> Monte Carlo
17 - 24 of January
For this first test of the year, new gear boxes were adapted on the three cars of the team after the rout of the RAC Rally, but otherwise few changes were done on the cars.
Opel, like Lancia, share the options of choice of tires, with a car in Pirelli Supersport P7s and the two others in M&S 35.
Walter Röhrl in tests for Monte Carlo (Dec. 75)
Course of concentration:
The 3 Opels Kadett GTE committed (Mikkola - Bilstam, Röhrl - Berger, Kullang -Andersen) having engines developing 210 PS to 8200 T/mn left Copenhagen and arrived without encumbers in Monaco.
During the race:
First test:
Kullang knows big problems of brakes
2nd test:
Mikkola and Kullang know big problems of brakes and engine and are with 4' of Röhrl their companion of stable which makes wonder at the wheel of its Kadett GTE
Kullang: "I do not know why, one has all the 3 (with Mikkola and Röhrl) of problems of brakes. Undoubtedly plates."
Röhrl: "the brakes it is sure, but my Racings wear too quickly"
Kullang
Mikkola
Röhrl
The Opel of Röhrl and Escort of Clark are followed. According to the regulation, they are regarded as groupe4, but it is a problem of a number of unit of homologation. We will consider them like groupe2 and in spite of their power, it is necessary to acknowledge that with the Monte Carlo Rally, they are not on their favorite ground. Their position with the classification is of southerly wind more honourable especially for Opel which has just begun its career in the car of production. The Fellow-members of Röhrl and Clark did not have on the other hand the same success.
N° 3 Hannu Mikkola - Claes Billstam : M&S 35 Tyres
Mikkola is associated Claes Billstam, the copilot of Aaltonen last year, (which will run probably in the future with Walter Röhrl taking into account the withdrawal envisaged of Jochen Berger), it will quickly be delayed by troubles of selector of gear box in St Jean in Royans (repaired thereafter). Thereafter it must give up in special St Pierreville - Antraigues on rupture of the differential.
N°16 Walter Röhrl - Jochen Berger: P7s Supersport Tyres
They finish 4th, better crew not Stratos. The chance of Opel on this rally was to choose the good tires according to the conditions. For only Opel which finishes, some small problems of brakes but no serious troubles to announce.
N°28 Anders Kullang - Andersen : M&S 35 Tyres.
A rally to be forgotten with only 2 times in Burzet and St Jean worthy of his capacities. The chance of a good time in Entrevaux was wasted when it was wedged on the icy rise of Collar of the Boxwood. It has to give up close to the end of the Common Course without oil pressure.
Final classifications
1. Munari – Maiga (Lancia Stratos) 6h25' 10''
2. Waldegaard – Thorszellius (Lancia Stratos) 6h26' 37''
3. Darniche – Mahé (Lancia Stratos) 6h31' 23''
4. Röhrl -Berger (Opel Kadett GT/E) 6h34' 32''
Echappement Fev. 76 et Sportauto Fev. 76
> Suède
20 - 22 February
No official representation of Opel
Kullang finish 3rd on Ascona A ex factory Cross-country races-flow 210 CV and Carlson 6th scratch on Kadett GT/E engaged by Opel Holland
Provisional classification of the world Championship after swedish rally
1.
Lancia 30
2.
Opel 22
3.
Saab 20
4.
Ford 8
5.
Fiat 6
Source: Échappement Avril 1976 p129
> Portugal
10 – 14 Mach
Anders Kullang
Walter Röhrl
Cversions 16 valves of 235CV of kadett GTE were committed for Walter Röhrl and Anders Kullang. Röhrl did not exceed the first kilometer of special test, breaking its transmission practically on the starting line.
