When the “D-Bau United” team comes together again, the “Fast Finance Runners 2.0” lace up their running shoes and the “CSI Opel” team determines the fastest runner, it can only mean one thing: The Opel company run is back! After a two-year break, around 1,000 runners, including more than 670 employees from Opel and Stellantis, started the ninth edition on Thursday evening (September 8th).
The best atmosphere, the joy of seeing each other again and a lot of team spirit: It is an incomparable sense of community that characterizes this event around the stadium on Sommerdamm. A sense of community for which you don’t even necessarily have to be at the start yourself: The team name “Minnerts Mädels”, which the four KIS students have given themselves, is a homage to their trainer: “Peter Minnert gave us the last three Accompanied by our cooperative studies for years – we send him our warmest regards!”
Kick off! At the 9th Opel company run, almost 170 teams of four from Opel and Stellantis are at the start, as well as over 80 teams from a further 33 companies.
“Minnerts Mädels”: The team name of the KIS students Fabian Mascus (from left), Daniel Rotanoff, Jakob Palm and Leo Player is a homage to their trainer.
Runs! Before starting the 5.7 kilometer route, the “SC A-Team” has their picture taken in front of the Opel finish line.
#TeamOpel: “Team FM” consisting of Sebastian Gross (from left), Pierre Höhn, Felix Müller and Michael Butz enjoys the evening together.
Team “Zuzana and the Boys”: Zuzana Majorova, who gave her name, is at the start with Omed Frogh (left) and Roland Österle. Number 4, Massih Baghban, – “Just disappeared somewhere in the fray.”
“I’m finally seeing you again!” Stefan Leone calls out to his powertrain colleagues who are romping about on the lawn. There are hugs followed by chats about the preparations for the 5.7km run. The spectrum ranges from “It has to be less than 30 minutes” to “The main thing is to get there!”. At 6 p.m., the Opel and Stellantis colleagues gather in the grandstand for a group photo. It is an impressive sight when 670 employees raise their hands.
The tension rises, the leg muscles are stretched one last time, the running shoes are finally laced: At 6:30 p.m. sharp, the starting gun is fired! Cheerleaders from the American football team “Rüsselsheim Crusaders” shouted “Go, Rüsselsheim, go” and set off on the track. In addition to the Opel boss Florian Huettl, numerous other representatives of the Opel management team will also be there.
Opel boss Florian Huettl
The “LCV Rabbits”: Karl-Heinz-Tröge (from left), Marcus Heldner, Paul Krieger and Frank Frerichs recommend themselves as pacemakers.
Family support: Asya (left) and Arya are there to cheer on their dad Yunus Özdemir.
In the best of moods: Powertrain colleagues Stefan Leone (from left), Heiko Kappes, Markus Staubach and Martin Heyden are hot.
“The new Astra speaks for itself”: The colleagues from Rüsselsheim spread the message on their running shirts.
There when you need them: The “Firefighters” Ralph Schwäch (from left), Mohamed Ajaoun, Peter Bischoff and Okay Kocak give their all.
Cheered on by numerous spectators, the field of participants crossed not only the city center of Rüsselsheim but also parts of the Opel factory premises on the varied running course. The course there will be flanked by Astra models from six generations. After 20 minutes and 34 seconds, the first runner crosses the finish line, the last one will arrive after almost an hour.
But the finish times are secondary: “Even before the start, we saw how eager all participants were to finally experience that incomparable sense of community on the track again, for which the Opel company run is known,” says Opel boss Florian Huettl.
Varied route: The field of participants also crosses parts of the Opel factory premises, flanked by Astra models from six generations.
“Run, Forrest, Run”: Valerie is at the track with a poster she drew to support the runners.
“Go, Rüsselsheim, go!” The cheerleaders of the American football team “Rüsselsheim Crusaders” also cheer on the athletes.
Crossing the finish line in the stadium: The first runner crosses the finish line after 20 minutes and 34 seconds, the last after just under an hour.
More and more friends, family members and other colleagues join, and the atmosphere at the after-run party in the stadium is relaxed. At the end, the Opel boss honors the winners in the respective categories. The fastest women’s team is “Coba BSG Damen”, the men’s team “Physioteam 2” prevails and the fastest mixed teams are the “Opel Special Runners”. There is great respect for “The Old Sweaty Feet”. At 263 years old, they are the oldest team on the track. “It was great to enjoy this incomparable community experience with all of you,” says Florian Huettl in farewell.
Evening atmosphere: Afterwards, the runners celebrate together with families and friends at the after-run party.
In cult yellow: the new Astra – with the striking logo of the company run – is there as a support vehicle.
“Cheese!”: Manufacturing Engineering colleagues Dariusz Szczepaniec, Thomas Struwe, Thomas Geimer and Jürgen Bos (from left) take a souvenir photo.
Sep 2022
Photos: Andreas Liebschner and Marcus Weinert