50 years Spiess: Factory Sport Opel

The basis for the partnership between Opel and Spiess is laid in times of Formula 3. From 1997 on, the development of the 2.0l STW engine follows in cooperation with the then Opel Sport boss Volker Strycek and the then OPC development boss Donatus Wichelhaus. In 1998, the company manages to win the official STW brand championship. Opel-Spiess engines are also used in the British Touring Car Championship, followed by the South African Championship in 1999.

In 2000, Siegfried Spiess GmbH develops and produces a 4.0l V8 engine for the Opel Astra V8 Coupé for the German Touring Car Championship (DTM). The first year in the DTM is concluded with eight victories in 16 races. Despite individual victories, Opel misses the championship title. At the legendary 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, the overall victory in 2003 is achieved with an Opel Astra. Peter Rühl, who is responsible for all engine activities of Opel/OPC in the period from 1997 to 2019, emphasizes that, simultaneously to the running events, race simulations are carried out for all circuits on the highly dynamic test benches of Spiess.

From 2006 onwards, Spiess will start the further development of various OPC production engines on behalf of OPC. All of them are modified on Spiess test benches and tested for durability in endurance runs of up to 420 hours.

Here is a small selection of the engines:

- 2006: Opel Vectra V6

- 2008: Opel Insignia V6

- 2010: Opel Astra GTC

- 2011: Opel Corsa Nürburgring Edition

In 2012 follows the entry into rally racing. Therefore, a 1.6 l naturally aspirated engine from an Opel Astra is taken as a basis and further developed for the Opel Adam. This was continued in 2013 for the Opel Adam R2 (FIA regulations). From 2014, Opel participates in the FIA R2 European Championship with the engine further developed by Spiess and from 2015 to 2018, in addition to the FIA ERC Junior Championship, other championships are won throughout Europe and in Chile.

Even after Opel's withdrawal from the rally scene, engines according to R2 regulations are still revised and serviced by Spiess.

 

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