Before the rally of Portugal Röhrl a first discussion with Helmut Bein the owner of Opel had had. The support of suspension of the tube of transmission was a weak point. It says to Helle, "give me a car of test and I will test in the forest close to Ratisbon to see whether it lasts." "Not" says to me Helle, "it is not necessary, our department of development as tested." Thus it took off for Portugal where the first stage was Lagoa Azul. First, second, third, fourth speed, CRACK! Support of suspension of the tube of transmission broken. Three weeks of hard labour for nothing. Its new Copilot Claes Billstam had hardly had the occasion to open his notes...
Kullang him fought like a beautiful devil, although handicapped by multiple punctures damaging its suspension. It returned very strong on the men of head when, by catching up with a competitor, it recovered a stone in its water radiator. It was the abandonment... of the official Opel last. Opel finally saved the situation via the excellent Portuguese pilot, "Méquépé", which at the wheel of a kadett GTE Gr1 equipped with the approved kit (135CV), at the end of a brilliant race recovered the 3rd place with the scratch and the victory of group 1.
Final Classification
1. Munari – Maiga (Lancia Stratos) 5h41' 26'' (1ers Gr 4)
2. Anderson – Hertz (Toyota Celica) 5h44' 24''
3. Méquépé – Baptista (kadett GTE) 6h24' 37'' (1er Gr 1)
Provisional classification of the world Championship after Portugal
1.
Lancia 50
2.
Opel 34
3.
Saab 20
4.
Toyota 15
5.
Ford 12
6.
Fiat et Datsun 6
Source: Échappement Mai 1976 p114
> Safari
15 – 19 April
Safari Rally, was a shock
Chis year there, Opel engaged 2 kadetts with the Safari for Röhrl and Aaltonen. Röhrl knew the Rallye safari only in the newspapers and it judged that it was quite sufficient. it had hated it before to have even led its first meters in Africa. Control in mud, the large stones on the course, of many right ends speed, the alleged civils servant corrompus, the diseases... the safari was for him a monster! The rally of the acropolis in Europe was right the limit for him.
During the recognitions, Röhrl was delayed by a large deflagration related to a gasoline leakage and thereafter by an alleged disease of its new fellow-member Claes Billstam. This one played to him besides during the race, some unpleasant turns: "Claes brought with him old pace notes from Harry Källstrom which we wanted to use for our first recce. Källstrom's notes were with numbers, so that "one" meant very slow, "five" stood for "full throttle". Claes read, "Four, five, five, five..." We flew. AI some point he lost it in the notes, but he didn't tell me
Claes took a look at what was coming and then pretended to read from the notes. "200, right, four to five..." Then came, "400, left, five..." I looked and he was right. We were going at 170, 180 kph. Billstam read, "Right, five..." - and inexplicably I saw people's heads at the same height as our road. In fact, the road went steep down into a river bed and the heads that l'd seen belonged to spectators on the other side of the river standing on a five-metre high bank. We flew towards the steep drop at 180 kph with just 100 metres to slow up. I swung the car sideways, slammed on the brakes, and got the Kadett straight just before the river so that we would at least fall straight. We hit the opposite bank with the front of the car. The tough little Kadett survived and we limped to the service with the gearbox pushed back in the chassis. The service crew hitched up a rope and pulled the gearbox and engine forwards with a truck. I could have cried when I saw them do that to our car.
The route then wound around Mount Kenya. Fine, red twisty roads. "We've got 230 kilometres in front of us," Claes said. "We won't make it on time." That was just what I wanted to know and I put my foot down. On the way, I caught Nicolas and Makinen in their Peugeots. Every quarter of an hour I saw the dust trail of a rally car ahead. I reeled each one in and, almost blinded by their dust, roared past. Claes's information remained the same, "We're too late, we're too late."
We had planned to refuel the car at the end of the section and allowed two minutes for that. "Forget it'; came through the intercom, "Get to the time control immediately!" OK, no fuel and we entered the little town at 150 kph, approaching the time control totally sideways.
