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15 Mar 2018

Opel Battling for European Junior Rally Crown with two ADAM R2

Opel Battling for European Junior Rally Crown with two ADAM R2
  • Opel targeting fourth consecutive ERC Junior title
  • Exciting drivers in Tom Kristensson (Sweden) and Martinš Sesks (Latvia)
  • First test for Opel duo at gravel spectacle in the Azores

Rüsselsheim. Opel’s motorsport activities are once again characterised by continuity in the sixth season since the brand with the “Blitz” returned to international competition with a works team. A strong focus once again lies on rallying – a sport in which Opel has celebrated outstanding success since 2013. The ADAC Opel Rallye Cup is now established as the strongest one-brand rally competition in Europe and has attracted 20 teams from 12 nations in its sixth season. Furthermore, the Opel ADAM R2 continues to set the standards in its class. The 190 hp rally car celebrated its third FIA ERC Junior U27 in a row in 2017 and also won many trophies across Europe when driven by customers. In total, the Opel ADAM R2 racked up seven titles and 48 class victories.

This year, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is aiming to continue its impressive winning streak in the FIA ERC Junior U27 with two highly talented drivers. Swede Tom Kristensson (26, Hörby) won the 2017 ADAC Opel Rallye Cup and secured a place in the ADAM R2. Henrik Appelskog will be his co-driver. Latvian Martinš Sesks is new to the team. The talented 18-year-old driver from Liepaja, the host city of the final round in this season’s FIA ERC Junior U27 calendar, impressed last season. He has now been given the chance to show his talent on the big stage with co-driver Renars Francis at his side.

The Opel youngsters are facing their first challenge on the Azores Airlines Rally, the opening round of the season, set to take place from March 22 to 24. The rally staged on the group of islands in the North Atlantic is rated as one of the most breath-taking and difficult in the world because of the gravel roads. The “Sete Cidades” special stage is also infamous. The drivers need to master 20 kilometres of gravel roads around the caldera of the Sete Cidades volcano on the island of São Miguel. “The very winding and tight gravel roads are banked on both side similar to a bob sleigh track. Even tiny mistake lead to crashes,” said Kristensson. “I can hardly wait to tackle these unbelievable special stages in my ADAM R2. Being part of the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is still a dream come true for me!”

In addition to taking part in the rounds of the FIA ERC Junior, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team compete in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the German leg of the FIA World Rally Championship. And the team also has ambitious goals for this event – in the last four years victory in the R2 category has always gone to an Opel driver.

The roughly 3.7-metre long Opel ADAM R2 has the perfect ingredients to continue its winning streak. Its 1.6-litre, 16V, four-cylinder engine deliver 140 kW/190 PS at 7,750 rpm and 190 Nm of torque at 6,200 rpm. The power is transmitted via a sequential five-speed transmission with limited slip differential and safely transferred to the road via the configurable REIGER Racing Suspension rally chassis. Furthermore and in accordance with FIA regulations, the ADAM R2 only weighs 1,030 kilogrammes.

Dates ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team 2018

22.–24.03. Azores Airlines Rallye, Azores/Portugal*

03.–05.05. Rallye Islas Canarias, Gran Canaria/Spain*

20.–22.07. Rallye di Roma Capitale, Rome/Italy*

16. –19.08. ADAC Rallye Deutschland

24. –26.08. Barum Czech Rally Zlín, Zlín/Czech Republic*

21. –23.09. Rallye Poland, Mikolajki/Poland*

12. –14.10. Rally Liepaja, Liepaja/Latvia*

* Round of the FIA ERC Junior U27

Contact

Axel Seegers
Manager Brand and Motor Sports Communication
Tel.: +49 6142/ 77 54 96
Mobile: +49 151/16 41 95 70
Fax: +49 6142/7-78 409
axel.seegers@opel.com

Marcus Lacroix
Tel.: +49 (0) 7531 9228106
Mobile: 0172-7404562
ml@opel-motorsport.com

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