Rallye ADAC Mittelrhein: Tarek Hamadeh‑Spaniol ready for summer highlight
The Deutsche Rallye Meisterschaft is returning to the vineyards of Mosel on 1 and 2 August for Rallye ADAC Mittelrhein. The course around Wittlich presents the teams with challenging terrain featuring rapid descents, tight sections and lots of history – a setting that has been one of the most striking on the DRM calendar for many years.
Strong starting position after class win in Sulingen
After his withdrawal for technical reasons from the season opener in Erzgebirge, Tarek Hamadeh‑Spaniol responded in impressive form in April. Alongside Henry Wichura, he won every NC3 class race at ADAC Actronics Rallye Sulingen and secured a clear class victory with a significant lead. This puts Tarek definitively back in the running in the DRM Nationals rankings, with every chance of still defending his championship title.
New design, new chapter
The Mittelrhein race will see Tarek driving the fully wrapped Citroën C2R2 Max for the first time. The new design was developed in conjunction with HYLO® Sport and marks the next step in their switch to a higher-performance vehicle. The C2R2 Max offers more horsepower, a sequential gearbox and a different driving experience – a package that Tarek is increasingly getting to grips with after initial tests and a win in Sulingen.
Rallye Mittelrhein: a characterful route with world championship history
The Rallye Mittelrhein special stages cover the same vineyard routes that were once part of the ADAC Deutschland‑Rallye. The terrain requires precise line choices, quick changes of rhythm and full concentration. The starting grid has a strong lineup, including world rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson, who will be attracting further attention as a guest starter.
A peek behind the scenes: from spanners to championship insights
The days running up to the Rallye Mittelrhein have been unusually intense for Tarek and his team. After their class win in Sulingen, the reworked gearbox threw up some unexpected problems that lasted for several weeks. Despite new components, expert assistance and multiple disassemblies, the cause initially remained unknown. ‘We have rebuilt the gearbox for the sixth time and grasped at every single straw’, was Tarek’s description of the situation.
The crucial turning point did not come until Wednesday evening, less than 24 hours before departing for Wittlich. The team identified a gear that appeared exactly as it should be both visually and in terms of its transmission ratio, but actually had a technical fault. After a final test drive for several dozen kilometres, it was clear that the car was working again.
Tarek is now heading into one of the most important races of the season with a newly wrapped vehicle and a team that literally worked up to the last possible minute.
Outlook
ADAC Rallye Mittelrhein promises challenging races, strong competition and a very special atmosphere among the vineyards. For Tarek Hamadeh‑Spaniol, this is a key weekend in the battle for the DRM Nationals – and with a start that has more weight than usual after some intense preparations. We wish Tarek and his team a successful and safe race around Wittlich.