Claes shot out of the car towards the clock. At the time control Jochen Berger was waiting. Slowly he walked up to our car. "Well, well. Mr Röhrl is getting old. Munari waited here for two minutes, but you are late. Did you have a nice picnic on the way?" I was furious. "Listen, Jochen, I overtook everybody who was in my way, and I am thirteen minutes Iate. They must all be half an hour late!" Jochen frowned.
He looked, calculated, thought... and then gave me a copy of the time schedule without saying a thing. I could see immediately that Claes's calculation was wrong. We were much too early - and for that we got double the penalty for being late.
Back into the car, first, second, third, fourth, fifth gear, leaving this place, and we were driving between solid walls of spectators, straight. Suddenly this human wall opened just thirty metres ahead of us, and an old Peugeot 504 came out of a junction, moving as if in slow motion. I had no chance of avoiding the car and T-boned it. That was the end of my first Safari. Thankfully, Jochen made sure I got an early flight back home with KLM."
> Milles lacs
27 - 29 August
Abandonment of driving Kullang broken 18th special. It had carried out very good results hitherto.
Provisional classification of the world Championship after 1000 lacs
1.
Lancia 62
2.
Opel 42
3.
Datsun 37
4.
Fiat 35
5.
Ford 33
6.
Toyota 31
7.
Peugeot et Saab 30
Échappement Oct. 1976 p82.
> San Remo
6 – 9 October
Cth Kadett GTE were at the beginning of this rally. To try to tear off some points and to consolidate their second place with the championship of the world Opel called upon:
- Röhrl at the wheel of a GTE gr. 4, version 16 valves, 240 CV
- Nicolas who inaugurated his temporary entry at Opel at the wheel of a GTE gr. 4 version 8 valves of 215 CV.
- A third car was engaged by Opel Italia, was prepared by Conrero and was drived by Ballestrieri.
Both official Opel broke in the 3rd stopwatch Röhrl (piston) and Nicolas (Camshaft). Ballestrieri will finish 5th scratch (1st not lancia) after a superb race and how much spectacular.
At the end of the first stage Munari preceded Waldegaard by 21' ', Vérini and its FIAT, Pinto and Tony on their Stratos awaiting a possible weakness of the leaders, and Ballestrieri which, at the wheel of its Opel Kadett GTE, deployed treasures of acrobatics not to lose the contact. It is besides only Opel semi-official which still remained in race and the leaders of the service competition did not fail to lavish councils of prudence to him.
Finaly, victory in gr. 2 for Ormezzano (7th scratch) and in gr. 1 for lucky (8th scratch)
Final Classification
1. Waldegaard – Thorszellius (Lancia Stratos) 10h27' 40''
2. Munari – Maiga (Lancia Stratos) à 4''
3. Pinto – Bernacchi (Lancia Stratos) à 9'33''
4. "Tony" – Mannini (Lancia Stratos) à 31'42''
5. Ballestrieri – Maiga (kadett GTE) à 46'6''
6. Lorenzelli – Necco (Fiat Abarth 124) à 52'49''
7. Ormezzano – "Rudy" (kadett GTE) à 1h08'11'' (1er Gr 2)
8. "Lucky" – Braito (kadett GTE) à 1h21' 2'' (1er Gr 1)
Provisional classification of the world Championship after San Remo
1.
Lancia 82
2.
Opel 50
3.
Datsun 36
4.
Fiat 32
5.
Peugeot 30
6.
Saab 28
7.
Ford et Toyota 27
(Échappement Nov. 1976 p106)
> Tour de Corse
6 - 7 November
Che Corsican 1976 turn, like all the rallys, started well before November 6. One week sometimes 15 days before the crews recognized the small roads narrow and tortured Corsica for once drowned under the rain. The large chestnuts let choir their sheets slipping on the roadside returned thus encor replus dangerous. One midday during the recognitions Darniche, Andruet, Ragnotti, Munari, Serpaggi, Makinen, Mikkola, joined together before the brawl in a small restaurant of Quenza "at Félicien" acknowledge all the same astonishment and same fear: this year will be really very hard! Ragnotti adds: "In 10 years of rally I never saw anything of also difficult. With my opinion, nobody will hold out, except can be the Italian, Arabic and the small bald person (he wants to say Munari, Andruet and Darniche) because they have an extraordinary physical form and they prepare méticuleusement."
