ERC
ERC questions answered by… Claire Schönborn
Ahead of her FIA Junior ERC debut on BAUHAUS Royal of Scandinavia, ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team driver Claire Schönborn has answered five key questions.
Why did you choose the ERC for 2026? “The ERC is a great platform for young drivers. The championship includes many very demanding rallies and the level of international competition is extremely high. For me, it’s the perfect environment to continue developing as a driver and gain more experience at the international level.”
What target have you set yourself for this season? “My main goal this season is to gain as many kilometres and as much experience as possible. I’m still a beginner with only 11 rallies completed so far. At the same time, I definitely want to show that we can be competitive, just like we proved at the WRC events in Finland and CER last year. We want to build on those performances and achieve strong results throughout the season.”
German Schönborn built experience in the Junior WRC
© WRC
What are you hoping to learn from competing in the ERC? “The level of competition in Junior ERC is extremely high. I’m expecting close battles where you learn a lot about strategy, bravery and teamwork. Competing against such strong drivers is the best way to improve yourself.”
Who’s your rallying hero and why? “Of course, my biggest role model is Michèle Mouton. During her time, it was far from easy to succeed as a woman in motorsport, and she proved that gender does not matter when it comes to performance and determination.”
What’s your greatest achievement in rallying/motorsport so far? “Among my biggest achievements are becoming the first woman to win the overall title in the KW Berg Cup in hillclimb, and the following year winning the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme by WRC Promoter, which gave me the opportunity to compete in Junior WRC last year.”
Beyond Rally Women's Driver Development Programme gave Schönborn her break
© WRC
Looking back to your first rally, when was it and where, what car did you drive and what happened? “My first rally was not long ago. In August 2024, I was invited by Opel Motorsport to compete as a guest driver in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup with the electric Opel Corsa. The rally went surprisingly well and we were already able to set some top-five stage times. Those were my very first experiences in rallying and also my first connection with Opel. That’s why I’m very happy to now take the next step together with Opel.”
Looking to the future, where do you hope to be in five years from now? “I try to stay realistic. Of course, I dream about one day driving a Rally1 car, but I know that’s still a long way away. In five years, I hope we will have established a strong name for ourselves in WRC2 and be competing consistently at the front of the field.”
Opel is providing a big chance for Heindrichs, Schönborn and Schwarz
© Opel Motorsport
If you weren’t a rally driver, what sport would you like to do? “Even if I wasn’t a rally driver, I would definitely still be involved in motorsport, probably as an engineer or mechanic within a rally team. For me, there is nothing more fascinating than motorsport. No other sport comes close.”
When you are not competing what do you do to keep busy? “I still work full time as a systems engineer for a well-known automotive supplier. In addition, I’m self-employed and work as a freelance race engineer in circuit racing. So my life is completely centred around motorsport, either inside the cockpit or on the pit wall. I definitely never get bored.”
Opel Corsa Rally4 will power Schönborn in 2026
© ERC
Tell us something interesting about yourself? “I always dreamed about rallying, but I never actually imagined I would one day try it myself. Hillclimbing was my passion because of my parents. Thanks to Opel Motorsport and WRC Promoter, I was given the opportunity to enter professional rallying. Without any previous rally experience, I went from zero to competing in the World Rally Championship in a very short time. I’m extremely ambitious and never fully satisfied with myself – but I think that mindset is exactly what brought me to where I am today.”
