ADAC Actronics Rally Sulingen
Strong international field at the second DRM stop in Sulingen
April 30, 2024, 1:47 p.m
After the spectacular start to the season in the Erzgebirge, the 35th ADAC Actronics Rallye Sulingen takes place on 3/4. May second stop of the German Rally Championship. Over 80 teams will take part in one of the most prestigious events on the tour calendar, which, like 2023, will also be counted as a round of the Dutch Rally Championship (ONRK).
With 19 RC2 vehicles, the top class in the small town in the Diepholz district has a record-breaking number of participants. Over two days, spectators will experience not only the best German rally drivers but also strong teams from Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands on eleven difficult and spectacular special stages.
Will champion Marijan Griebel defeat the Sulingen curse?
The DRM start in Saxony was a no-brainer for Julius Tannert. The man from Zwickau clearly won his home rally and is heading to Sulingen as the first championship leader of the 2024 season. “As every year, the IVG site is a special challenge. Small mistakes have a big impact there, especially when it’s wet. This year, however, local hero Christian Riedemann, who is virtually unbeatable at home, is not there. It’s getting better a head-to-head race with Marijan,” explains the 33-year-old, who is supported in the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 by his new co-driver Pirmin Winklhofer. However, the current champion and brand colleague Marijan Griebel and co-driver Tobias Braun do not have good memories of the ADAC Actronics Rallye Sulingen. “I don’t have a worse record in any rally,” said Hahnweiler. “Two years ago my car burned, in 2023 I drove into a tree, I haven’t seen the finish ramp in Sulingen for a long time. That has to change this time.”
Third overall Dennis Rostek from Bückeburg knows the difficult terrain and is always good for a podium place with Stefan Kopczyk in the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Nico Knacker and Thomas Puls in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 and the driver crew Dinkel / Benning in the same make will also have an important say in the fight for the top places in the top league.
Strong field of drivers in DRM2 and at the Nationals
The DRM2 classification is also strong with 18 vehicles and is led by Tom Kässer and Stephan Schneeweiß in the Peugeot 208 Rally4. The pilot from Winnenden only started once in Sulingen, but did not reach the finish line. “I drove there in 2017, but failed in the first test. I didn’t get to know the IVG area at all. We’ll see what the tests have for us and what our speed is. Everything went very well in the Erzgebirge, if “If we get a podium place in Sulingen, that would be pleasing. For us it’s less about the individual titles and more about the championship,” Kässer explains. The strongest competitors in the hotly contested class include the Swedish duo Simon Andersson and Jörgen Jönsson (Renault Clio Rally4), whose driver Andersson also leads the Pirelli Junior classification, as well as their brand colleagues Max Schumann and Kevin Lennartz.
Favorite Walter Gromöller is ahead in the DRM Classic. In Sulingen too, the veteran in the Opel Ascona 400 will be difficult to beat by his closest pursuers Ingo Höppner and Sabrina Rieck in the Mercedes Benz 500 SL as well as the duo Danielsmeier / Knöbel (Ford Escort RS 1800).
With 35 participants, the popular sports category DRM Nationals is the most represented in Sulingen. At the start in Saxony, John Macht and Michael Teufel flew past their competitors and, despite a punctured tire, were the fastest team with a lead of almost a minute. John Macht: “We have never started in Sulingen before, but the narrow and winding course on the IVG site suits me. This time we are using our Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, which is a little weaker than the Evo 6, but more reliable. We want to Of course, we’ll be the fastest again at the Nationals, but first it’s important to get through this difficult rally.” The team Macht/Teufel has to be on the bill, as well as Walter Grömöller and co-driver Jasmin Kramer, as well as Andreas Dahms and Paul Schubert were at the forefront in their new Porsche 996 GT3 in the Erzgebirge.
Favorites in the special classifications
Dennis Rostek and Stefan Kopczyk are at the top of the newly launched DRM Masters after a dominant opening victory. Dennis Rostek is back to full strength after his appendectomy and wants to celebrate another Masters success in the Diepholz district. “I swam over 2000 meters in 35:30 minutes and physically I’m back where I want to be,” says the Bückeburger. “In addition to Stemwede, Sulingen can be described as my home rally, but I was always very cautious in the IVG area because you can easily stumble there. For me, the Masters are clearly a priority. A third place in the overall ranking like in the Erzgebirge is nice, But after the two titles in the Trophy, I want to win another championship with the Masters. And that’s difficult enough with strong competitors like Martin Christ.” Oliver Bliss and Julius Simon lead the second DRM Trophy special classification in the Škoda Fabia R5 and also want to keep their brand colleagues Raphael Ramonat and Karina Derda, who are in second place, at a distance in Sulingen.
150 kilometers of scoring including the IVG terrain labyrinth
The participants of the 35th ADAC Actronics Rally Sulingen have a good 150 kilometers ahead of them. The show starts on Friday at 4:39 p.m. in Sulingen in front of the “Am Amtschimmel” restaurant. From there we go to the first special stage in Liebenau, the infamous IVG site, where two of the three daily stages with a total length of almost 28 kilometers are held. In the confusing maze of streets, which is partly surrounded by trees, angled and narrow passages alternate with wide and fast sections on asphalt, gravel or grass. Hidden edges and corners on the road are also tricky and can lead to tire damage. On Saturday the starters will continue at 8:30 a.m. with eight special stages over a total distance of 123 kilometers. The first three placed in each class will arrive back in Sulingen “Am Amtschimmel” at 6:30 p.m. and will be honored in front of the spectators and fans.
The highlights of the German Rally Championship can be seen exclusively on n-tv on free-to-air television. On the Sunday after the racing events, the news channel broadcasts the 30-minute DRM magazine “PS – DRM German Rally Championship”. Alternatively, the magazine can be accessed online at any time in the n-tv media library or the streaming platform RTL+.
“PS – DRM German Rally Championship” – The broadcast times
ADAC Actronics Rally Sulingen
Sunday, May 5, 24, 11:15 a.m
Sunday, May 5, 2024 7:15 p.m. (week)
ADAC Middle Rhine Rally + Hunsrück Rally
Sunday, June 16, 24, 7:15 p.m
Monday, June 17, 24, 6:15 a.m
ADAC Saarland-Palatinate Rally
Sunday, June 30, 24 11:15 a.m
Sunday, June 30, 2024 7:15 p.m. (week)
ADAC Rallye Stemweder Berg
Sunday, August 11, 24 11:15 a.m
Sunday, August 11, 2024 7:15 p.m. (week)
ADAC Baltic Sea Rally
Sunday, 09/08/24 11:15 a.m
Sunday, September 8, 2024 7:15 p.m. (week)