Principal involved forces:
Lancia, Alpine, Opel et Peugeot.
COpel kadett GTE Gr4 are committed. The official Opel team, which occupies the second place with the classification of the championship of the world, aligned two Kadett GTE GR. 4 equipped with four disc brakes and the engine with sixteen valves developing some 240 CV. Walter Röhrl and Jean-Pierre Nicolas controlled them while the team Opel BP Marseilles engaged of the less powerful cars (versions 8 valves, 190CV), still equipped with drums back for Guy Fréquelin and Jean-Louis Clarr. But Opels are for a certain time considered fragile...
Opel a business quickly concluded
Cfter a small wet prologue in the area of Casta or Darniche best time realizes in front of Andruet and Mangazol, the competitors face the first long test: Calvi-Oporto-liamone 145.2 km, time to clear up the rows. At Opel it is the hecatomb: Röhrl breaks its belt of ventilo, Clarr its tumblers and Nicolas overheating then loses a wheel and types! Remain Fréquelin which, in spite of concern side brakes, makes an excellent time (7th) and will do others of them (3rd in Bavella) before giving up seized up injection pump whereas it was 5th.
Definitely, Opels are quite fragile when one puts Röhrl horses to them, Nicolas and Clarr quickly made the expenses and only Fréquelin of it (on the image) on one 8 valve entrusted by Vimont and BP which been able to continue until everywhere realizing Ajaccio and as usual very good time.
Provisional classification of the world Championship after Tour de Corse
1.
Lancia 102
2.
Opel 53
3.
Datsun 36
4.
Fiat 32
5.
Peugeot 31
6.
Saab 28
7.
Alpine Ford et Toyota 27
(Échappement Déc. 1976 p68; Auto Journal, 1.12.1976)
> RAC Rally
26 November –1er décember
Cia the E.H.T (EuroHändler Team) Opel had engaged four GT/E Gr.4 including only one with engine 16 valves for Röhrl, 3 others being entrusted to Kullang, Aaltonen and Smolej.
Walter Röhrl (N°11)
Anders Kullang (N°19)
The D.O.T (Dealer Opel TEAM), the English stable was also in the race with 2 Gr1 for Fall and Danielson. After a time "Gun" in first Special Röhrl gave up differential broken. Little after was with the turn of Smolej to give up - Limps Broken, then Aaltonen on exit of road. Only Kullang was on arrival 7th.
Danielson makes a success of the exploit to of course take along its Gr1 to the 9th place of the scratch gaining Gr1 whereas Fall had been eliminated (except times).
Danielson 9th et 1st Gr1
Final classification
1. Clark-Pegg (Ford Escort RS 1800) 6h02' 26'' (1ers Gr ¾)
2. Blomqvist- Sylvan (Saab 99 EMS Rally) 6h07' 03''
3. Waldegaard – Thorszellius (Ford Escort RS 1800) 6h07' 55''
4. Munari – Maiga (Lancia Stratos) 6h08' 49''
5. Anderson – Holmes (Toyota Corolla 1600) 6h11' 43''
6. Coleman – O'Sullivan (Ford Escort RS 1800) 6h11' 48''
7. Kullang – Andersen (Opel Kadett GT/E) 6h15' 13''
(…)
9. Danielson – Sundberg (Opel Kadett GT/E) 6h24' 28'' (1ers Gr1)
Final classification of the world Rally Championship 1976
1.
Lancia 112
2.
Opel 57
3.
Ford 47
4.
Saab 43
5.
Datsun 39
6.
Toyota 35
7.
Fiat 32
8.
Peugeot 31
9.
Alpine 27
10.
Mitsubishi 20
(Echappement Jan 77)