The puncture on the final stage of the 3-Städte-Rallye shook up the title fight once again. While Marijan Griebel lost a lot of time in the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 and fell back to fifth overall, Philip Geipel secured third place and the full DRM points in a strong final push in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Together with co-driver Jennifer Lerch, Geipel thus took the championship lead. However, his lead over Griebel and Ella Kremer is only three points. With two events still to run, the title is completely open.
Geipel hopes for rain, Griebel for the home advantage
Geipel is confident ahead of the Saarland-Pfalz Rallye on 30 and 31 October. He feels particularly at ease in difficult weather conditions, as he recently demonstrated at the 3-Städte-Rallye.
“Our fans should perform a rain dance before the start in Saarland, because wet conditions suit us,” Geipel jokes. He also knows, however, that his direct title rival will be hard to beat at his home event.
Griebel comes from Hahnweiler, just a few kilometres from the new rally centre at Bostalsee. The reigning German champion knows the roads in the region very well and wants to reclaim the championship lead in front of his home crowd.
Because the rally, originally scheduled for summer, was moved to the end of October, an additional challenge awaits. Some special stages will be run in the dark, and leaves and dirt on the asphalt roads are likely to produce changing grip conditions.
“The conditions will be more difficult, but I want to win here as in previous years,” Griebel makes clear.
In the battle for the title, Björn Satorius could be the deciding factor. Together with Nico Otterbach he also competes in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 and wants to fight for podium positions.
Battles in the other DRM classes as well
The title fight in DRM3 has also intensified recently. Timo Weigert and co-driver Jasmin Weigert reduced the gap to the championship leaders Leonard Weiss and Nick Hainke with their win at the 3-Städte-Rallye.
While Weiss relies on a Ford Fiesta Rally3, Weigert competes in a Renault Clio Rally3. The Renault driver travels to Saarland with a clear aim: another class win should put him in as good a position as possible ahead of the season finale.
In the DRM Masters, Dennis Rostek and Stefan Kopczyk lead the standings in the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Niebäumer could clinch the junior title early
A decision could already come in DRM Junior. Karl Otto Niebäumer and his sister Anna have the opportunity in the Opel Corsa Rally4 to secure the title early with another class win.
There is also a big opportunity in DRM4. The two leading teams in the championship are skipping the event: both Patrick Pusch and Tilmann Bößert as well as Kilian Nierenz and Milena Raithel will be absent in Saarland.
This brings Max Schumann in the Renault Clio Rally4 more into the spotlight. The driver from Saarbrücken finished second in class at the 3-Städte-Rallye and wants to build on that performance together with Ann Felke.
Schumann does not, however, rely on a special home advantage. Many of his rivals also know the stages well. Like Geipel, he is hoping for difficult conditions in which he can play to his strengths.
In DRM Classic, Walter Gromoller and René Meier in the Opel Ascona 400 are among the favourites. Gromoller is, however, worried about a particularly coarse gravel section that could take its toll on the historic rear-wheel-drive car. The duo are also among the contenders in the DRM Nationals.
Whether championship leader Philipp Heinmüller will be able to compete there at all is still unclear. After a rollover at the 3-Städte-Rallye, his team is working flat out to repair the damaged Opel Astra in time for the start.
14 stages around the Bostalsee
This year the Saarland-Pfalz Rallye presents a new rally centre at Bostalsee. Around 50 teams are expected to tackle a total of 14 special stages covering roughly 155 kilometres against the clock.
On Friday the event starts at 16:30 with the start at Bostalsee. Six stages are on the programme, including the WP “Ravenol Windpark”, on which cars can jump up to 30 metres over a crest.
On Saturday there are eight further stages, including the circuits “Numborn” and “Pfeffelbach”. Around 18:30 the first competitors are expected back at Bostalsee, where the winners will then be honoured.
After Saarland the title contenders have only the Lausitz-Rallye in early November left to decide the 2026 championship.
