What would have happened if the FIA had implemented its plans at the end of the 1980s? What would have been the technical and sporting future of rallying if Group S had actually replaced the legendary but dangerous Group B from 1988? Presenter Ulf Schulz, better known as Motorkosmonaut, and Frank Ruge, project manager of the Bremen Classic Motorshow, will address these questions in an exclusive live talk with John Wheeler and Ernst Kopp, two well-known figures from rally history.
Group S and its place in rally history
The focus will be on the vehicles of Group S, a planned rally vehicle category that was never used after the tragic accidents of the 1986 season. Although several manufacturers had already developed advanced, ready-to-drive prototypes, the FIA not only rejected this class after the ban on Group B, but also the dreams and visions of entire works teams.
John Wheeler, designer of the legendary Ford RS 200, and Ernst Kopp, then racing mechanic of the Toyota 222 D, also known as the "Black Beast", were directly affected by the decision.
You will provide rare insights in the Talk. They will shed light on the potential of the Group S cars and discuss how competitive their cars could have been in the environment of the time.
They will also explain the importance of Group S in the ongoing development of rallying. Personal memories, disappointments and the fascination of a motorsport era that never became reality will make this exchange special.
The live talk at the Bremen Classic Motorshow is a must-attend event for classic car and rally enthusiasts and anyone who not only wants to experience motorsport, but also understand it: on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 4 p.m. in the "4x4 Performance" special display area in Hall 5 of Messe Bremen.
Opel Calibra V6 4x4 DTM Class 1 and Volker Strycek as star guest
Volker Strycek is one of the most influential personalities in German touring car racing and was closely associated with Opel's involvement in motorsport. In the DTM and later in the International Touring Car Championship, he drove the technically highly equipped Opel Calibra V6 4×4, among others.
Strycek was part of one of the most ambitious touring car projects of the 1990s and later played a key role as a developer, test driver and motorsport manager at Opel. As team boss and driver at the same time, he won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 2003 with a DTM Astra V8.
Together with his DTM Calibra, Volker Strycek will be present at this year's special show "4x4 Performance", which Johannes Hübner will host on Friday, January 29 at 3 p.m., Saturday, January 30 at 2.30 p.m. and Sunday, February 1 at 3 p.m. in Hall 5 of Messe Bremen.
Further information on the Bremen Classic Motorshow can be found on the website of the classic car fair.
