Workshop for people with disabilities produces trophies for the World Rally Championship

The Caritas Wolfsteiner Werkstätten from Freyung in Bavaria are on the World Championship stage once again: the employees, who have physical or mental disabilities, have made 22 trophies for the Central European Rally (CER). They are now proudly presenting their completed contributions to the World Championship rally in Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Austria. The ADAC, as co-organiser of the CER, is thus continuing its long-standing cooperation, which began with the ADAC 3-Cities Rally in 2019.

(From left to right) Christian Wittensöllner (woodworking team leader), Harry Raab (production assistant), Martin Seid, Jonas Thoma, Fritz Schadeck (Youth and Sports Director ADAC Südbayern e. V.), Josef Sterr, Helmut Weber (workshop management), Simone Ranzinger), Andreas Manthey (production management), Benjamin Cremer), Andreas Holzinger, Jochen Hany (social services management) and Andreas Hüttinger.

‘These trophies are unique and a tangible sign of inclusion,’ emphasises Fritz Schadeck, board member for youth and sports at ADAC Südbayern, who has now expanded the collaboration with the Caritas workshops to cover the whole of Bavaria. With their works of art made of wood, metal and glass, the disabled people have created unique pieces. They proudly presented their works’. Fritz Schadeck is pleased about ‘a great achievement and a sign of inclusion’. That is why the ADAC is planning a nationwide network of the approximately 3,000 ADAC local associations with around 700 workshops for people with disabilities.

The cooperation with the Wolfsteiner Werkstätten has existed since the first ADAC Knaus Tabbert 3-Städte-Rally in 2019. After being promoted to the Central European Rally (CER) and the World Rally Championship, the institution for people with physical or mental disabilities remains on board. On Sunday, they will also take part in the award ceremony at the Rathausplatz in Passau and present their trophies to, among others, Bavaria's Minister of Transport Christian Bernreiter, Lord Mayor Jürgen Dupper and ADAC Sports President Dr. Gerd Ennser, who will then honour the best participants and teams in the world. In the morning, the workshop employees are also invited to the rally and follow the Knaus Tabbert special stage in the Hochwald area. More than 170 people from the Caritas ranks have registered for this.

For Helmut Weber, head of the Caritas workshops, the cooperation is a special form of appreciation: ‘It confirms our respect for the achievements of people with disabilities. We are not just the producers of trophies here, but also actively involved in the entire event.’