Description:

He came to Opel as a newly crowned Le Mans winner. Joachim Winkelhock competed in the newly started DTM (German Touring Car Masters) in the 460 hp Opel-Astra V8 Coupé.

Formula 1 driver, British touring car champion, Le Mans champion, DTM winner and Opel brand ambassador – Joachim Winkelhock is all of this and still is.

He beat the competition in the third round of the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) at the Norisring in Nuremberg. The Opel driver from the Swabian region celebrated his first DTM victory in eight years in the only DTM car with gullwing doors in front of 99,000 spectators in the first race. In the first of the two separately scored rounds, each lasting 44 laps, Winkelhock won with a 5.8 second lead over old champion Klaus Ludwig (Roisdorf) in the Mercedes Silver Arrow and Manuel Reuter (Mainz) in the Opel

"It was a dream weekend; it couldn't have gone better. I easily controlled the race," said Winkelhock and took a swipe at his opponents: "I expected more pressure."

When Winkelhock, who immediately put the Astra V8 Coupé on pole position at his favorite race at the Norisring in Nuremberg and was therefore the fastest in training for the first time in his DTM career, climbed into his red Opel V8 Astra Coupe on Sunday, “Smokin Jo” was amazed. For the first time, the door to the cockpit of his company car opened upwards. The competition, especially the one with the star, also literally had their mouths hanging open on race Sunday when the doors opened on Winkelhock's Astra. Opel had rebuilt the doors of the Astra Coupe overnight until the start of the race!

Winkelhock's Opel is the first and initially only car in the field to be equipped with gullwing doors. "This is not only incredibly practical, but also brutally beautiful," said the driver about the innovation: "It probably also has a symbolic meaning: At the moment everything is going so well that the Opel is now growing wings."

The “wing car” was designed by the head of technology at the Opel Performance Center (OPC) Donatus Wichelhaus and designer Heiko Bender. "This is a very sophisticated design that is far removed from the normal door," said Wichelhaus: "We spent four weeks tinkering around to construct a corresponding frame and mechanism." Strycek explained with a grin that Winkelhock is the first to enjoy the elegant gullwing doors: "In the future, everyone who drives in pole position will get gullwing doors."

This Opel Astra DTM “Gullwing” from “Smokin Jo” from 2000 is now for sale. The car was completely restored visually and technically. The Opel Astra has completely new electronics from VGS and, with state-of-the-art ABS and TC, is ideal for gentlemen drivers.

The V8 engine with 3999ccm has 4000 km and was on the engine test bench at Spiess. The performance was measured at over 490 hp. The 6-speed sequential transmission was overhauled at Mücke Motorsport and has 0 operating hours with the new clutch. The chassis has been revised at KW. New carbon brake discs 0 hours. The original car passport from 2000 is available. The short version of the exhaust system is now installed (exit in front of the rear wheels) and the long version (exit at the rear) is included. The sale includes a parts package: original electronics including controlunit, 2 sets of wheels, 1x underbody, 1x tailgate, 1x door, original Bilstein chassis, wishbones front + rear, original carbon side skirts left + right new, 1x carbon prop-shaft, 1x engine in parts.All invoices and pictures of the restoration are available.

 

Keyword Search Terms:

DTM, DTM 2000, Class 1, Winkelhock, Opel, Opel Astra