Vauxhall to make motorsport return with Mokka GSE Rally
Next year will see Vauxhall return to motorsport in the 2026 ADAC GSE Rally Cup – the world’s first electric one-make European rally championship.
The factory-backed Mokka GSE Rally will be piloted by up-and-coming Welsh driver Ioan Lloyd, who has been competing since the age of 14, beginning his rallying career in junior-1000cc events before progressing through UK forest and national rally championships.
In 2024, Lloyd and co‐driver Sion Williams won the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Championship title, while this year’s exploits saw him finish runner-up in the 2025 Junior European Rally Championship.
How will the 2026 ADAC GSE Rally Cup work?
The championship, formerly known as the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, has been rebranded for 2026 as the ADAC GSE Rally Cup, and will see the Mokka GSE Rally take over from the Corsa Rally Electric, which has been used for the last five years.
Drivers will take seven races during the 2026 ADAC GSE Rally Cup, details of which will be confirmed before the end of 2025. The championship-winning driver will be promoted to the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team, where they can compete in the Junior European Rally Championship (ERC) behind the wheel of a Corsa Rally4.
How does the Mokka GSE Rally differ?
The Mokka GSE Rally is being developed in line with the FIA’s new eRally5 regulations and puts out over double (281hp) the horsepower of the outgoing Corsa Rally Electric (136hp). Vauxhall says its performance is “on a par with a Rally4 car”.
The roadgoing Mokka GSE was recently unveiled as the fastest electric vehicle in the Vauxhall range and will share many of its components with its rallying sibling, such as the motor, inverter, 54kWh battery and wiring harness. It is available now, with prices starting from £35,495.
The Mokka GSE and Mokka GSE Rally
“It’s faster, more powerful, and will be incredible to drive”
Ioan Lloyd, Vauxhall GSE Rally Driver, said: “Joining the ADAC GSE Rally Cup is an exciting new challenge for me, and I’m really looking forward to it. The all-new car brings a fresh edge to the competition as it’s faster, more powerful, and will be incredible to drive, both for the drivers behind the wheel and for the fans watching. Vauxhall’s history in motorsport has helped create legends like Colin McRae, and I’m excited to carry that legacy forward. I can’t wait for the new season to begin and to see what the Mokka GSE Rally can do.”
Vauxhall’s history in motorsport
Vauxhall’s involvement in the 2026 ADAC GSE Rally Cup will add to its motorsport heritage, which began in hill climbs and time trials in the 1910s.
The majority of Vauxhall’s success came during the 1990s and 2000s where it dominated the British Touring Car Championship scene. The Vauxhall Cavalier GSi was driven to victory by John Cleland in 1995, and was followed by the Vauxhall Astra Coupe’s four consecutive driver and manufacturer championships between 2001-2004. Further success continued in 2007-2008 with the Vauxhall Vectra VXR winning back-to-back manufacturer titles and a driver’s title, before Vauxhall left the sport after the 2009 season.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Vauxhall - Stellantis