Monday 3rd August 2015

Opel Omega DTM hillclimb: Time For Tea?

A fast Vauxhall Monday on PH crowned by the one you've probably never heard of

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This is what happens when too long is spent in the 'Up next' section of YouTube. Following the news of the Opel Astra TCR (plus having a fast Vauxhall in Carpool), it seemed like the right time to celebrate racing Vauxhalls and Opels with a video. The BTCC would have been good - the 2000s were very successful - but the DTM is, well, better so that's where the search started.

And where else but a Calibra? It looked fantastic as a touring car, and it would mean a video featuring Alfa 155s and early C-Classes. Cool. But then Omega DTM videos came up... An Omega? In DTM? It happened!

So here's is the beginning of PH learning more about a forgotten motorsport hero. There's a separate blog later in the week but, for now, here's an ex-DTM Omega (or Carlton if you'd prefer) thrashing up one of those brilliant Euro hillclimbs very quickly indeed. The DTM Omegas were straight-sixes but, unlike the Lotus Carlton/Omega, not turbocharged. Unsullied by the two blowers, the noise is sublime; a sharp, vicious howl that's rather at odds with the fairly ordinary four-door shape. It's mega.

Enjoy the vid for now, and watch this space for more on the DTM Omega in due course!
 

[N.B. Apologies for the image quality, the video is from 1994 and Omega DTM pics are hard to come across!]

 

[Turbobanana]

Don't forget the UK-based Thundersaloon raced by John Cleland and Pete Stevens in the late 80's and early 90's: powered by a Holden V8, if memory serves.

It's racing again - I saw it at Siverstone a couple of months back. Still sounded just as good as I remember it.