With some last minute additions, the list of famous drivers coming to take part in the Eifel Rallye Festival on the last weekend of July has now grown to fourteen. Amongst them are three ex-World Rally Champions since one of the last names to be added is that of Stig Blomqvist, World Champion with Audi in 1984. He joins fellow World Champions, Walter Röhrl (1980 and 1982) and Björn Waldegård (1979). Another late arrival is Marc Duez who is as well known for his racing activities - he won the Nürburgring 24-Hour race four times and competed at Le Mans 24-Hour no less than twelve times - as for his rallying successes in both World and European championship rallies.

The full list of VIP drivers and the cars that they will drive is :

 

Walter Röhrl		His original Monte-winning Opel Ascona 400 and a Porsche 911 SC
Björn Waldegård		Original Mercedes 500 SL - test car from 1981
Stig Blomqvist		Original Mazda 323 GT-X works car
Simo Lampinen		His original Lancia Beta Coupé - 1975 Acropolis
Marc Duez		Opel Ascona 400
Harri Toivonen		Original Opel Manta 400 - 1983 Safari test
Harald Demuth		Original Audi Sport Quattro S1 - 1985 Monte Carlo
Yves Loubet		Original Lancia 037 - 1984 Monte Carlo
Susanne Kottulinsky		Audi Quattro A2
Philippe Gache		Original Mazda RX-7 works car
Matthias Kahle		Škoda 130 RS
Niki Schelle		Audi 200 Quattro
Egon Culmbacher		Wartburg 353 WR

 

The action-packed festival weekend will start on Thursday afternoon on the new shakedown stage “Mantaloch” from 16.00 to 20.00. For the first hour, it will be just the VIP drivers and then be open to the other cars taking part in the Festival to try their cars. On Friday, from 9.00 in the morning there will be scrutineering on the Rally Mile and at 10.00 there will be an autograph session with all star drivers present. On Friday afternoon at 14.20 the cars go to the all-gravel Bosch Super Stage that includes a water splash and a spectacular jump. In late afternoon, there is the night stage at Sarmersbach.

 

Saturday will be a full day of rallying starting at 8.00 in the morning and finishing after 16.00 in the afternoon. This day will include classic Vulkaneifel stages while at midday there will be a two and half hour break where fans have the chance to meet the drivers and enjoy all the other attractions in the Rally Mile in Daun. Then from 19.00, the rally will end with a great rally party in the centre of Daun.

 

For anyone contemplating a trip to the Eifel Rallye Festival, they should contact the Tourist-Information Daun where there are English-speaking staff:

Tel.: +49 (0) 6592 / 95 13 0

E-mail: touristinfo@daun.de

Web site: https://www.gesundland-vulkaneifel.de/