The entry list for the asphalt rally, which will be contested in the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany, was published on Tuesday. There are no major surprises on the list. Toyota, which has dominated the championship throughout the season, will enter the rally with its familiar five-driver line-up.
Toyota’s team for the rally includes championship frontrunners Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä. As usual, Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari will drive the team’s fourth and fifth cars.
Hyundai is also fielding its regular trio. Last year’s Central European Rally winner Ott Tänak, Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux will fly the colours of the Korean manufacturer. However, only Neuville and Fourmaux will be scoring manufacturers’ championship points in Central Europe.
M-Sport, too, will rely on its familiar duo. Its cars will be steered on the Central European asphalt roads by Grégoire Munster and Josh McErlean. In total, ten Rally1 crews will compete in Central European Rally.
On the WRC2 side, however, there has been a major drop-off. Oliver Solberg, who secured the class title in Chile, is taking part in the rally, but he is no longer competing for championship points. Many of Solberg’s rivals are skipping the asphalt round now that the title has already been decided.
Nikolay Gryazin is included, but the name of Yohan Rossel is missing from the entry list. However, the rallying reputation of the Rossel family in Central Europe will still be represented by Yohan’s brother, Leo Rossel. Among the WRC2 top names, Estonian driver Robert Virves is also skipping Central European Rally.
Rally Central Europe will be held from 16–19 October.
