus secured third place in the final standings.
Jörg Schrott, Head of Opel Motorsport, was also excited the thrilling finale: “Today two hearts beat in my chest. On the one hand, the finale could not have been more fantastic: a whole season was decided in the very last special stage, at the highest level. Both title aspirants had to demonstrate exactly what makes motorsport so fascinating – namely to give it their all in full concentration. On the other hand, there is this discrepancy between the one who rightly celebrates and will start next year in the works team in the Junior European Championship, and the other who would have deserved it, gave everything and ended up on the roof. Sito now goes home as runner-up, having been at the top of the table since the beginning of the season. This is motorsport in all its facets, united in an incredibly thrilling finale.”
“Sensory overload” for guest driver Fabian Vettel
Away from the thrilling title fight, Fabian Vettel made an impeccable rally debut in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup. “My ultimate goal was to have fun,” stressed the brother of four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, who was perfectly guided by Gino Kruhs and finished a good tenth in the end. Vettel: “I think I approached the matter with realistic expectations. That was a real sensory overload for me. Every day I learned a lot of new things and had new challenges to overcome. I tried to do my best and continuously improve. At least I was not world apart from the experienced Cup drivers. I think I need to come back …”
Grand entrance of the fast electric cars in Hauzenberg
Like last year, the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup set up its service area in Hauzenberg. The Corsa Rally Electric and the new 207 kW (281 hp) Opel Mokka GSE Rally, which Junior European Champion Calle Carlberg piloted as a lead vehicle, became the top attractions in the small town northeast of Passau. On Sunday, the speedy electric cars rolled across the market square and gave visitors a close-up view of the world’s first electric rally one-make cup.
Final standings 2025 ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup ‘powered by GSE’:
1. Heindrichs 190 points
2. Español 172 points
3. Nierenz 159 points
4. Lemke 134 points
5. Kamermans 129 points
6. Neulinger 122 points
7. Wittenbeck 86 points
8. Rott 83 points
9. Jungnickel 63 points
10. Eertmans 62 points
11. Steitz 54 points