Next DRM stop in the Hunsrück marks new ground for the foremost trio

The third DRM stop in the Hunsrück marks new ground for the leading trio.

After over two decades, the German Rally Championship (DRM) will make a comeback in the Hunsrück on May 25th. This visit will also mark a milestone at the third stop: the 34th edition in Idar-Oberstein will be a Rally 70 event, a format that's being introduced in the DRM for the first time. The DRM and DRM2 classes, along with the DRM Masters special classification, will be the only ones racing in this sprint-style competition.

The intense battle between DRM championship leader, Marijan Griebel and his nearest challenger, Julius Tannert, will continue in the Hunsrück. If Tannert hopes to keep the title race in the DRM alive, he'll need to lead in this race. Griebel, however, appears to have the edge in the next two DRM rounds as he's a local hero. The 34th Hunsrück Rally is also part of the ADAC Rhineland-Palatinate Championship and the Saarland ADAC Championship, with a total of 126 vehicles competing for victories and points in the gemstone region.

The Top Three at the Hunsrück Debut

Griebel, who won in Sulingen and now leads the championship, is optimistic as he makes his Hunsrück debut with co-driver Tobias Braun. He'll be driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for the first time in this rally, and he's excited for this "completely new challenge." Of course, as the local favorite, Griebel is confident about his chances in the next two rounds.

Tannert, Griebel's closest rival, is also participating in his first Hunsrück rally with co-driver Pirmin Winklhofer. To keep the title race open, Tannert needs to take the lead at this rally. "I've never been to a rally in the Hunsrück, either as a driver or a spectator, but I'm excited for this completely new challenge," says Tannert. "It seems like a very beautiful and challenging race with a strong field of racers. I can't wait to see what it has in store for us."

Dennis Rostek, in 3rd place in the standings, has enjoyed a successful season so far. He's looking forward to the Hunsrück Rally with his co-driver, Stefan Kopzcyk, in their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. "It's exciting to see the ADAC trying out new formats. This allows us to see if they're suitable for the Tour calendar in the future, possibly in a longer version," explains Rostek. "So far, the only thing I know of the Hunsrück Rally is a few on-board recordings. It looks like a challenging rally, especially the long gravel sections. I'm thrilled about this event."

DRM2: Crowded with Vehicles and Fast Teams

In DRM2, there are 26 front- or rear-wheel drive cars in classes RC3-RC5 participating. Tom Kässer and Stephan Schneeweiß are at the top of the leaderboard after their two victories in the Peugeot 208 Rally4. "We did well on the first two stops, and now we want to give it our all, even though it's difficult with this strong field of drivers like Max Reiter," says Kässer. "We don't necessary need to win, but we want to score championship points."

In second place are Simon Andersson and Jörgen Jönsson in the Renault Clio Rally4. Third place belongs to Max Schumann and Kevin Lennartz in the same car. Schumann, who lives just under 80 kilometers away, is more than familiar with the terrain. "The special stages have proven to be demanding, a bit hilly, and have a significant proportion of gravel. I enjoy these conditions; a Rally 70 is a nice sporting challenge, but the effort won't be as much as in a two-day event," he explains. "We want to position ourselves in the top three."

The DRM Masters sees Dennis Rostek as the favorite, but Oliver Bliss and Lina Meter in the Škoda Fabia R5 might give him a run for his money.

Starting this weekend, the 34th Hunsrück Rally will take place at the Veitsrodt market grounds beginning at 1 p.m. This single-day time chase spans about five hours. During the race, teams will not receive any vehicle assistance, but after four out of the eight stages, they will be able to change their tires in a designated fitting zone. With around 68 kilometers of special stages ahead, nearly 10 of which are on gravel roads, the racers are in for some challenges as they switch between fast and narrow, twisty passages. There'll even be coarse gravel in a quarry for them to navigate. The stages' distances are also relatively short, allowing fans and fellow racers to quickly experience the action. At specific spots, viewers can get a close-up view of the action or watch from a distance. The top contenders will reach the finish ramp on Veitsrodt's market square at 18:22.

Die spannendsten Momente der Deutschen Rallye-Meisterschaft werden exklusiv auf n-tv im freiempfangbaren Fernsehen ausgestrahlt. An Sonntagen nach dem Rennereignis wird das DRM-Magazin "PS - DRM Deutsche Rallye-Meisterschaft" übertragen. Alternativ kann dieses Magazin jederzeit im n-tv-Mediathek oder auf der RTL+-Streamingplattform gesehen werden.