Opel Classic’s Iconic Racers Taking Over Germany’s ‘72 Olympia Rally Revival

Taking place across Germany from 8 to 13 August, Opel Classic is set to participate in the 1972 Olympia Rally Revival.

Covering a total of 2,252 km, 197 teams from nine nations will complete 6 daily stages between Kiel in the north and Munich in the south. 

Opel’s vice president for communications, Harald Hamprecht, remarked, “We are delighted to be able to contribute real gems to this great revival with classic Opel models such as the 1971 Rallye Kadett and the Commodore GS/E Coupe. And of course, the Opel Olympia will also play a part to match the title of the rally. Just like our new Astra plug-in hybrid, which will attract attention with its bold, clear design and pioneering technologies as an advanced and crew vehicle.”

Among the starters is rally legend and double world champion Walter Röhrl, whose career took off exactly 50 years ago on the original Olympia Rally.

During said time, he went on to win the 1974 European Rally Championship in a works Opel Ascona A, and the drivers’ world championship title for the second time in 1982 with the Ascona 400.

Röhrl expressed, “The 1972 Olympia Rally is the rally of the century. After this, nothing was the same as before. Under the guidance of Opel tuner Günter Irmscher, I prepared for my first Monte Carlo Rally and an exciting ‘73 season with my new co-driver Jochen Berger.” 

Back to the present, on 11 August, Röhrl will start the rally in the Commodore GS/E from Opel Classic. He will then cover the second leg from Pferdsfeld in an Opel Ascona 400.

In addition to the Opel classic cars mentioned, a special Opel Kadett B will also be piloted by ADAC sport president Hermann Tomczyk and motorsport veteran Günther Holzer. 

Notably, they will share the Rallye Kadett driven by Swedes Anders Kulläng and Bruno Berglund in the 1970s.

Last but not least, an ‘Olympia Rally’ would be incomplete without an Opel of the same name and the one taking part in this year's revival is an Olympia 1100 SR from 1967. 

This particular example features the 1100 SR engine with 44 kW/60 HP. Though, the more powerful Olympia 1900 could reach a top speed of up to 170 km/h, sports car territory at the time.

That’s not all, to ensure that the organisers of the Olympia Rally revival can travel in the same style as the classic models, Opel has put a new Astra plug-in hybrid at their disposal.

The electrified Astra matches the rally’s climate-neutral concept and produces 133 kW/180 HP in system power and 360 Nm of maximum torque. 

It has a combined fuel consumption of 1.1 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 26 to 24 g/km. In pure electric mode, the five-door compact can cover up to 60 km locally emissions-free (WLTP).

Opel Classics’ manager, Leif Rohwedder, concluded, “The 1972 Olympia Rally was unique and the Revival will thrill the fans. Our legendary Opel cars are sure to bring back lots of memories for the participants and spectators.”