Pic from left to right: Richard Dillon, Head of Retail Sales, Opel Ireland; Roddy Greene, Managing Director at Mondello Park
MONDELLO PARK AND OPEL RENEW EARLY-DRIVE ROAD SAFETY PARTNERSHIP

 

Published 19th October

 

Mondello Park and Opel Ireland have renewed their Early-Drive | Electrified by Opel partnership. For more than 25 years, Mondello Park has been introducing young people to road safety principles through its Early Drive road safety programme for 13–17-year-olds. With a fleet of new Opel Mokka Electrics recently delivered to Ireland’s premier motorsport venue, the partnership renewal has seen reaffirmation from both parties to continue to improve road safety education amongst teenagers.  

 

Recent Road Safety Authority figures show that 16–25-year-olds accounted for 27% of those killed on Irish roads in the first half of 2026, reinforcing a critical need to develop safer attitudes and an understanding of the responsibilities of driving and road use from a young age. Highlighting the role early education and practical experience can play in preparing teenagers for the road, Mondello Park advocates road safety education should begin long before a young person takes their first driving lesson. 

 

Early-Drive | Electrified by Opel combines practical experience behind the wheel with wider road safety education, supporting the Road Safety Authority's Vision Zero objective of eliminating road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. It introduces teenagers to driving in a controlled, supervised environment, while developing their understanding of observation, judgement, and responsibility on the road. 

 

Roddy Greene, Managing Director of Mondello Park, said: “Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Mondello Park, both in motorsport and driving. Recent incidents involving dangerous driving and the sharing of reckless driving content on social media are deeply concerning and reinforce the importance of talking to young people about road safety. By the time somebody begins learning to drive at 17, many of their attitudes towards cars, speed, and road use have already started to form. There is real value in beginning that education earlier.” 

Pictured from left to right with the Opel Mokka Electric at Mondello Park: Richard Dillon, Head of Retail Sales, Opel Ireland; Roddy Greene, Managing Director at Mondello Park

He continued: “We have a unique environment here where a young person can experience being responsible for a car without traffic, pedestrians, or the countless other variables they will eventually encounter as a learner driver. They can learn what braking feels like, how much concentration driving requires, and how quickly things happen from behind the wheel while an experienced instructor remains in control of the car.”  

 

Around 2,500 teenagers annually take part in Early-Drive | Electrified by Opel, with many places booked by schools for Transition Year students, as part of their wider education. The programme is also popular among families, with parents bringing teenagers – including many 13- and 14-year-olds – to experience being behind the wheel for the first time under the guidance of a qualified instructor.

 

The programme combines practical on- and off-track sessions in dual-controlled vehicles, helping participants develop the skills and awareness to become safer pedestrians, cyclists and, ultimately, drivers. The ‘Road Ready’ element covers essential road safety knowledge, responsible road use, the process of applying for a driving licence and preparation for the driver theory test. 

Mondello Park has taken delivery of a fleet of 5 Opel Mokka Electrics for the Early-Drive | Electrified by Opel programme

The racetrack is set up to simulate real-world road conditions, complete with signs and junctions for participants to navigate. Instructors also use circuit safety features, including gravel traps and tyre barriers to demonstrate the important differences between driving on a racetrack and on public roads. 

 

Roddy Greene, Managing Director of Mondello Park, concluded: “No single programme can solve the challenges we are seeing on Irish roads. What we can do is help give young people greater awareness, better habits, and a stronger understanding of the responsibility that comes with driving before they take to a public road.” 

 

Visit Mondellopark.ie to learn more or book Early-Drive | Electrified by Opel.

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* The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures mentioned comply with the WLTP test procedure, on the basis of which new vehicles are type approved from 1 September 2018. This WLTP procedure replaces the European drive cycle (NEDC), which was the test procedure used previously. Due to more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measured under the WLTP are, in many cases, higher compared to those measured under the NEDC. The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures may vary depending on actual conditions of use and on different factors such as: specific equipment, options and format of tires. Please contact your dealer for further information. For more information on WLTP click here https://www.wltpfacts.eu/.

** The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures mentioned are determined according to the new test procedure WLTP and the relevant values are translated back into NEDC to allow the comparability with other vehicles. Please contact your dealer for the latest information. The values do not take into account in particular use and driving conditions, equipment or options and may vary depending on the format of tires. For more information on official fuel consumption and CO2 emission values, please read the guideline "Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions of new passenger cars" freely available in all point of sales.

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**** The fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and range figures mentioned comply with the WLTP test procedure, on the basis of which new vehicles are type approved from 1 September 2018. This WLTP procedure replaces the European drive cycle (NEDC), which was the test procedure used previously. Due to more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measured under the WLTP are, in many cases, higher compared to those measured under the NEDC. The fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and range figures may vary depending on actual conditions of use and on different factors such as: charging frequency, driving style, speed, specific equipment, options, format of tires, outside temperature and thermal comfort on board the vehicle. Please contact your dealer for further information. For more information on WLTP click here https://www.wltpfacts.eu/.

Please note: All information was accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Opel reserves the right to alter specifications at any time, which may affect the data shown. All figures quoted relate to the EU base model with standard equipment.