Organisers are promising a more international atmosphere for this year’s edition of the Central European Rally. The newly released event preview also highlights a tighter schedule and improved competition.
The twelfth round of the WRC season, to be held in October, will once again take place over four days and will feature a total of 18 special stages.
The rally will start on Thursday in the city of Passau, the event’s headquarters. Previously, the event was criticised for long liaison sections due to a visit to Prague, but this year the Prague trip has been dropped entirely. The new route ensures a more compact and streamlined rally experience.
On Friday, the Central European Rally will, for the first time in history, visit three different countries in a single day. Stages will be run in the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany on Friday. On Saturday, the rally will continue across two countries: the Czech Republic and Germany.
This year, the Central European Rally will have only one clear central hub: all rally days will start and finish at the service park located at the Passau-Kohlbruck exhibition centre.
This setup will naturally serve fans very well, as they can enjoy the rally atmosphere from morning to evening if they wish. It will also ease the workload for drivers and co-drivers, as the rally will be based around just one location.
Friday is shaping up to be the rally’s most interesting day. Travelling across three countries will bring new challenges for the crews. Tyre choices must be considered particularly carefully, as road surfaces vary between countries.
Friday begins on the German side before heading into Austria. The day will end in the Czech Republic with a brand-new stage, Col de Janin, which will pass through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Český Krumlov, where a midday service will also be held.
Saturday will feature another rally highlight, with the Klatovy stage in the Czech Republic. This stage has been a fan favourite in recent years.
On the final day, Sunday, the rally will visit Germany and Austria. The Beyond Borders stage will be the day’s highlight, as it crosses both German and Austrian territory. The final stage, the Power Stage, will be the Mühltal stage in Austria, which, along with Beyond Borders, will be run twice. The rally will once again conclude at the Passau service park, where the official prize-giving ceremony will take place.
The Central European Rally will be held from 16–19 October.
