The Opel Calibra V6 4×4, in which ex-Formula 1 world champion Keke Rosberg drove his final race in DTM in 1995, returns to the track during the DTM Classic Cup season opener at Lausitzring this weekend (20-22 May).
Mücke Motorsport Classic is running the car for the first time in the two races on Saturday and Sunday, ex-Aston Martin Factory driver and DTM driver Stefan Mücke and Ronny Scheer from Dresden will be racing the Calibra.
The Opel Calibra made its mark on the era of the Class 1 touring cars from 1993 till 1996. Although initially slowed down by technical issues during its competition debut in the 1993 season finale at Hockenheim, the car was very popular, especially among the Opel fans that came to the race tracks in large numbers. Not in the least with the support of Formula 1 experienced companies Williams (hydraulics) and Cosworth (engine), the Calibra became a race-winning car. The 2.5 litre V6 engine, delivering over 500 hp and revving up to 12,000 rpm was a fan favourite in its day and is likely to continue that appeal on its return to racing.
Keke Rosberg, the 1982 Formula 1 world champion with Williams, initially raced in the Calibra with Opel Team Joest and from 1995 in his newly founded Team Rosberg. His teammate Klaus Ludwig took a pair of wins during the season finale at Hockenheim on 16 October 1995, Manuel Reuter and Uwe Alzen made it a 1-2 in both races.
Today, the Rosberg name is still a fixed element in DTM. René Rast became DTM champion with Audi Sport Team Rosberg three times in 2017, 2019 and 2020. In the season opener of the 2022 DTM at Portimão, Team Rosberg celebrated another DTM race win with Nico Müller behind the wheel of the Audi R8.
The ex-Rosberg Calibra was comprehensively prepared by Mücke Motorsport Classic and laid out in the livery of the 1995 season. During the debut of the DTM Classic Cup with touring cars from the years between 1984 and 2007, Stefan Mücke, who competed in 61 DTM races between 2002 and 2006, and Ronny Scheer, will be alternating in the four-wheel driven Calibra and a Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth from the 1990 British Touring Car Championship. “In one race, I will drive the Ford and Ronny the Opel, and the other way round in the second race,” Stefan Mücke says.
