Press Information
Press release 2016 - 06
Entry list for Group B and Group S show released
The organisers of the ADAC Eifel Rallye Festival have published the entry list of this year's event that will take place from July 21-23, 2016. The line-up of the three-day demonstration event is simply stunning and comprises participants from 17 countries, cars from 36 different manufacturers and more than 60 spectacular Group B and S cars.
The field of 150 cars is once again headed by Walter Röhrl, double World Champion and patron of the event, with start number 1. Röhrl is followed by former World Champions Miki Biasion and Stig Blomqvist, European Champion Yves Loubet and the German Champions Harald Demuth and Matthias Kahle plus more than hundred gentlemen drivers who are keen on showing their cars to the audience.
Apart from those VIP drivers, the Group B cars are the real highlight in the illustrious entry list. This year's entry reaches new heights in terms of quantity and quality. Nearly all the top cars from Group B history are present from Opel Manta 400s and Porsche 911 SCRSs to Audi Sport Quattro E2s, Peugeot 205 T16 E2s and Lancia Delta S4s. Adding even more interest to the show are some spectacular prototypes of the planned Group S, from the Pikes Peak Race to the Clouds or the Paris-Dakar Rally. The full entry list can be viewed here: http://eifel-rallye-festival.de/en/entrylist.html.
Audi, Ford, Opel & Toyota show their Group S prototypes
Spectators visiting the 2016 Eifel Rallye Festival will not only re-live the wildest days of rallying, they will also see a generation of cars that never saw the light of day. Group S was supposed to become the top-class of rallying from 1988 but eventually never came into being after the tragic accidents of the 1986 WRC season.
Now, thirty years later, the Eifel Rallye Festival will host the biggest collection of Group S prototypes ever. Audi Tradition will bring its sportscar-like mid-engined prototype for display in the Rally Mile in Daun, Opel Classic the Bastos-liveried Kadett 4x4 originally intended for Group S rallying and eventually used for tests prior to the Paris-Dakar Rally, while Toyota will show both of its black MR-2 prototypes. The intended Group S evolutions of the Ford RS200 and Škoda 130 LR will even tackle the stages in the Vulkaneifel.
But the manufacturer involvement on the Eifel Rallye Festival is not limited to Group S cars. Audi Tradition will also have an Audi Sport Quattro E2 on display and a Sport Quattro S1 taking part in the event with Harald Demuth at the wheel. Porsche will supply Walter Röhrl with his original Porsche 911 SC from the 1981 Sanremo Rally. And Škoda Germany will put a 'Porsche of the East' - a Škoda 130 RS - in the skilled hands of multiple German Champion Matthias Kahle.
Walter Röhrl: A journey through time
Among the thousands of fans eagerly awaiting this Group B show is also Double World Champion Walter Röhrl: "When I think of the Group B cars, the crowds of spectators and their enthusiasm which were nearly overwhelming and all the madness of that era, then the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I really look forward to see so many of those technological monsters and also drive some of them again."
A jury of experts selects the winners
One of several unique characteristics of the Eifel Rallye Festival is the fact that there is no sporting contest whatsoever. Out on the demonstration stages around Daun, it is not about speed or regularity - but still there is a Prize Giving during the Rally Party on Sunday night. How does that come about? At first, the spectators were allowed to vote for their winners. However, since 2015, a jury of experts has taken over that role. This jury will award four prizes. For the 'Champion's Choice' award, selected VIP drivers will choose their favourite rally car. The 'Rallying Ambassador' award honours one of the great personalities from the world of rallying for their lifetime's achievement. The 'Best Original' award powered by Bosch Automotive Tradition will go to the best original car while the 'Best replication' award will be given to the best reproduction of a famous rally car.
Last chance: Pre-sale of tickets and programmes ends on July 8th
Spectators who are keen to visit the Eifel Rallye Festival can still obtain their tickets and programmes no matter in what European country they are living. This makes it easier for them to plan their trip and avoid queuing on the day of the Festival. While a visit to the 'Rally Mile' in the heart of Daun is free of charge, there are various admission tickets needed for those who would like to see the action on the special stages. The range offered goes from one-day tickets right up to full weekend tickets.
The pre-sale of tickets and programmes is open until July 08, 2016 from http://www.eifel-rallye-festival.de/en/rallye-shop.html.
Eifel Rallye Festival 2015 DVD
Anyone who wants to relive the unique atmosphere of the 2015 Eifel Rallye Festival and watch the event from different perspectives can do so by getting this DVD. It features great action scenes, spectacular on-board footage and interesting interviews. This comprehensive review of the 2015 event focuses on the theme of "originality" and contains extended footage of some of the more spectacular original rally cars and details of their individual histories. Furthermore, it features the drivers who had also driven these cars in period such as Walter Röhrl, Sandro Munari, Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist and Timo Salonen. Running time of the main feature is about fifty minutes but there is bonus coverage that includes footage of all the cars entered. The DVD can be ordered for € 19.95 from www.rallywebshop.com.
More information on: www.eifel-rallye-festival.de
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Contact for international media
John Davenport (UK)
Email: john.davenport@eifel-rallye-festival.de
Sebastian Klein (Germany)
Email: sebastian.klein@eifel-rallye-festival.de