Rebenland Rally

This car made every fan’s heart beat faster

Kris Rosenberger in his car, which finished second in a WRC round in 2019

(Bild: Michael Höller)

The battle against the clock continues around Leutschach until Saturday evening. The fun factor must not be neglected - for drivers and fans! A local inspection in Rebenland.

Pulled pork burgers, white spritzers and bottles of lemonade were put aside for a moment when Kris Rosenberger started the Rebenland Rally as the penultimate vehicle shortly before 3 p.m. yesterday.

"It's actually about this car," explains a security guard, who proudly says: "I was there when it was tested yesterday. It's really amazing how this car takes off." No wonder: the Finn Esapekka Lappi took second place in the 2019 WRC race in Sweden in Rosenberger's car.

Rally fun for drivers and fans
"In the autumn of my career, I just want to have fun and show the fans cars that you don't normally see," the 54-year-old from Graz told Krone. World Rally Cars were banned from the Austrian championship for a long time.

Rosenberger actually wanted to use this Fiesta WRC

(Bild: Rallye-Team Rosenberger)

Since this year, however, there have been regulations under the name "Rallye4you" that allow its use - albeit outside the classification and without championship points. "I don't really care about that. I want to bring different cars to the start this year that would otherwise gather dust in the garage," he promises.

Homage to Ken Block canceled
Rosenberger actually wanted to drive a Ford Fiesta WRC in Leutschach - painted as a tribute to rally legend Ken Block, who passed away last year. Differential damage during the test on Wednesday put paid to that plan. 

Günther Knobloch, third in the ORM last year, will also become a "showman" in the future. With his Porsche 911 GT3 RGT - which he took over from Rosenberger - he not only attracted the eyes of the fans, but above all their ears. "This car is very popular with the fans. But it's more a project for the heart than for the championship," says Knobloch, who is allowed to collect championship points with his car.

Franz Wittmann senior enjoyed the rally, Franz junior was in the advance car

(Bild: Michael Höller)

Legend Wittmann also raves
Austrian rally legend Franz Wittmann, whose son Franz junior drives one of the two advance cars, was also a guest in Rebenland. "The WRC cars that I was allowed to drive, among others, were fantastic," enthused the 73-year-old. "But I would also love to try out a Rally2 car like that."

They are the non plus ultra in the ORM - 15 of them tackled the Rebenland Rally and occupy the top spot: Simon Wagner leads after the first day four seconds ahead of brother Julian and 14.7 seconds ahead of championship leader Michael Lengauer (all driving Skoda Fabia R2). The best Styrian is Fabian Zeiringer in eighth place (+4:03 minutes).

The decision will be made on Saturday from 8.10 am.