First Gravel Experience for Tom Heindrichs and Jonas Schmitz at the Lausitz Rallye

The Lausitz Rallye marked an important milestone for Tom Heindrichs and co-driver Jonas Schmitz: their first-ever event on gravel. What was planned as a learning weekend quickly turned into an emotional rollercoaster — with impressive pace, hard work, and a strong comeback story.

A Strong Test – Followed by Early Drama

The weekend began promisingly. During the test, Tom and Jonas immediately felt comfortable on the loose surface and built confidence with every kilometre.But on Friday, during the very first stage, the unexpected happened: only a few corners into the opening loop, the gearbox mount broke, leaving the crew unable to continue.

Thanks to the incredible commitment of the team, the car was repaired late into the night - right up to midnight. Their hard work paid off: Tom and Jonas were able to restart on Saturday, out of classification.

Step by Step Into New Territory

Starting without pressure allowed the duo to focus fully on learning. They approached the stages step by step, gradually increasing their pace as they adapted to the unique challenges of gravel: changing grip, deep ruts, and high-speed sections demanding complete trust between driver and co-driver.

What followed was an impressive display of progress.Over the course of the day, Tom and Jonas improved rapidly, finding more confidence with every stage.

A Remarkable Comeback: Three Stage Wins

By midday, the speed was unmistakable - and the results proved it.Tom and Jonas began setting fastest times, and in the afternoon they delivered a spectacular performance:

• Fastest time on the final three stages

• Fastest crew of the entire day in the Rally4 class

An outstanding achievement, especially considering it was their first gravel event and that they had lost all competitive chances due to Friday’s issue.

“This was all about learning, and we learned a lot,” Tom said afterwards. “Once the confidence grew, everything started to click - and suddenly the times were there.”Jonas added: “The team worked unbelievably hard on Friday night to get us back in the rally. Winning stages the next day was the perfect way to say thank you.”

A Valuable Step for the Future

Despite the setbacks, the Lausitz Rallye became one of the most important weekends of the season for Tom and Jonas.They left not only with massive experience on gravel, but also with proof that their speed translates to all surfaces.

The next challenges will come - and after their Lausitz performance, the duo will face them with even more confidence.