Rally Rome Capitale: Claire Schönborn on form at the European Rally Championship round

At Schönborn’s Italian debut on the tricky tarmac stages – from the spectacular city stage at the foot of the Colosseum to the demanding sections in the Reatino mountains – they not only demonstrated a steep learning curve but also shone at times, climbing as high as seventh overall in the Junior classification. Among the 40 participating Rally4 teams, Schönborn/Wetzel – representing the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team – were sitting in a strong 14th position until shortly before the end of the rally.

The 27-year-old from the Hunsrück lost her chance of a good result due to a slip-up on the final Power Stage. On a downhill section, Schönborn and Wenzel skidded deep into a ditch on loose gravel whilst turning into a bend. However, with the help of enthusiastic rally fans, they managed to get their Opel Corsa Rally4 back onto the track and finish the rally having lost just over ten minutes. Despite the mishap, the team still finished in a creditable tenth place in the Junior classification.

Victory in the Junior classification of the European Rally Championship went to the Lancia drivers Davide Pesavento and Alessio Angeli, ahead of Schönborn’s ADAC Opel Rally Junior team-mates Timo Schulz and Maresa Lade.

Schwierige Abschnitte im Reatino-Gebirge wurden vom Opel-Duo gut gemeistert

Foto: RK-Media

“The Rome Rally was completely new to me again, but I still enjoyed every metre of it. The start at the Colosseum was something very special. I also enjoyed the stages on Saturday and Sunday, some of which were very long – there was a bit of everything, from tight corners to flowing uphill sections,” said Schönborn, commenting on the whirlwind trip to Rome.

“For Sunday, we’d set out to pick up the pace a bit. That worked out well. On the Power Stage, we just wanted to get to the finish – but unfortunately that didn’t work out so well because of the slip-up just before the finish.”

“On SS9, I had to back off in a tight hairpin and lost valuable time. On the other hand, SS8 to 10 went really well. The stages reminded me of my earlier hill climbs.”

“On the final special stage, I actually didn’t want to push any harder. But on a tricky downhill section, I was caught out by gravel on the track. I was only slightly off the line. But the bend closed in so sharply that we slid straight into the ditch. Luckily, there were lots of spectators there who helped us hoist the car back onto the road.”

Schönborn/Wenzel bei der theoretischen Vorbereitung

Foto: RK-Media

“We steadily improved throughout the weekend during our tarmac debut with the Opel Corsa Rally4. I’m extremely pleased with that and am looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

The third round of the Junior European Rally Championship takes place in Poland in three weeks’ time. The event around Katowice will also be held on tarmac. For Schönborn and Schulz, however, the third round of the ADAC Opel GSE Rally Cup is on the agenda the week before. The electric Opel Mokka GSE cars will then go head-to-head as part of the Rallye Weiz in Styria.

The overall victory in the European Championship round – comprising 197.02 kilometres of special stages and a total distance of 1,084.76 kilometres – was secured by the Škoda drivers Roberto Dapra and Luca Guglielmetti.

The Rally Rome Capitale is expected to be held next year as a round of the World Rally Championship.