Opel Opel Corsa-E Rally
05/07/2020
O pels successor to the Adam R2 rally vehicle is going fully electric. The new Opel Corsa-e will be the first electric car in the world to have its own rally brands cup, and the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup will be renamed the ADAC Opel E-Rally Cup from summer 2020. For the new series, the Stromer, which can already be ordered for the road, will be extensively modified for the R2 regulations. The drivetrain of the new Corsa-E Rally delivers 136 hp and 260 Nm. The car is wider and longer than the production vehicle. The battery has an output of 50 kWh and, according to Opel, should withstand a race in racing. In extreme cases, that would be between 40 and 50 kilometers. For comparison: In the realistic WLTP cycle, the Corsa-e covers 330 kilometers.
One more lap. Pleeeease! ? #OpelCorsa -e Rally pic.twitter.com/EaaGTIrxxd
- opel (@Opel) May 6, 2020
150 kilos lighter than the series
On the way from the production model to the rally car, the Corsa e around 150 kilos by simply omitting it. Insulation, interior trim and center console flew overboard. Also to make room for the welded safety cage and the two racing bucket seats. According to Opel, the installation of the hydraulic fly-off handbrake was not that easy, without which no front-wheel drive car can get around tight bends quickly today. Apart from the electric drive, the Corsa-e Rally Concept is a full-fledged rally car: underride protection, fire extinguishing system, quick-release fasteners for the bonnet and tailgate, and a motorsport display with data logger. Upon request, Opel can also build a tripmaster in the car.
Opel
Motorsport dismantling in the Corsa-e: the little Opel loses 150 kilos on the way from a series to a rally car. The omission creates space for a safety cage, two bucket seats and the lever of the hydraulic fly-off handbrake.
Racing series in partnership with ADAC
The ADAC Opel Rallye Cup has made a name for itself as a junior series in recent years. The talents that grew out of the Cup won four European championship titles with the Adam R2 from 2015 to 2018 as the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team. The move towards electric drive is therefore under some pressure, but Opel boss Michael Lohscheller confidently announces: 'The fans will be amazed at the performance that our E-Cup vehicle offers.' The new one-make cup is to be held from 2020 to 2021 in what is known as a 'super season'. At least eight races are planned.
ADAC sports president Hermann Tomczyk is sure that the new cup will be well received: 'Especially in the promotion of young talent, the innovative concept and the cooperation with the Groupe PSA open up new opportunities for us . I am sure that the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup will send out a signal for motorsport far beyond the borders of Germany. ' The integration into the Groupe PSA is particularly attractive for talented drivers, as Peugeot also uses vehicles according to R5 regulations and Citroën even uses World Rallye Cars in the world championship.
Promoting young talent comes first
A new edition of the ADAC Opel Rallye Academy for 2016 is also planned. Young interested parties can apply at a kind of 'rally casting'. The greatest talents then get the chance to enter the junior cup. Opel has not yet published an exact plan for the Academy.
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The synchronous motor has 136 hp and 260 Nm.
Customer teams can purchase the Opel Corsa-E Rally directly from Opel Motorsport for, says Opel, purchase 'well below 50,000 euros (net)'.
