The three Opel works drivers in the ERC Junior Championship are preparing to contest this weekend’s ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the marque’s home round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
Chris Ingram, Marijan Griebel and Julius Tannert currently occupy the top three places in the ERC Junior standings, and will resume their battle on Barum Czech Rally Zlín next weekend.
Before then, they get a chance to shine on the world stage. Griebel and Tannert have proud records on their home round of the WRC. The former has won his class on all three of his previous starts, including in the past two seasons with Opel. Tannert’s record is similarly strong, with a winning conclusion to his Citroën Junior Trophy title success in 2013 before ADAC Opel Rallye Cup glory in both 2014 and 2015, securing the series crown there 12 months ago.
For Ingram, it will be a first start on Rallye Deutschland, but he has a great history on his own home WRC event, scoring Wales Rally GB class wins in 2013 and 2014.
“It has been an incredible season so far and I hope to carry this momentum through these two huge events,” said Ingram. “I will aim to finish on the podium in Germany as it is my first time there, however it will be tough against a very strong R2 field.”
Tannert added: “To be able to start in a WRC event on home soil with the Opel works team is for me a real highlight, and I am looking forward to the start. ADAC Rallye Deutschland is my longest rally this year, so it will be an extremely challenging week.”
Griebel and Tannert prepared with a one-two in their class on Rallye Wartburg earlier this month, while Ingram won his class on another German asphalt event earlier in the year.