# Reindl Edges Dinkel by 2.6 Seconds in Five-Stage Thriller at 22nd Rallye Grünhain

**By Amelie Fontaine**  \nPublished September 15, 2026  \nUpdated September 15, 2026

> A razor-thin Mitsubishi duel at the front and massive nighttime delays down the order defined the 22nd ADMV-Rallye Grünhain, where Rudi Reindl snatched overall victory by just 2.6 seconds.

The 22nd ADMV-Rallye Grünhain delivered a punishing masterclass in asphalt precision and organizational endurance across Saxony’s Erzgebirge region. Five relentless circuit stages defined a contest where high-speed Mitsubishi battles at the front were matched by delays, neutralizations, and darkness further down the field.

At the sharp end of the overall leaderboard, the rally transformed into a razor-thin duel between Germany’s premier Mitsubishi sprinters. Rudi Reindl, Patrik Dinkel, and Peugeot 208 Rally4 driver Fabian Schulze traded blows across all five asphalt tests. Schulze surged early to snatch the provisional lead in his front-wheel-drive machine, putting immediate pressure on the heavy-hitting All-Wheel-Drive entries. But as the technical layout took its toll, Reindl asserted control, holding off Dinkel by a mere 2.6 seconds at the finish line to claim overall victory, while Schulze secured third place on the podium.

## Mitsubishi Duel at the Front: Reindl Edges Dinkel by Micro-Seconds

The five-stage asphalt itinerary presented a constant tactical challenge. Schulze’s early pace in the Peugeot Rally4 exposed how crucial momentum was through tight urban transitions, but Reindl and Dinkel quickly locked into a head-to-head Mitsubishi duel. Reindl managed to defend his microscopic margin through the final sectors, proving that managing tires and mechanical strain on repetitive circuit loops was the key to victory in Grünhain.

**22nd Rallye Grünhain Top Overall Finishers:**

- **1st Place:** Rudi Reindl (Mitsubishi) — Winner
- **2nd Place:** Patrik Dinkel (Mitsubishi) — +2.6 seconds
- **3rd Place:** Fabian Schulze (Peugeot 208 Rally4) — Podium finisher

## The Circuit Puzzle: Choke Points, Bus Stops, and Stoppages

For crews further down the starting order, the event format—built entirely around repeated circuit stages (Rundkurse)—turned into an exercise in patience and car preservation. Running loops connecting Chemnitz, Crottendorf, Grünhain, and Markersbach, drivers faced technical demands that tested both machinery and composure. In Grünhain, the urban circuit forced cars through tight curb sections and twice through municipal bus stops before releasing them onto the high-speed climb along Talstraße, where lower-powered entries struggled to carry momentum uphill.

Logistical congestion took an early toll. Reconnaissance runs on Saturday morning were hampered by heavy convoy traffic and active stage setups. Once competition began, minor delays quickly cascaded into major disruptions. Stage 1 was delayed by 14 minutes due to bus traffic on the public road network. Further down the road toward Markersbach, crews encountered teammate Paul stranded on the transit section with radiator failure, forcing him to hand in his timecards to prevent catastrophic engine damage despite receiving spare water bottles from fellow competitors.

The Markersbach stage saw even greater disruption when a competitor clipped a fence shielding nearby sheep. Although marshals quickly re-erected the barrier and the animals remained secure, officials were forced to neutralize the stage. Competitors were instructed to remove their helmets and drive slowly through the section back to the Crottendorf regrouping area, dramatically altering the timetable.

## Darkness and Delays: Racing Through the Night Without Extra Lights

As organizers worked to restore safety on the damaged routes—filling pavement holes with quick-setting concrete (Schnellbeton) and addressing potential oil spills—delays compounded. Crews waiting at time controls faced holds exceeding an hour before starting Stage 3. By the time the field regrouped for the final test, the original schedule had collapsed entirely.

Stage 5, originally anticipated to run around 19:00 in dusk conditions, was delayed until 20:26. Because teams had planned for a daytime finish, virtually no competitors carried auxiliary light pods (Zusatzscheinwerfer). Drivers were forced to navigate the blindingly dark Erzgebirge asphalt using only standard headlights and interior reading lamps, forcing a drastic drop in pace for safety.

Among those enduring the night-stage gamble were Chemnitzer AMC crew Frank and Dani in their entry "die Biene". Adorned with required Autohaus Mohe fender decals, the pair navigated the gravel-strewn asphalt, extreme delays, and cockpit darkness to secure a hard-fought 5th-place finish in their class.

While the 22nd edition highlighted the sheer thrill of sprint rallying in Saxony, its repetitive circuit design and compounding delays left competitors with clear operational lessons: prepare for long holds at time controls, adjust for surface repairs on the fly, and above all, never leave the service park without night lights.

## Sources

- [frank-rallye.info](https://www.frank-rallye.info/) — original
- [rallye-elbflorenz.de](https://rallye-elbflorenz.de/) — original
- [rallye-magazin.de](https://www.rallye-magazin.de/schlagzeilen/) — original
- [music.apple.com](https://music.apple.com/us/music-video/22-taylors-version-lyric-video/1595423428) — original