As part of the Cologne-Ahrweiler Rally, we are once again looking forward to the enthusiastic participation of over 100 vehicles! Twelve demanding special stages covering around 147 km are on the agenda between the Nürburgring and the Ahr region.

In addition to the approximately 80 teams competing for the best time, more than 30 vehicles will again be on display during the practice, training and test drives in advance of the tests.

Last year's winner Georg Berlandy, who has already won the rally a total of 15 times, will once again be driving at the traditional rally across the ramp of the Nürburgring paddock this year.

Last year he was still driving a ŠKODA Fabia R5, but this year he wants to win for the first time with a BMW, as he switched back to a YOUNGTIMER car - the M3 E30 - last winter and is competing in the Youngtimer Rallye Trophy. In fact, the BMW brand is not yet listed in the list of winners of the Rallye Köln-Ahrweiler, so it will be interesting to see whether he succeeds.

Unfortunately, the duel from the last two years with Dennis Rosteck has to be canceled this year. After winning the Twente Rally in the Netherlands two weeks ago, Dennis Rosteck now has the chance to win the title in our neighboring country next weekend at the Drenthe Rally. Therefore, the risk of competing a week before the championship decision is too high for him. Nevertheless, it will not be boring at the top and a reunion next year as part of the Köln-Ahrweiler is definitely planned.

Christopher Gerhard, who came in third last year, continues to rely on the power of the Škoda Fabia R5 and will want to celebrate his first victory as part of the Köln-Ahrweiler. Brand diversity at the top is ensured. Edwin Wolves, who used to compete in various Opel models and has been a permanent fixture on the stages between Ahr and Eifel for many years, will once again be competing in a Renault Clio Rallye 3, in which he finished third last year.

Of the top 5 from last year, four teams will be competing again this year, including Jonas Tischner, who, after finishing fourth and winning the YOUNGTIMER Gold Cup 2023 in the usual fast BMW M3 in FINA design, wants to be at the front again this year.

With Yann Munhowen, Tischner has a class rival in the same car breathing down his neck, who, like last year, also wants to have a say in the victory in the youngtimer classification.

With Michael Bieg (Mitsubishi EVO 9), Colin Dünker (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4), Michael SøRENSEN (Peugeot 208) or local hero Kevin Müller (Toyota Yaris GR), there are other top teams at the start who want to achieve another sense of achievement at the end of the 2024 rally season.

Heinz-Robert Jansen, multiple champion of the Youngtimer Rallye Trophy, is also competing this year in his Opel Manta B and could celebrate his ninth championship title among the young-timer rally drivers of the Youngtimer Rallye Trophy here. Jansen, from Lohmar, is competing in the Cologne-Ahrweiler Rally for the 29th time, as is Heinz Kottmann (BMW 318is).