With the delivery of 20 Astra OPC “Cup” cars, the comeback of Opel in motor sports is put into practice. Right at the traditional Nürburgring circuit, the location of future nose-to-nose fights, the drivers and teams got the opportunity to get a first practical impression on their race cars. The protagonist of the official comeback of Opel to circuit racing is the new Astra OPC in a customers’ competition version. The Cup vehicles which were developed and adapted to circuit requirements are technically set up to match the VLN endurance racing championship. The start of the first out of ten races in this most popular grass roots racing series in Europe will be given on 23rd March. The Opel customer teams will fight for points in an own class and in the make cup exclusively reserved for Opel race cars, the Astra OPC Cup. The highlight of the season will be the 24 Hour Race at the Nordschleife (17th to 20th May).
“With the engagement in the VLN Championship, we reflect on our roots in motorsport, on grass roots racing”, says Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott in front of the drivers, the team managers, VLN representatives and partners. “The Astra OPC ‘Cup’ offers the possibility for our customers to perform high-class motorsport with top material and with sporting perspectives on a professional level, and this all at reasonable costs. All of the 20 cars had been sold within a few days only. We are delighted about this overwhelming interest which confirms our new concept.”
The Opel grass roots, popular sports concept includes a comprehensive service package. The main item in this package is the new race car, the Astra OPC “Cup” which was developed and built by Opel in close cooperation with the successful partner Kissling Motorsport. The engineers hereby consequently focused onto the ideas and requirements of private drivers. Team manager Stefan Kissling: “The standard Astra OPC is very well suited to serve as basic vehicle for a race car. In preparing the first season, we have completed more than 7,000 test kilometres in the Cup version. We had no problems at all during these tests and there was no reason to change or modify basic parts or configurations.” A race car which provides a high level of performance and competition at reasonable costs was so developed.
The Astra OPC “Cup” with a two litres turbo engine has a performance of about 300 HP. The technical specifications include amongst others the lightweight bodywork with carbon components and integrated safety structure, the multiple adjustable Bilstein performance suspension and the high performance 6 piston monoblock brake system of Performance Friction.
In addition to supplying this excellent material, Opel will furthermore provide technical and organisational support on-site at the race track and competitively priced spare parts. An additional attraction is the pot of money with attractive cash prizes to be distributed. “This is really a fantastic concept presented by Opel”, says also the 48 years old driver in the Team TKS Motorsport, Thorsten Wolter from Berlin. “It works out well for us drivers. You can really do a good pace at the Nordschleife with this car. So I am really happy not to have hesitated in acquiring this car. I am looking forward to an exciting season.”
Racing history: Opel sets milestones
In grass roots touring car racing, the brand with the lightning logo has achieved countless victories, in particular at its “home track” Nürburgring Nordschleife. A leading role hereby played the victories on professional level. From 1993 for example, the Calibra V6 driven by Manuel Reuter became an icon in the eyes of the fan community, first in the DTM and finally in winning the title of the successor series ITC in 1996. Further highlights include the make championship of the DTM/ITC successor series STW in 1998 with the Vectra and the overall win at the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race in 2003 with the Astra V8 Coupé.
