Opel is claiming to be the first car maker to show off an electric rally car. We know that others, notably Hyundai, are working on similar concepts right now, but Opel reckons that it's the first to display a fully functional battery rally car. Not only that, but Opel is backing a championship for it to race in.
Standard motor and batteries
The rally car in question is based on the recently-shown Corsa-e, and uses the the same standard battery pack and 136hp electric motor. "The Corsa-e is the electric car for everyone - fully suited to everyday use and absolutely affordable, attributes that equally apply to motor sport. The new Corsa is also fun to drive and particularly dynamic. Using the production car as the basis, we are the first carmaker in the world to have developed an electric rally car" said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller. "Opel has traditionally strong connections with rallying. We can look back with pride on numerous successes, including seven European championship titles as well as the World Rally Championship in 1982 with Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer in the Opel Ascona 400. Now we are moving forward with electric drive and fans will be amazed by the performance of our e-cup rally car."
The Corsa-e rally car will cost less than €50,000 to buy which makes it conspicuously affordable for a top-line rally machine. Although the motor and batteries are stock, the car will get a Torsen front differential, tuned suspension, ventilated disc brakes with four-piston calipers, a hydraulic handbrake for tight turns, a fully-integrated roll cage, and an on-board data-logging system.
ADAC backing for e-Rally series
The Corsa-e will compete in the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the first rally brand cup for electric cars in the world, in 2020. The previous ADAC Opel Rally Cup competition was instrumental in bringing several new junior rally drivers to prominence, so the hope is that the electric version will do the same again. Hermann Tomczyk, President ADAC Sport, added: "With the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup we are bringing electric drive for the first time to mainstream sport and especially to young-driver support.
The innovative concept and the cooperation with Groupe PSA opens new possibilities for us, especially in the support of young drivers. I am certain that the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup will point the way ahead for motor sport far beyond the borders of Germany."
All the way to the World Rally Championship
The electric Rally Cup series will form part of the German Rally Championship in 2020 and 2021. There will be at leats ten qualifying rounds, and part of the programme is to provide support and training to up-and-coming young rally drivers through the Opel Rallye Academy. The idea is that the best young drivers will progress to the European Junior Rally Championship with the new Opel Corsa R2, and possibly - through Opel now being part of PSA Group - all the way to the World Rally Championship with Citroen.