Cologne start for Rallye Deutschland

Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city, the home of kolsch, Karnival and the Ford Capri, will take centre stage next August when it hosts the start of the country’s FIA World Rally Championship counter.

ADAC Rallye Deutschland bosses are switching the traditional start from host city Trier to Cologne on 22 August where drivers will take part in an official presentation close to Cologne’s cathedral.

But that’s not all. Rather than take a leisurely drive back south to Trier, competitors will tackle the Blankenheim stage before taking on the event’s first night stage near Sauertal ahead of three days of competition on asphalt stages around Trier from Friday 23 August until Sunday 25 August.

“We are very pleased that the ADAC Rallye Deutschland will depart from Cologne for the first time,” said Hermann Tomczyk, ADAC’s vice-president of sport. “By having the launch in a major city, we hope to attract the broadest possible audience and kindle their enthusiasm for rally racing.

“Since Cologne is also a city of the media, it is ideally suited to proactively attract the attention of rally fans worldwide to the German WRC event. For the nitty-gritty, the ADAC Rallye Deutschland will remain true to the popular special stages in the greater Trier region. This mix will be perfect both for the fans and the rally drivers.”