European rally highlight taking shape

• Itinerary confirmed for the first Central European Rally
• Start in Prague – Rally centre and finish in Passau
• Special stages in three European countries
• Central European Rally to feature 18 stages and roughly 320 kilometres against the clock

Munich. The premiere of the Central European Rally is taking shape: the spectacular cars from the World Rally Championship (WRC) are coming to Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic from 26th to 29th October. After an intensive period of planning, all the key information has now been confirmed. Fans can look forward to a three-day pursuit across challenging asphalt stages, which will take the best rally teams in the world through three countries in the heart of Europe.

Following the show start in Prague and the subsequent opening stage on the Thursday (26th October), three days of racing are planned, with the competitors set to tackle almost 320 kilometres against the clock and cover a total distance of roughly 1,370 kilometres. The cars, with their highly-efficient hybrid technology and 100 percent fossil-free fuels, will set off to each of the 18 special stages from the rally centre in the Bavarian city of Passau, where they will also roll over the finish ramp on the Sunday afternoon (29th October). All the important information on the Central European Rally is available at centraleuropeanrally.eu. Here, fans will also find the links to advance ticket sales in the next few days, and can also subscribe to the free newsletter, which provides all the very latest information on the rally highlight.

Spectators will be given their first glimpse of the participating rally teams on the Wednesday (25th October), when a route for the shakedown – the final test under competitive conditions – is set not far from Passau. The action will really heat up from the Thursday afternoon, when the show start takes place in the shadows of the legendary Prague Castle. This will be followed shortly after by the drivers’ first opportunity to lay down a marker: the opening super special stage (SSS) around the exhibition grounds in the “Golden City”.

The following morning, the teams embark from the Passau Messepark event area on their way to the southwest of the Czech Republic, where they will take on seven stages. Refuelling and tyre change zones can also be found there. The highlight of the day is the Cinov super special stage at midday. Like SSS Prague, this offers a great view of all the action on the route. Only in the evening do the teams return to Passau at the end of the opening leg, on which, as things stand, they will have covered 140 kilometres against the clock.

The Saturday takes the teams along the Danube and Inn rivers in the Innviertel region of Austria and Lower Bavaria. The three-country border of Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic is never far away, meaning fans from all the host countries do not have far to travel. These six stages are followed on Sunday by the finale, with four stages in the Mühlviertel region (Austria) and Lower Bavaria (Germany) again. The finish and subsequent presentation ceremony are planned for early afternoon in Passau.