Ardenne Rally Festival In the Spirit of the Blitz!
One of the greatest attractions of the Ardenne Rally Festival is the opportunity to explore the rich history of rallying. Visitors can witness legendary, iconic, and classic racing cars as they pass by. Opel will have a strong presence in Vresse-sur-Semois from Thursday, May 1st to Saturday, May 3rd, featuring a spectacular line-up of vehicles from the brand with the blitz logo, spanning from the late 1960s to the mid-1990s.
For example, the excellent Dutch driver Maurice Bergsteijn will showcase a 1978 Kadett B 1900, a model that was also available as a coupé known as the Rallye. This sets the exciting tone for the event! The successor to this model, the Kadett C, remains memorable for many due to the formidable GT/E version, which is often seen in historic rallies. Patrick Gilkinet and Dutch driver Tom Scheepers will also be competing in one of these cars in Vresse.
The Ascona has also left a significant mark on rallying and was frequently seen on our special stages, particularly the second generation, the Ascona B. Dutch driver Ard Hofmeijer will bring the i2000 Group 2 version, joined by Frenchman Fabrice Courtois. Additionally, there will be an Ascona 400 Group 4, straight from Germany, reminding us of the remarkable achievements of Walter Röhrl, who won the Rally Monte Carlo in 1982 driving this model!
While Rudy Jacobs' Opel Monza regularly participates in Belgian events, it remains an original car. The Astra GSi 16V, which transports fans back to the early 1990s when Freddy Loix first made headlines in rallying, will also be present, thanks to Dutch driver Ron Buninga.
In short, enthusiasts of the German brand, now part of the Stellantis group, will surely enjoy the 2025 edition of the Ardenne Rally Festival. And they will not be the only ones…
