Before the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) started the second half of the season at the DEKRA Lausitzring at the end of August, four drivers kicked up a lot of dust in advance. Maro Engel (Monaco), Laurin Heinrich (Würzburg), Clemens Schmid (Austria) and Kelvin van der Linde (South Africa) competed against each other in the DTM Schotter Challenge. For the gravel excursion, the DTM aces swapped their company car and tested the electric Opel Corsa Rally Electric from the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, the world’s first electric one-make rally cup.
VIDEO: The ProSieben TV report shows how the DTM stars fared on loose ground.
Teamwork was required for the DTM drivers on the loose surface. Heinrich teamed up with Schmid, Engel started the race with van der Linde. The task: Three laps as fast as possible on the “Massen Dirt Track” about 20 minutes from the Lausitzring, then a tire change with a driver change and then three more laps on the gravel track. The drivers received tips from DTM champion Volker Strycek, who was involved in the development of the Opel Corsa Rally Electric.
“Now I know what is even more exhausting than driving a racing car: changing tires.”
– Laurin Heinrich–
“We are rally rookies, but as a co-driver Clemens had a lot of good tips ready for me. I hope that the course was my only off-road show for the next few days,” said Heinrich with a smile. While all DTM drivers shone with a lot of vehicle control on the loose surface, the performance pit stop with a tire change provided a challenge. “Now I know what is even more strenuous than driving a racing car: changing tires,” said Heinrich in full gear after changing the tires.
“It was great fun! As a co-driver, Kelvin van der Linde didn’t give me that many tips, but he always motivated me,” said Engel. His rally team partner van der Linde added: “Maro and I have known each other as competitors on the track for many years and have had many close-fought door-to-door duels. It was all the better that we were both in the same car together.” Which DTM duo was the fastest with electric drifts? The ProSieben TV report reveals this. The clip was also shown before the live broadcast of the DTM race.
Gravel instead of circuit
Engel and van der Linde changing tires
“Maro and I have had a lot of door-to-door duels. All the better that we were both in the same car together.”
– Kelvin van der Linde –
As the first all-electric rally vehicle for mass sport, the Opel Corsa Rally Electric plays a pioneering role. The rally racer, whose standard electric motor has an output of 136 hp and a torque of 260 Newton meters, is used in the world’s first electric one-make rally cup, the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe”. With the fly-off handbrake, the DTM stars made the tires smoke and let the vehicle dance acrobatically through the corners at high speed.
Circuit in the midst of the Lusatian forests
Engel (right) and van der Linde (left) enjoy the adventure.
Talking shop with Volker Strycek
Successful premiere
Pure electric driving fun
Aug 2023
Photos: ADAC/Oliver Runschke